Cooking Channel: Tree Falls in Television Forest

Published on Tuesday, June 1, 2010, by Joyce Slaton / Edit Post

The Cooking Channel has debuted, created by the folks behind the Food Network, and results have been surprisingly quiet. Replacing the Fine Living Network on the cable dial, it's aimed at younger viewers.

The lineup is intriguing at first glance: Chefography does bio-treatments of favorite cooks like Julia Child and Nigella Lawson; Food(ography) is hosted by wry comedian Mo Rocca and delves into the historical and cultural aspects of foodstuffs like noodles and ice cream. Former CHOW staffer Aida Mollenkamp has a new show, in addition to Ask Aida, which has migrated to the network: Called FoodCrafters, it scouts out artisan food producers across the country.

Other highlights: the return of dismissed Food Network personalities like Emeril Lagasse and Mario Batali, and reruns of cooking-show faves like Two Fat Ladies, The Galloping Gourmet, and The French Chef.

Because it was a three-day weekend for US viewers, many probably weren't glued to their televisions, so there was little discussion about the new shows online. What there was suggested that Roger Mooking, host of Everyday Exotic (which started as a Canadian program), is well-positioned to be the love-to-hate-him new food personality. "[He] used to be in an R&B band and he'll never. let us. forget it," wrote Chowhound stet. DiningDiva gave the nod to a show called Drink Up, which spotlighted tequila, but thought Food(ography)'s topic, ice cream, "was a snooze."

ALLFood Media
POST A COMMENT |4 Comments

COMMENT

  • It is amateur hour for rich young adults. They seem to have the same formula for every show. Cozy little lifestyle starts and then dumbed down menus. Indian is on currently and it is pathetic. A GREAT disappointment. Few of the programs seem to realize the average American shops in large grocery stores that do not carry special ingredients. Overall the programing is BORING. Julia and the oldies...+READ

    It is amateur hour for rich young adults. They seem to have the same formula for every show. Cozy little lifestyle starts and then dumbed down menus. Indian is on currently and it is pathetic. A GREAT disappointment. Few of the programs seem to realize the average American shops in large grocery stores that do not carry special ingredients. Overall the programing is BORING. Julia and the oldies manage to be edgier than any of these superlative flashing urban trendies. Who is behind it, the food writers must have all been paid off.

    Food network programs promote quantity not quality and the cooking channel the cutesy network.-COLLAPSE

  • Until it is offered in HD, it is unwatchable.

  • The entire channel is not a waste of time! They're showing old episodes of Julia Child!

  • Let's not forget the infomercials are back as well.. Unbelievable waste of time, this entire channel.