mack184's Profile
Helena, Missoula, and Bozeman Montana
Although I am from Upstate NY, I went to college at MSU-Bozeman in the early 1970's. Just by your post I can see things have changed a lot in 35+ years. But I am glad to see the Pickle Barrel is still around.Yes, the subs are HUGE, and at that time, they were very inexpensive, good for college folk. There was also a Montana-based pizza chain called "Little Big Men" named after the Dustin Hoffman movie. They made deliveries in these little VW dune buggies called the "Pizza Ponies". At that time, there were no McD's, or BK. There was a Big Boy in town, A Sambo's and a couple of small western-based pizza chains and that was about it. Bozeman is a great town, I hope you enjoy your trip.
Planet Green Means Loss of Some Cooking Shows
I too, am sad at the end of Discovery Home. It seems that TV has decided to cast it's lot with the wingnut environmental whackjobs. It seems I can't tune into much of anything anymore, without there being some pitch for "going green". Yick!
The Food Network: Has it lost its relevance . . .
I dislike Symon intensely and I feel that John Besh got robbed. But I guess they needed a headbanger to appeal to the younger folk. I guess I'm just a white-bread american cheese lowlife, but I cannot for the life of me understand the appeal of Alton Brown.To me, he's the kid you wanted to repeatedly punch in the face in high school. ICK! I like Rachael, Paula, Emeril, Guy & Mario. Maybe what they need is two nets just like CNN & CNN Headline. One channel for the purists, and one channel for those of us with no breeding.
What has Food Network done to the TV schedule?
Since I'm working during the day, I'm far more worried about what they've done to the night schedule. While I know that many people seem to like Alton Brown, neither of us can stand him, so that cuts out the 8pm hour. Then on more nights than not, it's followed by the Food Network Challenge. Which my wife says was designed by and for women who have no life. I don't know if I agree, but I have no use for the show. So the main 8p-10p hours, when we used to watch FNTV almost exclusively our TV goes to other channels. I would be interested to know how many other people have left FNTV at those hours now that Emeril is at 7. Maybe their new line up is doing great, but personally, I can't think of two more boring shows.
Rachael Ray Tidbits
Just remember it's been a very long time since MTV has played music videos. Now they just talk about music...
Rachael Ray Tidbits
One thing most people forget about, or don't think about is that while they are indeed cooking on FNTV, it's mostly entertainment. In most cases it's not really about cooking it's about shutting out the daily BS for 30 minutes or an hour. The people on FNTV are there for their personalities, not necessarily because they are the reincarnation of James Beard. Lighten up folks..just relax, and enjoy the entertainment.
Steak 'n Shake....what's the good word?
I lived in the mid-west for several years, and got to love them. Now that I'm back home on the east coast, I guess I'm glad they're not out here..I'd weigh 500 pounds if they were! I think they are head and shoulders above any of the fast-food burger places.
anyone been to a Ruths Chris?
Why not the porterhouse? Too big?? Too small??? Poor Quality????
anyone been to a Ruths Chris?
We have been to the Ruth Chris on the Baltimore Inner Harbor several times. We have been treated well, the food was good and we've had good service. The last time we were there, we actually got a post card from our server thanking us for coming in. I know people tend to say that they are expensive, but it's not like you go there on a daily basis.
Fuddruckers
Yeah, but at 2am after a night of partying, the sole of my work boot would taste good if you put enough ketchup on it! Sort of reminds me of those old Stewart Sandwiches the bars used to sell. The only time they tasted any good, was after way too much moose milk!!
"Doing bacon is illegal" in LA - Drew Carey and black market bacon dogs
I don't know what happend in this country, or exactly when it happened, but collectively we have lost our minds. I would be willing to believe that food cooked in an old greasy spoon in the 1950's was probably more sanitary than food cooked by today's city code restrictions. We have lost our common sense. Supposedly in our schools our children are being given more education than ever before, yet most kids can't tell you who the president is, or when election day is. We have allowed the Terrance Powell's of this world to dictate what we eat, & how we eat it. Yet there seems no other reaction from the public, but a loud sigh, and then everyone gets back to business. In a sense, we have no one but ourselves to blame.
What secret ingredient would you like to see on Iron Chef America?
After all these choices, I think I'd like to see the secret ingredient be...
Jeffrey Steingarten
Giada--the new "semi-homemade?"
What you're talking about is the evoloution of channels like this. Unlike a traditional TV network which fills up it's program line with a wide variety of different programs, one-note cable channels like FN or MTV or The Weather Channel have to fill up 24 hours of programming 7 days a week on the same subject. Take a look at MTV or The Weather Channel. In the beginning, MTV played only music videos. Now it rarely plays videos, it has programs that talk about music or about the "rock" lifestyle and such. The Weather Channel used to be nothing but weather forecasts 24/7. Now they have a series of programs that talk about the weather. It's merely a part of the changes on FN as it finds it's largest audience.
Have we come to this? Food-rationing at ... Costco??
I don't think I've eaten 50 pounds of rice in my entire life. (I'm 53) I cannot imagine someone hoarding 50 pound sacks of rice. While I don't wish to downplay the seriousness of this, I think, at least in the US you're seeing the crazy mentality of people who clean the stores out of bread and milk when 2 inches of snow is predicted.
Best and Worst Cooking Shows
One thing that I find very interesting is that so many people seem to like Alton Brown. I cannot figure the attraction. To me, he is like nails on a blackboard. He's obnoxious. Whenever anything with the exception of Iron Chef comes on that has anything to do with him, off goes our set. With Iron Chef, we just try to ignore him, and watch the rest of the content. I would really like to try and understand just what people find interesting about him.
Simply Delicioso - new FN show - what do you think?
I think you are probably wrong about Sandra Lee's temprament. If you have seen the Chefography on her, you can see that she's an absolute control freak, and virtually everything must be in some exact place. I can bet that her production staff is terrified of her, and I would be willing to bet that when the cameras go off she is most likely as nasty as cotton candy is sweet. I do not think her TV persona and her real life persona are the same. It might be interesting to see Sandra Lee and Martha go head to head!
Food Network and Red Lobster
While I do watch a lot of the programming on FN, TNFNS is one I really don't care for. Apparently it's very popular..but I can't quite figure out why. I don't find most of the people they select very interesting.
Dinner Impossible New Host
This is the 2nd time that FN has wound up having to "eat" their mistakes. There was the young man in FNStar that had come up with a bogus resume, and now Irvine. I did like Irvine, although I didn't watch the show very much. It's apparent on this board that people seem to like Chef Symon. I do not, I think John Besh should have won..but hey, everybody doesn't like something
Guy's Big Bite: What demographic are they targeting?
Rachael, Sandra, Giada geared towards women? I think your TV must have a blown picture tube. With all the cleaveage and tight clothes being served up on these shows, unless they are catering to women of alternative lifestyles, it's very plain that these shows are going for a 30-45 male demo as one of their prime targets.
The New Food Network Shows for This Year
I like the FN, and unlike a number of people who feel that the channel needs to be some sort of cooking classroom, I do not. I enjoy the shows merely for their entertainment value, and sometimes I actually find something that I try to cook. The show with Anne Burrell sounds interesting. I'm not sure about the rest. I know that when anything that has Alton Brown connected with it comes on, my set goes off. The only exception being Iron Chef. I don't care for the Challenge programs either. FN is a business, and I'm sure they are seeking their best niche to make money. It's very clear that their programming is moving to mass appeal entertainment and not, "add 3 teaspoons of this, and a half a cup of that". I am comfortable with Paula, Rachael, Tyler and Co.
Ft. Myers/Sanibel Island
If you're on Sanibel, take a ride down Periwinkle Way past Cheeburger Cheeburger and stop by The Island Cow. We discovered it this past fall. Great food, good prices, and very much a relaxed fun kind of place. We ate there at least once a day during our week's stay, and before long, the staff called us by name, and seated us at "our table". Very good place.
Costco steaks etc.
Please excuse my ignorance. Just what is Costco. There apparently is no such business in my area, but then again, there's a lot of nothing where I am to begin with.
