It’s here! I’m about to go get changed for the draft show – 49 minutes away, on ESPN2 – but I had to pass this along. Someone calling himself “SG” came across my post on Giada’s awful carbonara recipe and decided to have his say:
You’re making fun of the size of her head? Who notices her head? I’m usually checking our her massive cans. And whoever said she was making authentic Italian? Not her. It’s called “Everyday Italian,” numbnuts, meaning that they are easy recipes that are variations on classic Italian dishes or ones that are simply inspired by ingredients and techniques found in Italian cooking. She was born in Italy to Italian parents you know. Many of her recipes are handed down from her mother.
She has received formal training and has worked as a professional chef in notable restaurants. What the hell have you done?
If what this guy says is true … then Giada’s mother was a lousy cook, too.
I couldn’t just approve this priceless comment and let it lay buried on a long-forgotten thread. Enjoy!
The fun part is, Giada’s recipe is far more involved and complicated than carbonara should be. Water. Salt. Pasta. Bacon/Pancetta. Pasta Water. Egg White. Parmesan. Egg Yolk. Salt. Pepper. Done.
If it’s true that her recipe is supposed to be “easy recipes” and “Everyday Italian”, why make it more complicated than it really needs or should be to create an inferior product?
Personally, I don’t have that much of a problem with Giada since there are those who do far more damage to culinary traditions on the Food Network. But the “soft lighting” on her set is the epitome of gratuitous food porn.
Last year, I met both Michael Ruhlman & Anthony Bourdain, who did a talk at Barnes & Noble in Union Square at NYC. Both were pushing books, and they did a little chat beforehand, talking about the Food Network, etc. They discussed each “personality”, and when they got to Giada, I yelled out, “Giant Head”, and both agreed and started laughing. They also felt that she had no talent. But, they were both bullish on Ida Garten and Alton Brown, both of whom they like.
Robert, Alton Brown is great. Every time I watch “Good Eats”, it’s pretty much a guarantee that I learn at least five or six things that I never knew.
I thought I remember Bourdain saying that Giada can actually cook once. Don’t remember where I read this.
Hey, Big Ed!
I kind of like Giada as a personality, though I know nothing about cooking or Italian. Does have a giant head though.
The only personality other than Alton that I like on the Food Network is Nigella Lawson (big in the UK, only on here at like 7am Saturday mornings). Again, no idea if she can cook – I probably wouldn’t eat anything she makes – but she almost takes the Food Network from “porn for fat people” to straight-up porn, describing her ingredients in such terms as “voluptuous” and “warm, sweet stickiness” in her very sultry British accent. It’s…mostly just funny.
I feel like with all the criticism that Giada and Rachel Ray get (not that it is undeserved), we are forgetting the worst host on the food network: Sandra Lee. Has anyone actually seen semi-homemade? It makes you want to pull your hair out.
I feel like with all the criticism that Giada and Rachel Ray get (not that it is undeserved), we are forgetting the worst host on the food network: Sandra Lee. Has anyone actually seen semi-homemade? It makes you want to pull your hair out.
Exactly.
Producers have to tape down her (Lee’s) nipples because they can’t be erect and visible through her shirt, per Scripps standards.
/random story
was there any indication heading into the draft that an extra premium would be placed on left handed pitching?
Keith,
I know it’s your job and all, but thanks a lot for putting in tons of time for the draft, and still doing the chats. Your columns made me interested in the players for the first time. Also enjoy the blog!
A question maybe for another time: What can be done to make the MLB draft more like the NFL draft as far as general interest goes? Would draft pick trading help?
Thanks again.
any reason Melville dropped so low?
Anyone seen Food Network’s South Beach All Stars with Giada, Flay, Florence, Alton, and… some old white haired lady? That show was somewhat interesting, but it didn’t seem like anyone had a whole lot of chemistry. The opening recipe with Giada and the old white-haired lady had an exceptional amount of unintentional comedy though.
Keith, awesome job during the draft coverage. loved your comments for each pick on the four letter site.
i dont mind giada so much since shes always wearing low-cut shirts. but wouldnt you agree that paula dean is probably the most disgusting person on the food channel? her constant cackling and putting food all over her face and licking it off her piggly fingers makes me dry heave just thinking about it.
her and guy “i have to wear wristbands on my forearms when i visit diners” fieri are the two biggest “wtfs” on the channel.
Hey Keith,
Perusing your chat from two days ago, noticed your comment on grilling and would love your thoughts on some grill recipes/techniques once you get through the draft. Also, if you aren’t on it already, there’s a fantastic show on public television (Saturday afternoons in my neck of the woods) call BBQ University. I’ve had lots of success with his recommendations, with a personal favorite the Coffee-Crusted Pork Tenderloins.
http://www.bbqu.net/season4/404_4.html#pork_coffee
PBS has a great show called “Made in Spain” with Jose Andreas. Also, Batali will have a show on PBS in the Fall where he and Gweneth Paltrow eat their way through Spain. FoodTV is starting to lose its monopoly as the “best” cooking channel on TV.
Made In Spain is fantastic, I love Jose Andres. He was on one of my favorite episodes of Iron Chef America and trounced Bobby Flay. Additionally, I really like Jamie Oliver’s most recent show and his most recent cookbook is really great through and through.
Oliver is one of those people who I can’t seem to watch (annoying on camera). However, I have one of his earlier cookbooks, and it is very good. “Jamie at Home” has produced one great dish after another. I’ve sworn off buying any more cookbooks until I go through the ones that I currently own, but this book might be the exception. Sadly, only a few of the recipes on the show make their way to FoodTV’s website. However, Oliver has a really good website where he has tons of recipes and some podcasts.
Paul…Bourdain did a guest blog for Michael Ruhlman and does say that Giada can cook. He also gives a rundown on his thoughts on other Food Network “Stars”. He may also mention it in The Nasty Bits, but I can’t recall and wouldn’t recommend reading it to find out.
http://blog.ruhlman.com/ruhlmancom/2007/02/guest_blogging_.html
I’m amazed by how sensitive people are on the Internet. How did this guy even find this post from months back? I happen to like Giada and have had success with a few of her recipes, but I don’t have a need to slavishly defend her to other people who feel otherwise.
Keith,
I’m sure you see this obsession a lot from baseball fans who take every criticism of their team personally.
http://blog.ruhlman.com/ruhlmancom/2007/02/guest_blogging_.html
—
Thanks for the link. It’s absolutely hilarious.
“PAULA DEEN: I’m reluctant to bash what seems to be a nice old lady. Even if her supporting cast is beginning to look like the Hills Have Eyes–and her food a True Buffet of Horrors. A recent Hawaii show was indistinguishable from an early John Waters film. And the food on a par with the last scene of Pink Flamingos. But I’d like to see her mad. Like her look-alike, Divine in the classic, ‘Female Trouble.’ Paula Deen on a Baltimore Killing Spree would be something to see. Let her get Rachael in a headlock–and it’s all over.”
Hi Tom…thanks for your comment re my post. I would not say I’m slavishly defending her…I am indifferent to her altogether. I was just vetting some comments made earlier.
To answer your question how I found the post…it isn’t that difficult to remember something you read less than a year ago. And I live in Europe where TV sucks and I have a lot of time to surf the internet.
I guess I’m probably being “sensitive” responding to your post. Sorry, I just have an “obsession”.
DP: I’m pretty sure Tom was referring to the comment that I highlighted in this post, by “SG,” who used a fake email address (nothing like being obnoxious AND a coward).
DP:
Keith is correct. I wasn’t referring to your post. I was referring to the original comment.
Tom