Baby talk, inarticulate moments, misinformation, big smiles and lots of great production values. That's the Food Network. It's also your brain after 36 hours.
Remember the old anti-drug commercials? This is your brain versus this is your brain on drugs? I wish I could accurately describe them to you, but I'm afraid I've already lost too many brain cells...but my point is, and I DO have one...my point is....
Bill Buford's hysterical piece in the New Yorker October 2, 2006. TV Dinners chronicles his voluntary submission to a grueling 36 hour Food Network Marathon. At the end of which, he was spewing silly drivel such as "First, we cut our bread" and "Do you konw why we cut our bread?" Keep in mind, these gems were delivered by the author, in his own kitchen. To no one.
His dissection of the crafting of a mass-market food channel (including hours of shooting simple things like pecans or diced onions) is a fun window into the food-as-porn-industry.
There's also a fair assessment comparing early icons, such as my idol Julia Child who actually taught us things as compared to say, made-for-TV-bimbo Sandra Lee, who opens cans and containers to make dinner and proudly proclaims her favorite hour of the day is the cocktail hour. Okay, so maybe I agree with Sandra on one thing...
All of this is a lovely prelude to the launch later this month of The Joy of Cooking's 75th Anniversary edition. You may never have to, or want to cook half the things in this valuable reference book. But, any cook, new or old, will find helpful reminders and basic guidance in this celebrated, much published, much purchased cooks' bible.
- See Happy Birthday Joy of Cooking for my thoughts on the dumbing down of cookbooks and a really great apple cake recipe.
- And if you're interested (and not at work and the kids are in bed) in a very entertaining view of how the food network stars are sold to us, see Food Network or Porn? Warning: you may lose your appetite for lunch...or just have some great marinara and a laugh.
