Nigella's Back!

So this is the first non-recipe posting I've done on Well Fed, but I thought it was interesting enough to break the format, so to say.  Now I know that in the world of food blogging, people have very stong opinions about the Food Network.  Names like Paula Deen, Sandra Lee and Rachel Ray make people's eyes flutter and veins stand up.  Now, I happen to love Food Network.  With just a few exceptions like The Office, cooking shows are the only thing I ever watch.  Of course reading recipes on line, in books, and in magazine is interesting and informative on one level, nothing compares to actually seeing the technique of how they are prepared.  Plus the seething hatred I have for hacky Sandra Lee is just pure bliss.

I always like seeing what new shows Food Network rolls out, which ones stick and which ones seem to evaporate (Does anyone remember CC Carmichael and that little dog she had in the kitchen with her?).  When Giada De Laurentiis premiered I don't think that anyone would have expected this stiff, skinny girl with a seemingly oversized head would have become one of the biggest and most glamorous  personalities on the network.  Along with Ina Garten, she sort of filled a void left when Nigella got remarried and quit TV.  Like Nigella Bites, both Everyday Italian and Barefoot Contessa (which is produced by the same company that did Nigella Bites) have more of a lush, expensive look than any other cooking show on the network.  Ina and Giada cook in expansive, light filled kichens, they have beautiful cookware and dishes, the recipes are elegant but not fussy, and the episodes always culminate in the food being devoured by their attractive friends and family.  There is such an air of casual decadence.  My weekends don't quite feel complete unless I've indulged in one or both of these shows.

So for everyone, like myself, who has not quite gotten over Nigella's depature from telly, we all have reason to rejoice.  Nigella will be returning with a new show, her first ever for the Food Network.  The following comes from a daily television email newsletter called Cynthia Turner's Cynopsis:

The Food Network debuts a new menu of programs for 2006, with a specific strategy to build its primetime fare.  Recognizing viewers are looking for something different in the after-dinner hours, the programs look to include more entertainment and fun along with the how-to aspects.  The first two new original series to hit the air in primetime are:
    •     Two for the Road, premieres June 27 at 10p, Paula Dean's sons, Jamie and Bobby, criss-cross the country in search of the best local, homemade foods and family-run businesses.  (The last thing I want to see is the spawn of Paula on a road trip)
    •     Throwdown with Bobby Flay, premieres June 29 at 10p, in each episode Chef Bobby Flay will challenge the best amateur cooks in different food arenas – bakers, pizza makers, BBQers and more to a surprise cook-off.  (I can't stand Bobby Flay.  His recipes are so samey and he's such an arrogant asshole, pardon my French.)

Other new series coming next season include:
    •     Healthy Appetite with Ellie Krieger, premieres April 8 at 1p, nutritionist and author, Ellie Krieger will show viewers how simple it is to stay on track with a healthy diet by offering tips for life's most stressful situations in this half-hour show.  (I'll give this show a chance but I'm skeptial.  Shows about healthy cooking always seem to be a bit soft.)
    •     Tyler's Ultimate, premieres May 6 at 930a, Tyler Florence will celebrate his tenth year on the Food Network with this new series about the ultimate versions of classic recipes and how they can be prepared easily at home.  (This show has actually been on for a while.  I think Cynopsis is confused)
    •     Paula's Cooking Party (working title), premieres September 2006, shot in her hometown of Savannah, GA, Paula will cook and connect with fans in-studio and in field segments on the road, by answering questions and encouraging audience participation.  (This sounds like torture, right?)
    •     Nigella Feasts, September 2006, based on her recent bestseller, Nigella Lawson comes to the Food Network for the first time with this new series about food, family, public holidays and private passions and how to celebrate with dishes that stimulate the senses and the palette.  (Welcome back, Nigella!  Welcome back!)

New limited series include:
    •     The Next Food Network Star 2: Winner Show (working title), premieres June 2006, the next crop of contestants will show off their best and America will vote to have their favorite receive a six-episode series of their own.  (This is sure to suck)
    •     Feasting on Asphalt, premieres July 19 at 9p, Alton Brown will travel on Route 50 via a motorcycle to uncover every aspect of eating on the go from community centers to RV parks. He will stop in various places along the way from Savannah, GA to the California coast.  (No)

Returning programs with new episodes:
    •     Iron Chef America: All Star Battle (working title), premieres November 2006, Chef Bobby Flay will partner with Giada De Laurentiis, while Mario Batali teams with Rachael Ray for the cooking battle to end all battles.  (This ought to be pretty good)

By year's end, Food Network will be fully distributed in more than 90 million homes. The network is also well on its way into the multiplatform world with deals with Sprint for mobile content, VOD services on both the Time Warner and Comcast systems, broadband distribution via MSN and Yahoo, and plans to launch an HD channel next week in 3 million homes with Echostar.

I can hardly wait.

Comments

[Rorie]

I adore Nigella - my wonderful culinary/style role model - such exciting news!

[Vaguely Urban]

I'm so with you on all of the above, except that I will give Alton's new show a chance. Just because it's Alton.

[ann]

ooooh, i'm excited to have Tyler Florence back!
he seems so down to earth about food

[cm]

wow, that is excellent news! I loved your line about the hacky Sandra Lee. Who *is* that woman? Why is she on TV? When will she get laughed off the air for good? Most importantly, when's the big Nigella/Sandra throwdown going to air? I'd get PPV to watch that :)

[Julie]

I've never seen Nigella but so many people seem to be so crazy about her that I'm sort of interested to see what her show is like.

I've sort of given up on the Food Network lately. I like cooking shows and fewer and fewer of their shows are cooking shows at
this point.

Sandra Lee is definitely not my idea of a cooking show. And to think I used to complain about Emeril.

[Grant]

Rorie - I'm very excited that Nigella's coming back, too. She's just so regal.

Vaugly Urban - I've never really watched much of Alton Brown, but from what I've seen it's a little Mr. Wizard for me. Although I do recall watching him talk about the different grades of ice cream and it was really interesing.

ann - I too am glad that Tyler will be coming back. His recipes are really flavorful and reliable.

CM - I guess Food Network feels that they need shows that appeal to all different levels of cooks, but Sandra is just so basic. I remember she actually did a show where her recipe was to make boxed mac and cheese and then add store bought salsa. I mean, COME ON.

Julie - If you go to www.youtube.com and do a search for "Nigella" there should be one clip if you want to check it out. She shows how to make chestnut and lentil soup. If you've never seen her in action, there's something very assured, almost queen-like, about the way she glides through the kitchen. I'm so glad I taped all he shows when they were on the Style network.

[lena]

yes!! i agree w/ all of your comments too... can't wait for the return of Nigella, and can't stand Sandra Lee...