Giada's Lower Assets

Giada De Laurentiis might get a lot of attention paid to her low cut tops and other revealing clothes, but I've never seen anything like this.



Okay, that's kinda weird... but this is worse.



Yikes! There hasn't been this much attention paid to feet (and feet tapping) since Larry Craig visited a Minneapolis bathroom!

;-)

Covergirl, Robin Miller

Robin Miller is on the cover of the September issue of Guideposts magazine. In it, she discusses what triggered her passion to understand the relationships people have with food.

Ms. Miller has taken some heat on this blog, mainly by commenters accusing her of being too skinny-- anorexic even. My lackluster opinion of her isn't based on that aspect, but on the fact that I don't find her show particularly engaging.

Still, I was very surprised to read about the tragedy that happened in her past and her subsequent desire to study nutrition.

While a teenager, she witnessed her idolized older sister’s plunge into anorexia – a dive that proved fatal. After her sister Stacy’s death, Robin made a life-changing decision. She’d drop whatever other plans she had and, when it was her turn to go off to college, she’d study nutrition. She tells Guideposts readers how making that decision began her dedication to finding a way to help other young women from becoming anorexic and helping others, like herself, from losing their sisters. Now, with her career writing cookbooks and appearing on television, Robin is determined to demonstrate to people how to make the smart changes for themselves and their families to develop healthy relationships with food.

Wow. Quite brave of Robin to come out and talk about this, let alone deal with being called anorexic, herself. I only wish I had known about this sooner. I would have payed more attention to her show from the beginning.

In fact, I think that's a legitimate spin for a show: good nutrition isn't just healthy... it can save your life.

Take heed to that, Ellie K. ;-)

Amy Finley Is Outside Your Door

Okay, she's not that close... but she's coming.

Season three's winner of The Next Food Network Star, Amy Finley, actually made out with a pretty good timeslot, Sundays at 12pm ET/PT (Giada's old weekend time!).


What? No cleavage? Evidently that's the only thing TV reviewers want to write about, so you better get on it, Ms. Finley! ;-)

“Amy’s infectious, easy going personality and approach to creating simple, impressive dishes will appeal to our food loving audience,” said Bob Tuschman, Senior Vice President, Programming for Food Network. “We couldn’t be happier with America’s choice as the new Food Network “Star” and we think Amy will fit in perfectly to our line-up.”

I may cry a bit now that Dave Lieberman's take on inexpensive gourmet has been axed, but I'll give Amy a shot. I'll have to get my hair curled into ringlets just for the occasion.

Her show, The Gourmet Next Door, premieres Sun., Oct. 14.

New York Times Disses Delicioso

I've caught bits and pieces of Simply Delicioso with Ingrid Hoffman, but not enough to do a full post on it, yet. Overall, I think the show is fine and fits well with the standard FN lineup.

However, I do have some reservations over her reactions to simple actions and phrases. Seriously.... if you thought Rachael was bad, you haven't seen anything until you catch Ingrid Hoffman ramble off some catch phrases en español.

Still, I was surprised to read such a scathing review from the New York Times. In it, Gina Bellafonte claims that Ms. Hoffman is "quickly staking her claim as the country's pre-eminent cleavage cook" and even compares her to guitar-wielding, Latina entertainer Charo.


"Ms. Hoffmann specializes in Latin fusion, ethnic food from which any real sense of ethnicity has been stripped. Her set, a cheerful lime-green kitchen gleaming with chrome, seems never to have opened its door to a pig’s foot," writes Bellafonte, who after dissing Ingrid's (or her producers') choices in fashion, goes on to say that "[t]hough I count among my acquaintances a number of very attractive women who really know their way around a saucier, 'Simply Delicioso' has not convinced me that Ms. Hoffmann would be one of them."

Ouch.

While I've never been one to turn down an opportunity to poke fun at Ms. Sandra Lee, I certainly wouldn't base my entire review on whether or not the host chose to wear a turtleneck apron or an open blouse. It's not that it's just off-subject, it's sexist.

Blah. I'm not even beginning to assert that Simply Delicioso is food tv's saving grace. I'm just saying that it deserves more than a boob-focused review.

Happy Birthday, Rachael Ray!

Tomorrow is Rachael Ray's 39th birthday, but I thought I'd heat it up a day early for all you folks. Besides, you're probably all sitting by the computer waiting for 5 p.m. to roll around, right?

Anyhow, the theme of this slideshow is inferno. You can either think of it as Rachael being an incredibly hot commodity, or as Rachael burning in an inferno. Take your pick and enjoy. But watch the flames... the burn!


Have a great weekend! Hope the rain is letting up, my Chicago friends.

A Baby's Thoughts On Giada

What are some other fun thoughts the baby could be thinking? "My what big teeth you have" perhaps.

Happy Birthday, G!

Just want to give a quick shoutout to Giada De Laurentiis, who turns 37 today!



Just look how far Giada's come since her debut on the Food Network. She has 3 shows and counting, a permanent gig on NBC's Today show. and many endorsements in the works.

Oh, and a rack you could bake cookies on.

haha... just kidding.

;-) happy happy.

Dave (and others) could be McSteamy

My oh my. With all this talk about hot male chefs on Food Network you'd think some massive supplier of plastic wrap and other kitchen products would devise some sort of "steamiest chef promotion."

Well, they have.



You can go to Glad's web site and vote on who you think is the steamiest. Choose between Govind Armstrong, G. Garvin, Dave Lieberman, Aaron Sanchez and Aaron Talbot.

You also have the chance to win a dinner with the steamiest chef and other prizes. The bobbleheads are enough for me, though.

10 Hottest Men of the Food Network

Stuff magazine's feature on the '10 Hottest Ladies of the Food Network' prompted fellow bloggers at Yumsugar to come up with their own list of the 10 hottest guys.



It's a cute idea, but I don't really think I'd go with the same list (Dave's NOT #1???).

Perhaps I'll just make my own "10 Hottest Friends of Ina Garten" list rather than hurt anyone's feelings. #10 would probably be her fishmonger Stan (or whatever she chooses to call him and then go on to act like they're old friends). I'll need some help coming up with the rest, though. Can T.R. help, you think?

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I'm back from my journey to the midwest. I sadly did not make any Steak 'n Shake stops:-( I did go to a very cute place called Minnie's in Chicago, though. Check it out if you're in town and get some delicious mini everything.

Further Proof Dave is Done with FN

Well, after word hit in early July that Dave Lieberman may have ended his relationship with the Food Network I was still optimistic that some new project might pop up. However, Eater LA (via Madeline) now has a direct quote from Dave after they ran into him at the Green Party this past Wednesday:

He told us he's "done with the Food Network for now," working on some other ideas, and wants to open a casual restaurant somewhere in LA.

Dave mentioned the restaurant idea when I saw him in South Beach at the Wine and Food Fest. I think all of his outbursts pretty much confirm the fact that he was done with Food Network back in February, but I could be wrong.

Anyhow, Dave is quite the ladies man in this photo. Not another man to be seen, actually. Miss Thing in the white shirt is definitely trying to work it with the spray-on tan and hand flowing through her hair. Sadly, this ain't gonna work on Dave!!! :-) At least I hope not.

MC Sandra dLEE-lite

I'm outta town until Sunday, so I apologize for the miniscule posts as of late.

In better news, I'm so glad that Matt of mattislostintv.com is back on the posting train! If you haven't checked out his blog, you definitely should. It's a wonderful mix of Food Network, 90210, Belinda Carlisle, Ellen and much much more. Plus, he's a great Web and graphic designer (designed my fun header logo at the top!).

I love this new Sandra Lee Hip Hop Musical. A hiphography, if you will.



Enjoy!

Change your homepage to wvva.com!

I'm done with CNN, the New York Times and the like. I've even turned my back on our own Washington Post.

From now on, I will only get my news from www.wvva.com, Bluefield, West Virginia's SOURCE for critical news updates, life-saving health information and generous use of the ellipses.

Come See the Circus at the State Fair

What would a fair be without the always-exciting circus acts? We caught up the Espana family..also known as the M-R-V Team. They've been entertaining families for four generations. The family started on the flying trapeze...which they still do today. They've also added the Sphere of Fear to their act...performing daredevil stunts on dirt-bike motorcycles. If this isn't enough for the Espana family, you can believe they'll find the next best thing to keep you coming back for more. "Whatever boosts our adrenaline rush...I guess...just whatever keeps us going...new stunts, going faster...bigger bikes", says Visan Espana. The Espana family is performing several times a day throughout the remainder of the fair. Make sure you get by and check them out.

Oh I will check them out, WVVA. I will do whatever you will me to do.

I am not kidding about the ellipses, though. Way to take an email standard and make it mainstream.

I was actually just searching for the News 6 interview with Jamie and Bobby Deen when I stumbled upon this gem.
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:-) This ends our sidebar into WVVA. I'll return to Food Network shortly.

Journalism at its Best

I hate to stereotype the fine folks of West Virginia, but check out this "news story" from the local NBC station's Web site regarding Jamie and Bobby Deen's visit to the state fair.

Jamie and Bobby Deen Visit Fair

If you're not familiar
with them, you may know their mom, Paula Deen.

She has three of her own
shows on the Food Network.

They took the stage to cook in front of
almost two thousand people.

This was the first time either of the
brothers had ever been to West Virginia.

They say they enjoyed the fair
food, especially the ribs.

NBC 6 will have a interview with the brothers
later in the week.

Ummm... maybe an intern wrote this? Someone practicing English for the first time?

Okay... *think of positive, constructive criticism*... the writer is... good at summarizing?

I got nothing.

Party at Dave's!

I hope you all purchased your tickets, because this Wednesday Dave Lieberman is hosting a party in his new Hollywood Hills home... and it's for a good cause!



Dave, along with Food & Wine magazine, is hosting a special, $100/ticket Green Party. The proceeds will benefit Grow For Good, Food & Wine's national initiative dedicated to supporting local farms and encouraging sustainable agriculture.



Only 7-9 pm, though? I bet Dave wouldn't mind hosting a little after-hours if the mood strikes. Hope and pray, people.

I've read about Dave's newfound interest in political food issues such as these and I think it's great he's helping out. I guess you have a little bit more time on your hands to do these kind of events when you're only worrying about hosting an online mayonnaise show.

I kid, I kid.

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How's your Monday going, peeps? I am bored with the excessive heat and still somewhat bored with the new Food Network schedule. I want my Ina on at the same time every Saturday (and so does she)! I don't care if it's the same episode of her making asian salmon or pecan bars for the millionth time. Gotta get it in.

Adrien Sharp's "Highlight" Reel

Looksie what I found: An Adrien Sharp Highlight Reel floating around on YouTube.




"Brandon Dowley is a pro and a master. He hooked this up in minutes and I owe this cat ALOT!! Cheers B. This is for you! Cheers, Adrien"

Hope everyone has ALOT [sic] of fun this weekend!

Hot Food Network Ladies

Madeline of Everything Rachael Ray and Edible TV recently posted about a Stuff magazine article called "The Hottest Women of Food Network." How did I miss this?!?!

Katherine McPhee is featured on the cover, but I think our own Rachael Ray could have been a fine substitute.



Rachael, who has "gone from a frumpy chef with questionable taste in pants to a girl with whom we wouldn't mind hitting up the local White Castle" came in 7th, while my girl Ina Garten got 10th (does last place mean she's not hot or that she's just the least hot of the hottest?).



She isn't exactly pinup material, but she's rich, she's a great cook and her best friend is the least sexually threatening man on the face of the earth. She's not ideal for the one-night hook-up, but once her husband dies, we'll be the first ones in line trying to move into her well-furnished mansion in the Hamptons.


One thing that's weird about this Top 10 is the horrible quality of pictures Stuff managed to dig up. True, our fair FN stars aren't followed as routinely as Britney or Angelina, but it shouldn't be that hard to get a clear photo!

Case in point, Robin Miller and her "huge eyes and almost Steven Tyler-like smile":



Blech! "Robin knows just about everything you need to know about food to keep your torso looking like it belongs in the cast of 300."

Ummm... no, she doesn't.

And even worse: " ...after a night with her you'll need a few protein shakes and an ice pack."

Giada De Laurentiis took the top honors.


"...we'd like to publicly call out TV Guide for having the audacity to give Giada's breasts 'Jeers.' If you jerks criticize this fine young woman for showing off her fine olive-colored skin again, we'll totally kick your asses. Or we'll just use one of the other 5 million better methods for finding out what's on TV."

Lots of fun quotes in there about Paula and Ellie, too. Check it out. I should have written that article, though. Need a freelancer, Stuff?

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It's Thursday. Woo hoo. I'll be comin' atcha from a different locale after this week, so sorry for the delay in posting. Thing will be back up to speed shortly. Enjoy this hot, hot day.

Sandra Lee + Grilling + Copious Amounts of Booze

= Good Times.

I caught Aunt Sandra Lee's grilling special last night. It was just as I expected: filled with good advice and recipes I can't wait to try out*.

And while Aunt Sandy may be family friendly, I was still surprised to see her "G" rating.


I guess they gotta learn sooner or later.

Sandra Lee was out on the beach once again, only she was much more covered up than the infamous red dress episode.


Sorry man. Sandra actually dressed pretty identical to the two dudes who "helped out" during this grilling special.

Sandra did cook up quite a few meat and other cookout items during this special, but we all know we were watching for the cocktails.

Sandra didn't seem to like the fact that the men didn't make strong enough drinks, however.

The first guy made a NON-ALCOHOLIC drink consisting of lemonade and some other stuff that couldn't get Sandra out of bed if you poured it directly into her eyeballs.



The second guy made a drink with hot sauce and a lime-rimmed glass, but the only alcohol was a Corona beer! Once again, Sandy's going to need something stronger if you want any performance from her.

That's why Sandra had to take the cocktail making into her own hands. She made some sort of "backseat racecar iced tea" thing or something. While one sip could prove lethal for most normal humans, Sandra could probably mix it with her morning coffee.


Yeah, jot that recipe down. It'll come in handy come Labor Day.

Enjoy!

It's 10:38 p.m. EDT. How's THAT for a Monday post?! Thanks for waiting!

* This is a paid statement and not necessarily the opinion of the writer and creator of Food Network Addict.

Adrien: Here's Your Chance

I kid, I kid about the title.

I hope he is in Las Vegas, though, if he wants to audition for Bravo's "Top Chef"-- the Next Food Network Star's arch nemesis.

**CASTING CALL MEDIA ALERT**

BRAVO HOSTS OPEN CASTING CALL IN LAS VEGAS FOR FOURTH SEASON OF EMMY-NOMINATED “TOP CHEF” SUN, AUGUST 5

WHAT: Bravo is headed to Las Vegas in search of aspiring chefs with all levels of experience and backgrounds, the new culinary hotbed where the new season will be filmed. Bravo is looking for charismatic, outgoing men and women with a love for cooking for the fourth season of its Emmy-nominated hit culinary competition series, “Top Chef.” Whether you’re an Executive Chef, Chef de Cuisine, Sous Chef, Private Chef, Professional Caterer or Restaurateur, one thing all interested candidates must possess is a true passion for food.

Applicants must believe they have what it takes to compete and create unique, interesting, beautiful and above all – delicious – dishes each week. For more information and open casting call requirements, visit: www.bravotv.com/casting.

WHO: Trained professional chefs and self-taught chefs with a passion for cooking are invited to meet with “Top Chef” casting producers. Must be 21 years of age or older as of June 1, 2007, a legal U.S. resident, and not be affiliated with NBC or Bravo.

WHERE: Guy Savoy

Augustus Tower

Caesars Palace

3570 Las Begas Blvd. S

Las Vegas, NV. 89109

WHEN: Sunday, August 5, 2007

12:00PM-4:00PM

Q&A

Here's some questions or comments that I want to reply to:

Anonymous said...

I'm kinda curious who are the chefs that you are refering to that are "slowly getting kicked off the network"? I guess I'm just not as intuitive as you are. haha.

Umm... I feel bad that Dave has gotten moved to 7:30 a.m., for one. Check out my "Is Dave Dunzo with FN" post for more on that one. I'm still hoping for a miracle.

Recipe Tweaker said...

Does anyone else think that Rachaels new look is a little much for day time television? Don't get me wrong, I think she looks better now than she used to...but, between the eye makeup, dark hair and the outfits she wears (Im talking about her new talk show, btw) kinda make her look like she is ready to go out to the club...ok, I was trying to be as nice as possible...what I really meant to say was she kinda looks like a hooker....

...did I mention I heart rachael? haha ;-)

Hmmm... I do think she looks more done up, but I wouldn't go as far to say she's looking like a hooker. Look at Oprah these days. She has dark eye makeup, big eyelashes, diamonds, etc.

Also, anything is better than those days of the jeans and tucked-in, too-tight t-shirts from seasons 1-4 of 30MM.

Jesse said...

Can't wait to see Ina's new kitchen, but I like her old one...I hope she oversees the design...you know it will JUST be South Hampton classic! I'm sure she'll invite the gays over for a big dinner party to celebrate once it is up and running!

I hope so. How can I get invited?!?!

I always wondered if Sandra Lee's set was a set or a real house. Sometimes it looks very "fake" out the window. BUT - I saw a Thanksgiving special last year where she actually saw wild turkey's running around outside that window as she was cooking a turkey. It was a very "meta" moment. Was that a video? B/c it certainly looked like wild turkey's running on lush green hills - not Brooklyn! :-)

I actually don't remember this episode. That's hilarious, though. I do remember one of her "in the backyard" which was obviously a different location.

BTW - *LOVE* the picture where Rachel says "this kitchen isn't orange enough!" Perfect! :-)

Thanks!

*Does anyone know which Robin Miller kitchen came first and which came second? Its bugging me! :P

The one with the window and cars driving by is new. The old, warmer one where Robin had the more "I'm a mom!" look wasn't really doing it for me, though. Not to say I love this new one, either. Sigh.

Pat said...

Jesse:

Old Robin Miller = oval window, more severe make-up, cheesy theme song (Everybody sing! "Out the door / Beat the clock...It's crazy / But I love it / I love this crazy liiiiiiife!"

New Robin Miller = larger window with filmed car chase sequences, overall much larger workspace, very straight hair, melodic opening sequence with a font that resembles that Line Rider game.

Hahaha.... i HATE that song. And great reference with Line Rider. Thanks!

Marc said...

Oh yeah, and buy an exhaust hood for the range you don't use. Ovens don't need an exhaust hood!

Caught yah, Rach!

Anonymous said...

Paula Deen's original kitchen was actually not even in her own house - it belonged to Gordon Elliott her producer.

Really? Why'd he have a home in Savannah?

Mark said...

I watched that "Rachael Ray's open house"...well twice. It was painful. The "guests" were just so uncomfortable in front of the camera.

One more thing I don't like about the new 30-minute meal: She talks for like 2 minutes when the fridge is open! That's not right.

Didn't that mom ever teach her anything!

Sue said...

I don't know which is funnier, your posts or the comments you get.

I know! That's why they're getting their own post today.

Anonymous said...

Last night i dreamed that Rachel and i were riding on the back of a giant polar bear named Smoochly. We were looking for a colony of gnomes who had taken all the strawberries then we were on an ice shelf and Smoochly and Rach disappeared and a giant shark was trying to attack me, but If I siad the word "muffin" out loud just before he bit me i could levitate away from its jaws. Then I was in an old house and found some coins in the wall and then i woke up.

My dream, too! Only the polar bear was named Smoochily.

Gen said...

If Robin Miller ate a donut she look like she swallowed an innertube.

Seroiusly, she looks as if she's anorexic. Mebbe she only eats the few bites she cooks on her show.

EAT, ROBIN, EAT!

Nice mental image.

Gen said...

I love her kithen on her talk show set. The pantry doors with the chalkboard on the fron is too fabu. The whole kitchen is fabu.

Didja see how she's pimping garbage bowls now? Something in my brain says WTF? and another part of my brain says I gotta get me one of those. Crazy!

I like the talkshow set, too. I haven't seen the GB sale yet, though. Not surprised in the slightest!

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Okay, that was fun. I appreciate all the comments like always and wanted to make special note of them today. Like Sue said, a lot of the times they're funnier than my posts!

Ingrid Hoffman was one this morning when I woke up. I still haven't gotten around to getting some screen caps from her show so I can post about it. So far, I think the show is okay. She's a little too cheery for me (I think Ina would lose her mind in the kitchen with her), but she seems to know her stuff*.

Have a great Sunday!

*- This implies that I don't know all that much about traditional Latin cuisine. Just like Giada is to Italian food, I don't expect Ingrid to comply with every rigid rule there is to cooking "latina style."

Rachael's New 30MM Kitchen-- Finally

I'm having serious blogger's block lately. I apologize. Nothing on the Food Network is really gettin' my juices flowing-- making me salivate with satisfaction, if you will. True, there's some random new shows on, a few shows on a different times, and a few chefs slowly getting kicked off the network, but there isn't much to blog about.

Which brings me back to Rachael Ray.


Oh Rachael, Rachael, Rachael. Darling of the Food Network. Just look at what a little money, false eyelashes and hair color did for you. Oh, and your food is the same-- but that's beside the point.

What were you dreaming about in that pic on the left, I wonder?


Ohhhh... not orange enough? And the green tiles are too big? Well, you can change that.


Even the ever-faithful pantry-- with its shelves always having the exact 3-5 ingredients you need on it--has to change?


All good things must come to an end, I guess. The new cabinet system she has makes me think there was a sale on lockers at the Nickelodeon channel offices.

It is so very orange in there, now.


But you get what you want when you're RR.