I don't know much about the show, other than the host, Alex Guarnaschelli (executive chef at NYC's Butter), teaches a small group of students (a la Molto Mario) how a "pro puts her own unique spin on basic cooking techniques."
I have high hopes for the show. After the major success of Anne Burrell, Food Net appears more prone to finding great talent within the restaurant world, often having years of training.
Still, lots of training doesn't necessarily equal a successful show. And that student/teacher type show can sometimes make the viewer feel like a third wheel.
The Cooking Loft premieres this Sat. at 9:30am ET on Food Network.
PS- I have heard unofficially that Anne Burrell's Secrets of a Restaurant Chef was renewed for more episodes. I'll let you know as soon as that is cofirmed.
having seen her a lot as a judge on iron chef i must say i LOVE alex!
ReplyDeleteshe has a great sense of humor and solid culinary chops.
i don't know how this show will fare but if it fails it is tushmans fault not hers......
love love Alex....and i'm overjoyed at the prospect of seeing more of Ann Burrell ...looking forward to the cooking loft...
ReplyDeletegeeked! i'm really excited to see her show. her sense of humor is perfect for a show like this.
ReplyDeletealthough, i don't like the pic. she's too done up and doesn't look like herself. this isn't a diss, i just like her looking herself.
ambivalent.
ReplyDeleteI am glad that FN has decided to look for more pedigreed chefs, but I'm not sure how popular/likable Ms. Guarnaschelli will be to the general FN audience. I've always enjoyed her appearances as guest judge on Iron Chef America, but I don't see the same people who tune in for Rachael Ray or Sandra Lee wanting to watch her.
I saw her compete on the Iron Chef
ReplyDeleteand she was fabulous
So much better than some of the clowns FN tries to pass off as chefs
ie..Big Daddy and Sunny..Blech
im kinda unsure about this new show. the commercials with the sparkles don't appeal to me...i don't know maybe fn will surprise me
ReplyDeleteI've enjoyed her appearances on "ICA" so this sounds like fun. I do miss "Molto Mario" and the concept of a cooking class show with the guests in person is a good one.
ReplyDeleteAlex actually competed on "ICA" though? Did she win?
I think the commercials are cute with the little sprinkle of stars and sounds of an orchestra tuning up. FN really, really needs to have more trained chefs in their lineup, so I'm looking forward to the show.
I'm def looking forward to this new show. Although not familiar with her "ICA" appearances I always like to give new peeps a chance. Others have posted she has a great sense of humor and I love that so I hope the show does well. I will be tuned in.
ReplyDeleteLooks boring from the previews I've seen, but I'll give it a shot!
ReplyDelete~A
saw Alex compete on ICA--barely beaten by IC Cora--but she was GREAT!!!!
ReplyDeletewill definitely be tuned in to her new show--
BORING...let me know when Jamie Oliver is back
ReplyDeleteOff Topic...FN sucks. I am so tired of these shows. Guy Fieri? Noooo.
ReplyDeleteJamie Oliver is the best they have right now. Quit with the Flash and Pomp!
Go back to the Basics. Please.
ya wanna talk off topic?? i really miss 2 hot tamales and the 2 fat ladies.... some day in the future
ReplyDeletewe will be able to program a unit to play whatever we want.... until then we are stuck with someone else's stuff.......where's the alka setlzer??
totally agree with anon 9:42--
ReplyDeleteone of the BEST was '2 Fat Ladies'--
First off, thanks for posting this, as requested on the Sunny thread! I am really looking forward to this show, especially after seeing her as a contestant on ICA. I was already familiar with her judging on ICA and really liked what appears to be her approach to food as well as her snarky while still being kind sense of humor, but I liked her even more after seeing her compete. This is one new FN program that I will definitely be watching. I hope it doesn't disappoint.
ReplyDeleteI'm excited to see the show. I am tired of seeing the sparkling finger commercial.
ReplyDeleteYay!
ReplyDeleteThat is all.
Way back when I started watching Food Network, I saw a FN Challenge Thanksgiving episode that Alex was on, and I remember she failed at it and her whole attitude just turned me off. I don't think I'll be watching this new show.
ReplyDeleteSunny and Big Daddy. I agree with you anon. Two of the worst (after Aunt Sandy and Pawlor). LOL.
ReplyDeleteall i can say is, if she makes one more stupid face at the camera while holding a plate of food i'm going to hurt someone
ReplyDeletenot gonna lie...the commercial creeps me out. she makes weird faces and says things like "hear how the food is hissing because it wants attention too?". I don't understand how a show can be successful if the viewpoint is food being a multi-sensory experience to be shared...just seems like a lame idea.
ReplyDeleteBut Matt, food IS a multi-sensory experience to be shared. If you don't pay attention with ALL of your senses while cooking, you're inviting trouble; or at least a less-than-ideal end result.
ReplyDeleteGotta agree with you on the creepy commercial thing, tho. All in all, I like Alex and look forward to her show. Don't judge by the commercial.
To anonymous and snndee's posts earlier, I totally miss the "2 fat ladies" show. They were so good together and were so funny but yet informative all at the same time. I do know all their episodes were released on dvd recently so be on the lookout for it.
ReplyDeleteim so anticipating this show i really like her shes a great judge on ica and i think it will do good.
ReplyDeletei hope that anne burrell rumor is true
I'm enjoying The Cooking Loft, but will Jamie Oliver be back? I love that show.
ReplyDeleteI really liked the show today. My cable info said it was going to be about chicken but it was about tomatoes but nonetheless she actually made tomatoes pretty darn interesting, particulary the caramel pear stuffed maters' she prepared. I'm going to have to try that. Look forward to future episodes but I also do miss me some "Jamie @ Home". He is fantastic.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad to see a real chef on her own show. I'm so sick of watching people make stuff that a kid could make. I was watching a few minutes of Ask Aida yesterday, and got bored, so I switched over to a recorded episode of Molto Mario. What a difference. Learn all about the food and culture of a particular region of Italy, or what some chick make a freaking vinagrette? Hooray for the new show!
ReplyDeleteAgree with many of the posts. I'm tired of the FN thinking their audience is ignorant. I miss Mario, Jamie Oliver, Alton Brown, Ina Garten, etc. on a regular basis. Shows like Bobby Flay's and the chefs I mentioned are the only ones around that actually teach you something about cooking. I don't understand burdening us with Sunny, Aida, Aaron, etc. who know nothing more about cooking than I do from watching 15-20 years of the food network. A perfect example of a waste of tv time is Ted Allen's new show. Or should I say his rip off of Alton Brown's Good Eats and other shows. He is the last person I would want to tell me anything about food. I can barely tolerate him as an ICA judge.
ReplyDelete"Attention FN Execs: Just concentrate on the 'real chefs' and not Giada wannabees or being politically correct.
I hate to say it, but I absolutely hate this woman. She gets on my nerves like none other. Everytime she comes on the tv I feel like she's whining. I think she's just an ugly human being. I dislike her more than Rachel Ray which is saying alot.
ReplyDeleteOuch! To Anon @ 7:23 sounds like she really gets under your skin. In a 30 minute, edited episode you "think she's just an ugly human being"? Wow. Are you sure you were watching "The Cooking Loft"? I didn't get that from her at all. That's pretty harsh. To not like the show is one thing but to bash the host and make such a statement is over the top and way out of line. Btw, you misspelled "Rachael".
ReplyDeletethis show delivered! i loved it. everything was looked delicious. cant wait for the next episode.
ReplyDeleteand to mr anom why all the hate? i agree with Charles. you are way out of line.
i would love to hear jacobs review of the show.
Dorothy, I don't think we're in Kansas anymore....
ReplyDeleteI caught this show for the first time this morning and I'm hooked. The "Perfect Pasta" episode was wonderful. Alex is charming and fun to watch and I love the cooking class premise. For the first time ever I actually printed out FN recipes and I'm actually making one of them tonight for dinner!
ReplyDeleteMORE IMPORTANTLY who was that totally hot guy with the button up shirt and tattoos that was on the show today? Talk about yummy.
ReplyDelete