Comments on: Smash Gods TV: Food Network to New Cooking Show: Can You Be A Little Less Mexican? http://smashgods.com/2010/02/05/smash-gods-tv-food-network-to-new-cooking-show-can-you-be-a-little-less-mexican/ Smashing Politics, Technology, TV & Pop Culture Tue, 22 May 2012 02:38:54 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Mindy http://smashgods.com/2010/02/05/smash-gods-tv-food-network-to-new-cooking-show-can-you-be-a-little-less-mexican/#comment-8683 Mindy Mon, 22 Mar 2010 22:58:06 +0000 http://smashgods.com/?p=438#comment-8683 Oh, I am so sad to hear that Daisy Martinez left PBS. My family and I loved to watch her show. Being that I don't have cable and don't catch shows on the internet, I'm glad I bought her cookbook! Oh, I am so sad to hear that Daisy Martinez left PBS. My family and I loved to watch her show. Being that I don’t have cable and don’t catch shows on the internet, I’m glad I bought her cookbook!

]]> By: smash http://smashgods.com/2010/02/05/smash-gods-tv-food-network-to-new-cooking-show-can-you-be-a-little-less-mexican/#comment-8341 smash Sun, 14 Feb 2010 20:14:57 +0000 http://smashgods.com/?p=438#comment-8341 Thanks for your comment. I give FN credit for supporting "Mexican Made Easy" and other Latin-inspired shows like "Viva Daisy" and even the vapid "Simply Delicioso"; at least they're on the air. The problem is FN passing this stuff off as "ethnic" from their corporate boardrooms. FN assumes that viewers will believe that an enchilada or taco is Mexican enough because no one has time and it has to be easy to make. Complex, elaborate recipes or demonstrations that explore the richness of the culture can't fit in their 5-6 minute segments, and hence we have to see everything in easy-to-digest soundbites. Food, or the experience of it, becomes something rushed and watered down, stripped of anything that's interesting, and that includes a heritage or culture. Those who still excel in their demonstrations, like Ina Garten, do so because they bring a lot of passion to what their dishes. (A great kitchen, killer editing and lighting help too.) Ah, Amy Finley. Winner of Next Food Network Star. She seemed very jittery and unsteady to me, and her "Gourmet Bistro" seemed doomed when she kept doing similar kinds of somewhat-French (she couldn't be too French) dishes like quiches and mousse. But her fate was sealed the moment she very audibly belched in one episode after tasting her dish at the end. I grabbed my TiVo remote and went back several times and --yes, it was her. She quit after six episodes, citing cruel bloggers, and she hightailed it to France with her family. I wish her luck. At least she gets to be in the culture of the cuisine she tried to present on FN. Finally, today's episode of "Mexican Made Easy" was a definite improvement over previous shows like last week's "Cuddle Cuisine" (!). She roasted pasilla chile peppers! She then cooked it! (But she forgot to season it!) After a big splash of tequila, she tossed a flame in it! Would Giada do this? Never. Oh, and the "Choco-flan" she made was a triumph. By appealing to every Latino/a's memories of cakes they had as kids, she knocked it out of the park. Thanks for your comment. I give FN credit for supporting “Mexican Made Easy” and other Latin-inspired shows like “Viva Daisy” and even the vapid “Simply Delicioso”; at least they’re on the air. The problem is FN passing this stuff off as “ethnic” from their corporate boardrooms. FN assumes that viewers will believe that an enchilada or taco is Mexican enough because no one has time and it has to be easy to make. Complex, elaborate recipes or demonstrations that explore the richness of the culture can’t fit in their 5-6 minute segments, and hence we have to see everything in easy-to-digest soundbites. Food, or the experience of it, becomes something rushed and watered down, stripped of anything that’s interesting, and that includes a heritage or culture. Those who still excel in their demonstrations, like Ina Garten, do so because they bring a lot of passion to what their dishes. (A great kitchen, killer editing and lighting help too.)

Ah, Amy Finley. Winner of Next Food Network Star. She seemed very jittery and unsteady to me, and her “Gourmet Bistro” seemed doomed when she kept doing similar kinds of somewhat-French (she couldn’t be too French) dishes like quiches and mousse. But her fate was sealed the moment she very audibly belched in one episode after tasting her dish at the end. I grabbed my TiVo remote and went back several times and –yes, it was her. She quit after six episodes, citing cruel bloggers, and she hightailed it to France with her family. I wish her luck. At least she gets to be in the culture of the cuisine she tried to present on FN.

Finally, today’s episode of “Mexican Made Easy” was a definite improvement over previous shows like last week’s “Cuddle Cuisine” (!). She roasted pasilla chile peppers! She then cooked it! (But she forgot to season it!) After a big splash of tequila, she tossed a flame in it! Would Giada do this? Never. Oh, and the “Choco-flan” she made was a triumph. By appealing to every Latino/a’s memories of cakes they had as kids, she knocked it out of the park.

]]> By: Shelly http://smashgods.com/2010/02/05/smash-gods-tv-food-network-to-new-cooking-show-can-you-be-a-little-less-mexican/#comment-8324 Shelly Sat, 13 Feb 2010 21:32:06 +0000 http://smashgods.com/?p=438#comment-8324 Actually, I think the FN viewing audience would accept a hardcore authentic Mexican cooking show hosted by a Mexican cook. I would. FN executives underestimate their audience. A few years ago, Amy Finley, a contestant on one of their shows, made quesadillas at a football game in Philadelphia. Everybody ate them up. But Suzy Fogelson told Finley, a native of San Diego, that quesadillas were 'regional' and that she should have made something else. It was ridiculous. FN is headquartered in NYC, and that could explain why they are so behind. For years, the scope of 'Latin' food on FN was a ham sandwich made in Miami. Actually, I think the FN viewing audience would accept a hardcore authentic Mexican cooking show hosted by a Mexican cook. I would. FN executives underestimate their audience.

A few years ago, Amy Finley, a contestant on one of their shows, made quesadillas at a football game in Philadelphia. Everybody ate them up. But Suzy Fogelson told Finley, a native of San Diego, that quesadillas were ‘regional’ and that she should have made something else. It was ridiculous.

FN is headquartered in NYC, and that could explain why they are so behind.

For years, the scope of ‘Latin’ food on FN was a ham sandwich made in Miami.

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