I guess I’m also growing bored with the redneck format, regardless of whether it is the self depracating variety performed by the Jeff Foxworthys and Larry the Cable Guys or if it is likes of David Spade or Will Ferrell making fun of the poor white trash. At this point, we’ve all heard these jokes before. It is more of the same old, same old.

quote:

Originally posted by CajunKing

If they stick with the "tailgating" style of show they need better interaction with the crowd – the first episode the crowd at the univ seemd like they were on set for an infomercial.

yeah, I noticed that too. They tried to be interactive when they threw the paper bag to a person and she threw it back. It was a small crowd too. A little more advertising on location before arriving would help,(and giving away free food to college kids).

I wonder if all the episodes are all taped already, or if they are still working on some of the episodes. I assume 5 or 6 would already be in the can. After that though, I’m sure many people are giving much of the same critiques, and the show will be able to improve from those suggestions.

quote:

Originally posted by uncledaveyo

Re: the New Mexico episode.

I’ve never seen such skill in draining all the life out of a fascinating topic.

Wow! This I’ve got to see. [;)]

quote:

Originally posted by Foodbme

To all youze epicurious purests—-Get over it! Gluttony is in! If you don’t believe me, just go to any mall in America, sit on a bench and watch the parade go by![;)][;)][8D] It should be an entertaining show. BTW, there are people out there who eat Lard Sandwiches![xx(][xx(]

They are gourmets, using brined and seasoned Italian lard! (A.K.A. Lardo)

I taped the first show and watched it when I got home later.

The first show had a subject I love, Peppers and hot Peppers. I have only been to the SW once, and it was neat to see the scenery and the pepper harvest.

I would have liked to seen more dishes done during the show, or even showing how to make the chile sauce (they used bottled in both recipes)

John the shorter one seemed like he was always fighting for camera space, like 2 hogs at a trough.

I will give the show another couple of tries (nothing else on tv on Wednesday Night)

If they stick with the "tailgating" style of show they need better interaction with the crowd – the first episode the crowd at the univ seemd like they were on set for an infomercial.

The bastrick’s here in Charlotte, Time Warner, replaced our Travel Channel with some really bad kid’s show. Guess we have to pay extra if we want to see it now.

Someone mentioned lard sandwiches. My grandfather worked the night shift at Armour’s in Chicago when I was a kid. He’d get up around noon and get 2 slices of Polish rye bread, slather them with about 1/4 inch of pure lard, salt and pepper them and wash them down with a cup of coffee. He was a picture of health…tall and lean. At the time, we couldn’t figure out why he dropped dead when he was 63. His arteries were probably thinner than a light-bulb filament. My grandmother didn’t help. Her main cooking consisted of a large blob of lard in a skillet, fry the pork chops or whatever and potatoes in the lard and open a can of peas, green beans or corn. Poor grandpa didn’t have a chance. Back then, no one even heard of cholesterol or clogged arteries.

I don’t know AL – it’s not a science show. Not sure how interested the average Joe would be in the evolution of peppers. They did mention the fact that most pepper varieties are hybrids from other peppers, created to achieve either hotness or sweetness as desired. For a half-hour show, I don’t think they need to chart out the history and evolution of peppers.

I think the show is supposed to be about using a local ingredient in ther tailgating type of cooking. They took us to the capital of the hot pepper, showed us how they’re picked, how they’re roasted and a couple dishes to make with them.

I love a good cooking show. I grew up watching Julia Childs and Jacques Pepin on PBS, when there wasn’t a food network and what not. But even the purist has to admit, that most of those dishes on PBS are not attainable to the average Joe. Here, in this new entertainment focused show-style we find on Food Network, Discovery and the like, we are subjected to simpler meals more doable by full-time working adults/parents.

I think in this case, the show has to be judged on it’s own merit, rather than compared to another cooking show. Even comparing it to Alton Brown isn’t fair, because if these guys came out and did a sort of redneck version of Alton Brown, they wouldn’t last past local cable access. Instead, they have their own niche – tailgate style cooking with an attempt to use the local ingredient.

I’m not sure what people expected. I never even heard of these guys until last night. So I expected nothing. I didn’t think the format was bad, I think showing the region, it’s crown jewel (the pepper) and where it comes from, and some dishes made from it, is a fine format. I would’ve liked one more recipe though, because a IMO, a show about food, should ultimately show us something we can eat. So, perhaps you’re right, Al, saying that they tried to include too much. Maybe just streamline the show to make the segments more meaningful – with a little less on the "Made in America" style segments.

Are the guys hokey? yes. Corny? yes. Doing something you or I think we could do better? sure. But hey, it’s a TV show. And TV shows are selected by the execs for the sole purpose to sell advertising space. If one wants to really learn how to cook or more about the history and evolution of the hot pepper, take a class at your local community college.

Anyway, I’m apparently in the minority here, as most people seem to be picking the show apart. But, that’s what I expected anyways.

Score,
Maybe strong-drink would be a boost to the critic’s report. If the show is a "we will Cook while on location" theme, then OK, add a third dish of pepper-oriented something and skip some of the Ag-School tour.
On the other hand , if it is a tour of "pepperland" then skip the cooking lession and give us some solid info on some of the varieties of Peppers and how they evolved (not just the hotness scale).
I think they tried to cover everything..and didn’t do justice to anything. The banter from friends is acceptable…these guys are not my friends, so they qualify as annoying ![8)]

Re: the New Mexico episode.

I’ve never seen such skill in draining all the life out of a fascinating topic.

That show is really bad. I was excited to watch-but did not last more tha 15 min. They are just annoying.

I’m starting to wonder why any of the cable nets would bother to launch a new food show without testing it before a blue-ribbon (or is that plate?) panel of Roadfood.com folks. [;)]