It used to be that cooking shows ruled the roost when it came to
talking about television and food. After all, there have been a number
of moguls who made entire careers out of teaching America to cook from
their studio kitchens, from Julia to Martha and beyond. But today, food
is very much the realm of those who aren't so much teaching you how to
prepare it as much as challenging you to a contest to see who can eat
the most of it, often in the fattiest and most cholesterol-packed way
possible.
The best example of this
phenomenon on satellite tv is a series called "Man V. Food," which is on
the Travel Channel and seems to draw a fair share of viewers, many of
whom must be impressed men in their late 40s. On "Man V. Food," the food
element is not so much about how to prepare a recipe as it is towards
were the biggest burgers and most delicious apple pies are in the United
States. The show's host, Adam Richman, is an actor who enjoys eating
almost as much as he seems to enjoy being in front of the camera. The
premise is that he rolls into an American town where someone else is
already known for making the best of something. It could be a cinnamon
bun, it could be a hamburger. After exploring the other restaurants in
town and finding out what the best foods are--or in some cases, the
biggest foods, Richman then squares off against the local legend to see
who can make the best version of what they are known for making the best
of.
It is in this way that cooking shows finally managed to
bring a bit of competition to satellite tv without getting as esoteric
as something like "Iron Chef." Richman, though occasionally a little
hammy, is a likable enough guy, and he is definitely relatable for a
majority of viewers. And thankfully, this is not the same old show where
a guy just goes to greasy spoons and diners across the country, since
he is a man interested in food. While there are definitely some comfort
foods and close to 200 pound burgers here and there, there are also a
whole lot of restaurants that are nationally rated and acclaimed for
things other than just making the world's largest meatball.
At
the same time, "Man V. Food" brings a little bit of competitive spirit
to cooking shows on satellite tv that makes it a lot more palatable for
the kind of food viewer who doesn't want to hear the entire history of a
region that is responsible for a dish. And that's completely okay,
because at the same time, the show doesn't dumb down cooking to its
audience. When esteemed chefs and bakers have the chance to talk about
their city and their specialties, it is a lot more engaging than your
typical food exploration show, and that alone is reason enough to tune
in.
So if you've been wanting a completely different approach to
handling food from your favorite satellite tv channels, get away from
the Food Network and explore the offerings over on the Travel Channel.