List Week 2006: Reasons Why I Love Food Network

Sometimes...you just have to do something FUN! Welcome MGF Fans to List Week 2006! This week, me and the other MGF Contributers will put together some random thoughts for (what we hope) are some hilarious results. Lists have a funny way of clarifying and organizing thought...so why not have a whole week of them? So, sit back and relax MGF Faithful -- this is going to be an interesting week! - Lily

1. Good Eats and Alton Brown: It’s Mr. Wizard in the kitchen. What other show is going to tell you how to smoke salmon in a cardboard box with a fan, some sawdust, a hotplate, and cast iron skillet? In his own funny way, Alton is the brains behind the Food Network. He breaks down the science of food and makes it fun. If you’ve ever watched the show, you’ve probably sat there at the end going, “I could totally make that batch of jalapeño polenta…where’s my gadgets?”

2. Because I enjoy making fun of Bobby Flay: Does anyone actually like this guy? I don’t what it is, even on mute, I feel my anger rising. It’s like the ego comes off the screen and hoses the viewer down. The man makes great food, no doubt. But I can’t even watch “Iron Chef America” without wanting to change the channel or root for the challenger. He’s never done anything to me…but he’s just one of those guys you love to hate (Sound familiar FJ?).

3. Dave Lieberman, Tyler Florence, and Jamie Oliver are HOT: I don’t care if these guys are making toast or stirring Quik into a glass of milk. I’ll pretty much watch whatever they’re doing. Not only are they absolutely adorable…but they can cook too. Any MGF worth her salt DREAMS of breakfast in bed served by Dave; a light lunch on the terrace by Tyler; and a dinner party catered by Jamie. Bonus points: They’d probably wear the chef whites if you ask them nicely.

4. Even thought Giada Delaurentis is skinny and pretty – she cooks and she eats her food: If this were any other woman, we’d claw her eyes out because she’s so pretty and doesn’t gain a POUND. But you have to give it up to Giada…she makes all that wonderful Italian food (and it’s beautifully shot on her show “Everyday Italian”), makes it look easy, and takes a bite every single time. She’s definitely the network Beauty Queen. She’s there for the guys to look at. Which is only fair (please refer to point #3).

5. You never know what Paula Deen is going to throw together: One summer, I was visiting my family in San Diego. At the time, we didn’t get Food Network at my apartment in AZ, so I was always watching it when I went home. Paula Deen was making what she called a “summer salad.” I was hanging in there with her for a while. The salad had apples, walnuts, some pears, a little sugar…then came the mayonnaise. And then the bacon. And then the cheddar cheese. It was like a car accident…you don’t WANT to look. But you do.

6. Because Old School “Iron Chef” is STILL awesome: I still have nightmares about live Homard lobsters being snuffed out on TV. But somehow, I was TOTALLY cool with the live octopus. Urchin sorbet? I’m there (totally joking on that one!). Fuji TV hit GOLD, GOLD I TELL YOU with the original “Iron Chef” series. It was right upfront on the reality television trend that is all the rage now. No matter what the secret ingredient was, you wanted to know how the Iron Chef’s were gonna work it. And Chairman Kaga? He makes Liberace look like an AMATURE! And the dubbing of the voices…just adds to atmosphere. ALLEZ CUISINE!

7. Because Rachel Ray looks like one of us MGFs: If Giada is the Beauty Queen, Rachel Ray is the perky princess. Happy, go-lucky, and well traveled, the $40-a-day budget wunderkind/30-minute time cruncher is as real as you can get. You can totally tell she loves food and makes no bones that she loves eating too. The woman is juggling THREE shows on the network. She doesn’t need to work out after eating all that rich food. Running around the studio takes care of that for her!

8. Sandra Lee – however annoying she is – is a total MGF in the kitchen: The host of “Semi-Homemade Cooking,” is the ultimate Betty Crocker without all the effort. As we all know, Modern Girl Friday’s are typically pressed for time…so we’re ALL about the shortcut! Thank goodness for Sandra Lee’s “zip-lock baggie” pastry bag tip. Who knew something that regular could make me look like a Martha Stewart-pro?

9. Emeril Lagasse: Need I explain this one? BAM!

10. I love learning about food: I am totally into the food trivia! Shows like Jim O’Connor’s “The History of…,” George Duran’s “Ham on the Street”, and Marc Summer’s cornerstone “Unwrapped” fill that void in my life. Who knew that making Sour Patch Kids was such an effort? Sandwiches were a product of a man not wanting to get up from a card game (IT ALL MAKES SENSE NOW!)? And finding out the thirty million variations of cheesecake was simply divine! More food facts and more food facts, NOW!