Alton Brown calls an end to 'Good Eats'

[dataz722]

I really liked the show when he first started doing it, but for the last several years it just seems like he has been repeating himself an awful lot. At the time when he started I was living in Atlanta, so it was always fun to see him hanging around in local haunts on the show.

The one thing that I really liked about his show was that it introduced me to Shirley Corriher's work.

I am a huge Good Eats and AB fan I have seen every single episode, most of the numerous times, own and read every single book he has put out, and own or built quite a few of his gadgets. With that said though, I think the last 2 years or so he and the show have changed a lot and not for the good in my opinion. He has started to come off as being arrogant and almost holier than thou in many different aspects. Many times almost like he is preaching about his ideals and whatnot. I noticed it was right about the time he lost all that weight 2 or 3 years ago.

I still faithfully watch the show and will probably watch whatever he comes out with in the future but I don't enjoy it nearly as much as I did the earlier ones.

I have always been a foody and avid cook (Thanks Mom!). AB's no nonsense approach to cooking opened my eyes and inspired to try thing I would have more than likely never tried.

I found it "Good TV" that I could watch with my wife and son (now 10 yrs) in a time where there are very few show on the major networks that my wife and I deem acceptable. My whole family are true fans, we own 39 or 40 of his 41 essential kitchen gadgets.

I lvoe your avatar. That is one of my all time favorite movies.

 

[mightynintendo]

I loved when Alton was teaching bachelors how to make coffee in a french press and he said "if you don't like your coffee strong... GET OVER IT."

 

[Tbone66]

sometimes I just shake my head and think; "WTF are you DOING!". The steamed/baked-wing multi-tier contraption and the ladder-turned-fried-turkey-hoist are two that come to mind.

My dad and I made the AB turkey derrick out of some scrap metal and it is awesome! Yes I prob could have used the mini coat hanger they give you in the fryer kits but I'm that guy. I was once voted most likely to talk science while drunk at a party.

I know where your coming from SpanishCastleAle, most normal people look at it and just ask why. I just tell them I'm a nurd and proud of it.

GE you will be missed

Ryan

 

[Jaybird]

He is the reason I started brewing. Watched his 30 min program on brewing beer. Went to the LHBS the very next day. Had a batch fermenting 2 days later.
I'm sure its not the last we will see of Alton Brown....
Cheers
Jay

 

[eanmcnulty]

Sad to hear. I love Good Eats, and his home brew episode is what got me to think, "Hmm, I should try home brewing again." I had home brewed about five times back in 1989-90. I just brewed batch number 50 on Wednesday.

 

[ao125]

Too bad. His Amber Waves of Grain episode was a great help to me when I first started brewing. He has a great gyros recipe too.

Absolutely +1

 

[dataz722]

My dad and I made the AB turkey derrick out of some scrap metal and it is awesome! Yes I prob could have used the mini coat hanger they give you in the fryer kits but I'm that guy. I was once voted most likely to talk science while drunk at a party.

I know where your coming from SpanishCastleAle, most normal people look at it and just ask why. I just tell them I'm a nurd and proud of it.

GE you will be missed

Ryan

I have made the derrick too. It only cost $10 and about 5 minutes of time and I thought it was well worth it.

 

[Tim_Kreitz]

Regarding Alton's 'Amber Waves' episode: I'd never seen anybody boil grains before that show. I was in a homebrewing lull at the time and hadn't made anything in a year or so. After watching that episode, I started searching for 'boiling malt' on the Internet and it led to me getting interested in doing decoctions.

I remember that 'Amber Waves' took a lot of heat at the time it aired for containing errors, but I have a spiced small beer recipe utilizing pure cane syrup and LME which uses a few of the same techniques from that show, including a long grain boil. It definitely makes for a different beer experience, but is something fun to do around the holidays and tastes quite good.

 

[slakwhere]

i am in the opposite boat, i have been brewing for a couple years and just saw the amber waves episode... there were several things he did in the episode that made me cringe. i love him in the kitchen, but he's not welcome in my brewery.

 

[ao125]

i am in the opposite boat, i have been brewing for a couple years and just saw the amber waves episode... there were several things he did in the episode that made me cringe. i love him in the kitchen, but he's not welcome in my brewery.

"Factually Accurate" and "Good TV" don't always go hand-in-hand.

There are a number of his recipes though, that I make with great regularity.

I routinely use the "Moo-less Chocolate Pie", his pizza dough, and a bunch of techniques from all of his episodes.

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/moo-less-chocolate-pie-recipe/index.html

 

[slakwhere]

when he pitched the yeast out of the fridge into the wort at almost 90 degrees F i threw up a little in my mouth. boiling the grains? ack.

i did like that he used ice instead of top up water to cool the beer, but it was still too hot to pitch!

 

[HexKrak]

I turn to GE any time I'm stepping into some aspect of cooking that I don't yet understand, or has managed to confuse me. I've been playing around with bread making lately so what did I watch last night? Good Eats: Dr. Strangeloaf of course GE was my favorite cooking show to date, I just wonder if what he does next can fill those shoes.

 

[MmmmBeer]

GE was my favorite for a long time. He presents it in a way to show why you can't take short cuts in cooking and for me that helped big time. This includes anything from how to break down gluten while kneading dough to simply letting a steak rest long enough after pulling it off the grill.

Can't wait to make that dry aged porterhouse though...

 

[remilard]

when he pitched the yeast out of the fridge into the wort at almost 90 degrees F i threw up a little in my mouth. boiling the grains? ack.

i did like that he used ice instead of top up water to cool the beer, but it was still too hot to pitch!

What's wrong with boiling grains? It works for Germany.

 

[Revvy]

What's wrong with boiling grains? It works for Germany.

It works for me when doing a decoction mash as well....But folks have over simplified the admonition about how tannins are extracted (Neglecting the part about PH in conjunction with temp) to become the warning "don't boil your grains or squeeze the grainbag.(something biab brewers do all the time)."

 

[drummerguysteve]

That's very true Revvy. I've done plenty of decoctioms that come out great! It's my way of extending the brew day when I have a pipeline that is too full.

I don't recall if Alton mentioned pH in the episode (I suspect not), but if he did, there is nothing wrong with his practice.

I doubt he would readily encourage people to do anything that tasted bad to him. I also trust that his pallet is very well-defined. It could be that his pH was under control, and that boiling grains with his water is perfectly acceptable.

 

[Homercidal]

AB did a fairly simplistic brew and I am pretty sure pH was not mentioned. Many people coudl get passing quality beer with their water and not worrying about pH.

But let's be honest: AB probably didn't even really know or care about pH. It's an advanced subject as far as brewing goes, and he did an extract brew. (or PM)

Some of what we might call "best practices" are likely not strictly necessary, and some of them (like rehydrating dry yeast or pitching on wort) are debatable even amongst us experts.

It would be nice to see a better, more detailed, revisit on homebrewing by AB. Maybe a BIAB batch for those who want to see how the mash works. If only he was still running the show.

 

[fall-line]

Sad news for me. Good Eats has been one of my favorite programs on television for years.

 

[bob1852]

It would be nice to see a better, more detailed, revisit on homebrewing by AB. Maybe a BIAB batch for those who want to see how the mash works. If only he was still running the show.

With how, dare I say it, "trendy" homebrewing is right now (and especially how even more trendy cooking shows are), I'm surprised too that AB and/or FoodNetwork haven't done a 1-hour special on homebrewing.

AB would be good at it. He was always good at addressing myths in cooking (and there's certainly plenty of those in brewing) with characters like the evil french chef, paul, etc...

He could get revvy to go on a rant after his air lock doesn't bubble in 12 hours

 

[mccumath]

I have not seen the brewing episode of GE. Anyone have a link by chance?

 

[weirdboy]

I have not seen the brewing episode of GE. Anyone have a link by chance?

Part 1:




You should be able to find the rest of it on your own.

 

[ozzy1038]

O.K. The "campy factor" turned me off. It makes me think of a show for kids, or a way to keep some people interested. I understand it's appeal and why it was done as such. I think it was a great show. In fact the only other show that was as good, but better in my opinion was "taste" hosted by David Rosengarten (this was the predecessor on food network, mid to late 90's). I liked his style, and the childishness was not present.

Either way the science of food was there. Way more beneficial to those who love food and the way it works than the other less than stellar shows. Consider me jaded though as I am a culinary graduate and on again and off again chef ( carpal tunnel is a bitch!! ).

All that said, anything that gets people interested in food beyond the point that we need it to live is great in my book. Better food is like craft beer. It takes passion and care. As well as a desire for something better than "the norm". The pleasure of creating something for someone that garners "this is the best meal I have ever had" makes all of it worth it and more. It is a very gratifying feeling.

 

[Adeering]

So bringing up an old thread because it came up in one of my searches and got me thinking. I love AB and GE and its what one of my staple recipes came from and what helped get me started with brewing (the amber waves was were I got some ideas and techniques in the beginning when I did my first batch). Has since done a lot more research and see the difference in his techniques vs what most here due but I digress.

I loved Good Eats and have several of his books and use them daily, im a science type person and love how he explained why certain things work in cooking and not just do this cause it turns out good like most shows.

Anybody know what he has coming out new or doing now. Dont watch tv much anymore so havent seen what he has going?

 

[Revvy]

He does hosting roles on things like Be the next food network star, and Iron Chef America, which he's done for years. He also did a series called feasting on Asphalt where he road a motorcycle and visiting food places around the country.

 

[Adeering]

Ok so nothing like Good Eats or another show where he is cooking Guess Ill have to survive with his books and all the episodes saved