The Frugal Gourmet

[JonM]

The Julia-ism that we use often is (In full Dan Aykroyd Julia impression voice) "Americans are so afraid of fat!" Whenever we make something that uses a lot of butter or heavy cream or something like that, that one comes up.

There was another episode where she said something that really stuck with me. She said people always get upset if they run out of a particular ingredient and say "Oh, now I can't make that because I don't have X." She said something like "Of course you can! Substitute something else or improvise!" That one comes to mind whenever something doesn't go as planned on brewday.

I highly recommend the American Masters episode of Julia. She was a fascinating lady.

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/americanmasters/episodes/julia-child/about-julia-child/555/

 

[Dan]

All I can say is. I love this thread. Going to post later


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[noob1979]

I grew up on all of those, when we didn't watch Norm Abrum. There was a Cajun named Paul Preudome that made excellent food, I have one of his books.


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[LabRatBrewer]

I liked the Galloping Gourmet. There was also a local show with a man and wife, and it was full of sexual innuendo's and drinking. She was very funny. I don't recall the name. There's a youtube channel called "My Drunk Kitchen" that's clever.

Edit: Found it, it was called: At Home on the Range” with John Crean & Barbara Venezia I guess John died in 2007. Too bad, episodes here: http://www.hotrange.com/

 

[Homercidal]

I'm a big fan of Alton Brown. I especially loved the fun way he filmed his episodes, and the science and reasoning he brought to the party.

I think the first episode I saw was when he smoked a fish at a motel in a cardboard box.

I'm not saying he did everything right, or best, but I absolutely learned more about WHY things are done the way they are done. And there is always room for personal preferences in cooking.

 

[JonM]

I grew up on all of those, when we didn't watch Norm Abrum. There was a Cajun named Paul Preudome that made excellent food, I have one of his books.


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Because of Norm, I can't read "doors and drawerfronts" without thinking in a Massachusetts accent. Same goes for "framing square" and "combination square."

 

[JonM]

I'm a big fan of Alton Brown. I especially loved the fun way he filmed his episodes, and the science and reasoning he brought to the party.

I think the first episode I saw was when he smoked a fish at a motel in a cardboard box.

I'm not saying he did everything right, or best, but I absolutely learned more about WHY things are done the way they are done. And there is always room for personal preferences in cooking.

I like the way Alton Brown cooks out of the toolbox. That is, he uses an infrared thermometer, he used channel lock pliers to crack lobster claws because nutcrackers were too small, and a bunch of other things I can't think of right now.

 

[HornetSparky]

I too enjoy Alton Brown. The best part of Alton's approach is that he addresses why a particular technique works in addition to how to execute. Teach a man to fish . . .


Sparky
Making beer and hard cider in Southern Virginia since 2011.

 

[SmokeyMcBong]

Whenever I need to know "how to" for any procedure or technique I always check out what Alton Brown is saying. He's usually spot on to the way it should be done, plus he'll add in the why's and why nots.

I also absolutely adore Paul Prudhomme as well.

 

[noob1979]

Because of Norm, I can't read "doors and drawerfronts" without thinking in a Massachusetts accent. Same goes for "framing square" and "combination square."

I have exactly the same problem.


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[bob1852]

There is irony in how much a bunch of homebrewers love Alton. Amber Waves of Grain was just bad all around.

But, I still love the guy. Good Eats guy, that is. Feasting on Asphalt or whatever it was called was horrible.

 

[Dan]

Alton Brown? Since I no longer have cable have missed him. Querky dude, nerd? Love his shows. I think his beer brewing episode, he missed a few points. Pretty much most of the facts about brewing. But he did try to at least give the public something they wouldn't have known about in general. Only thing I thought of when I saw that episode aside from him messing up terms and stuff.. Is he this in accurate about his cooking? I don't think he is but it made me wonder.

 

[Dan]

I think I learned to make bread from the Frugal Gourmet. One of his books had a bread baking section, might have been the first one I'm not sure now. By far I am nowhere close to a chef or master breadmaker. I thought I was at one time but that was just youthfull delusion.

Still though, the Frug got me into bread making. Simple flour, yeast, water recipe; just like on the fleishmann's yeast package. And it worked! Three simple ingredients and you make bread.. it was pretty cool, fullfilling, satisfaction.

Then I got a little more into making bread. Found a book by Daniel Leader. That guy did "kick it up a notch". (food enthusiast of the tv show Emerald will recognize that phrase)

I'm close to 50. When I was around 27-38 years old I was into bread making. I had a real nice sourdough starter living in my refriderator for many, many years, and made some delicious levans from it. Then I lost interest.. funny how life changes.

 

[pjj2ba]

Julia, Jeff, and Justin all helped teach me to cook. I have cook books from all three.

One of my favorite cookbooks though is The Classic Pasta Cookbook by Giuliano Hazan (check the reviews!). Really helped me perfect Italian cooking. The thing I really like is the text explains what you will see/what to look for while you are cooking so you know when to proceed with the next step/finish.

It also taught me the importance on not cutting back on the oil/fat (at least with Italian dishes). They are important for the cooking process, not just the flavor. If you want less fat, then eat the dish less often, but make it right!

I also like Baking with Julia as that cookbook also give good descriptions, like looking for the dough to make a slapping noise (making brioche) so you know you have the consistency right.

I liked the old Alton. He's gotten a little too anal retentive for my tastes these days.

 

[JonM]

While I watching "Ask This Old House" a while back, Tom Silva was disassembling an old deck so he could build a new one. He got to where the old deck met the house and started pulling off the aluminum flashing. Apparently the person who built the deck ran a little bit short of flashing because there was a flattened aluminum pie plate filling a gap. As Tom pulled the pie plate out, I swear he said "The f*** is this?" Gave me a chuckle.

 

[MindenMan]

Wow!, I guess I am old. I loved watching Graham Kerr, Julia Child, (And who remembers the Dan Akroid spoof?) Jeff Smith, Paul Prudohm, the other Cajun cook that always had his on-yun, and a little more "whyt" wine when he cooked, who's name escapes me. Emeril in the white tile kitchen, rather boring but still informative. My go to bread recipe is still Alton's "Basic Bread" recipe. I kinda liked his Challah bread recipe, but the one I use now is all mine from start to finish. Does anybody remember the first two songs played on MTV? NO Google cheating!
There were so many cooking shows, over so many years, that really influenced my wanting to cook because I loved the smile on people's faces when they really enjoyed something I had made.

 

[SmokeyMcBong]

^ I think one was "Video killed the radio star"??

 

[unionrdr]

I remember Head Bangers Ball,I still have the T-shirt.

 

[Homercidal]

^ I think one was "Video killed the radio star"??

That was the first one. I have no idea what the second one was. Probably Talking Heads.

 

[MindenMan]

"Take On Me" by AH HA. The first live/computer generated video on television.

 

[Subsailor]

Glad you brought this topic up.

The Frugal Gourmet got me into cooking big time. I loved his shows and books, and gave me a better understanding where the foods came from and how to prepare them. Julia Child may have started it, but Jeff Smith made it accessible, in a straight forward, no-fussy kind of way.

Besides Jeff and Julia, there were quite a few other cook shows I liked:

• James Barber (The Urban Peasant) - "Make the best of what you have"
• Martin Yan (Yan Can Cook)
• Clarissa Dickson-Wright and Jennifer Paterson (Two Fat Ladies)
• Alton Brown (early shows)
• The Iron Chef (original series)
• Justin Wilson - only saw his shows a few times
• Chopped - That show really grew on me
• Iron Chef America (ICA) - only a few chefs I deem worthwhile, won't mention names, you know who I'm talking about

How about Graham Kerr - the Galloping Gourmet? Clarified butter, cream, fat and wine!

 

[ChefRex]

Graham Kerr - the Galloping Gourmet another I always found very entertaining!

 

[CoachC]

I grew up watching Graham Kerr,Julia Child,Jacques Pepin etc. My dad was in the industry so I was always surrounded by many great Chefs. I studied under Dominque D'Ermo, John Peavy and a few others. My dad was involved with developing CIA and Johnson and Wales- where I received my Culinary degree. I think that's why my wife married me, for Valentines Day she bought me my beer kit and I can already see many similarities from the cooking world to the brewing world.
Those shows were an inspiration as a kid, Jeff Smith just seemed like a very nice and caring person. I loved the frugal gourmet but it broke my heart when he got into trouble


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[Rivenin]

My sister and i used to watch him and the galloping gourmet a ton when i was little.

if anyone is interested on catching up...
The Frugal Gourmet and others are on hulu

Your weekend is now lost

 

[LabRatBrewer]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=92ArlxnBAk4#t=101


Here's some funny clips from At Home on the Range.

 

[unionrdr]

Some of the frugel ghormet is on youtube too. And the cookin' cajun & graham kerr as well.

 

[blakelyc]

That was the first one. I have no idea what the second one was. Probably Talking Heads.

Yeah, #1 was "video killed the radio star", #2 was pat benatar "you better run".

Alton brown's early shows were great, but he became a charicature of himself. I still refer to the techniques in his earlier shows, but my first reference has become Harold Mcgee's "on food and cooking". Interestingly, it was an interview with Alton Brown when I first heard about that book.

I totally forgot about two fat ladies.... To me, their food was soooooo unappetizing, but they were a blast to watch.

 

[Dan]

Just re-read this thread. Its pretty cool.


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