My Favorite Food Things - Day #2 - Food Network Program

Ina Garten’s Barefoot Contessa.

That is the answer to your burning question,
“Do you watch the Food Network?”

I am a long-time viewer of the Food Network, but have become more and more disappointed by their programming in recent times. Lately the Network is overcrowded with shows spouting the best way to bake a cake, where to find the dive-y-est food, and how to eat on a 25 cent budget. These aren’t cooking shows – these are mindless episodes that just happen to talk about edible ingredients.

Ina Garten however, has it all right. She is still making dishes from start to end sans shortcuts. In an episode she not only demonstrates how to cook some fantastic food worthy of any entertainer’s table, but she also showcases her kitchen. Her kitchen is in her desirable Hampton’s house set so perfectly on the beach. From her kitchen pass the acre-plus herb garden is a magnificent view of New York’s skyline. Stunning!

Barefoot Contessa and Ina were nominated - for a second time - in 2009 for a Daytime Emmy Award in the categories of Best Culinary Program and Best Culinary Host. Ina won her first Emmy award in the later category.

Despite the Emmy and Emmy nominations, Barefoot Contessa has limited airings these days…so set your TiVo to scourer through all hours of the day to record this dying out breed of a cooking show.