I have to take issue with your entire third paragraph. How do you explain Andrew Zimmern? He's a larger dude, not particularly "manly" or attractive, who has a successful food show. Granted its gimmicky - he eats weird food from all over the world - but still, doesn't the mere existance of his show contradict your argument somewhat?
@SqueakyGasket: Don't you call Bobby a punk. You sound just like my mom. You all are just mad that Bobby is going to take over the Food Network and I will help him run his Empire of Throwdown Doom.
OK, Paula definitely eats what she cooks. Ina too! But, I have to say, I do the Nigella voice when I cook. Even when I'm alone. It makes me feel super hot while I cook. That and the super low v-neck shirts.
I'm not a foodie, but GOD I love Tony Bourdain. 1) He's liberal. 2) He's funny. 3) He's mean. 4) He likes to drink and smoke and I assume fuck. 5) He gets to fly everywhere and EAT! 6) He actually seems pretty introspective for all his bad boy posturing.
@meritxell: I was just watching his show the other day and thinking damn he's sexy as he ate some weird fried fish that was cooked in a mechanic's shop in India. He's sexy, intelligent, and fun!
@WantToTouchtheWahine: Look at me, I'm Sandra Lee... I rub my hands together with glee For my Kwanzaa cake Will make your belly ache Here's another cocktail for me!
Paula and Ina definitely dig into their food on camera, and neither presents herself as a "mom" I don't think Ina even has children. She throws swanky parties and makes intimate romantic meals. Paula gets pretty raunchy on her shows. Her grown children pop in sometimes as capable cooks in their own right, but she's not focused on cooking for families, or pleasing child palates. A lot of her shows are based on things her husband enjoys, again, the romantic, sexy aspect.
@Hana Maru: Yeah, I feel like these criticisms are a little ageist. My mom is essentially Paula Deen and is constantly referred to as a sexy lady. Just because Paula is middle aged doesn't mean she can't be sexy.
I don't think Ina or Paula ever came off as asexual. Definitely maternal but both of them have the glint of sensual in their eyes that spills past food. Alton Brown is more asexual then they ever could be. Plus I think Ina is flat out sexy with her crisp white shirts unbuttoned just so and her sexy voice and when she eats she is just as orgasmically esspressive as Giada. I aspire to be her.
@mbot says Spock yeah!: Yeah and I feel like calling her "svelte" is actually sort off the mark. Giada is "svelte"; her head circumference is bigger than her waist. (That woman has quite a noggin.) Nigella looks like a woman who actually has appetites--for food, sex and life.
There are elements of truth in this, though it certainly doesn't explain Jacques Pepin, or Martin Yan - but they are old school, when looks weren't so important, and cooking was something women did.
It's not enough to have a cooking show any more - it has to be a reality style entertainment show that involves food. That's where we get all the guys eating rectums or eating in gluttonous amounts. We don't expect them to be attractive, in fact, it would be weird if they were.
That said, I find Anthony Bourdain to be hot as hell.
I think that there are even more flaws to his argument than you've pointed out. The dude has completely neglected PBS food shows. The America's Test Kitchen lot aren't super hot but make some good food. Same with Lidia Bastianich and Julia Child.
I see that Rachel Ray was strategically left out of this article... Men LOVE her, and find her very attractive, even while slamming down the horseshit beef-a-roni type dishes she makes in thirty minutes. Anthony Bourdain, who is quite the studmuffin, analogizes that Rachel Ray did to food what Hitler did to Germany.
And Alton Brown is my favorite. He's not a manly man at all -- he made a clafoutis on one episode (french fruity, custardy pastry thing). He's my nerdgasm.
@AmericanSplendor:I always feel like I have to defend Rachael Ray against the haters. Sure, her voice is kind of annoying, and her cutesy acronyms are definitely annoying. I'll agree there.
But, she shows people how to make decent food quickly, mostly from scratch, with reasonably priced ingredients. I consider this a freaking public service in our current culture of eating out and eating processed foods.
@gangey: I agree. I like Rachael Ray's show, and I've made some of her food. She does some good stuff, and she's teaching people to cook, and to take the time to cook, which is important.
@Schrodinger's Cat: I didn't mention her because her "empire" has kinda grown beyond food, but I'd say she definitely has the "girl next door" (whatever that means) accessibility thing going on.
@sarrible: My entire cooking repertoire is from 30 Minute Meal cookbooks. Sure it's a little heavy on the pasta and onions but for someone who thinks McDonalds is the perfect meal it's an improvement.
@Schrodinger's Cat: Have you seen those glen plaids and pinstripes they're putting him in to host ICA? I'm like "Alton, you go right on reading those cards, darling."
Food TV is less lookist than regular TV, I think. Rachel Ray was popular on the Food Network long before she slimmed down and got herself a morning talk show. Could you imagine someone who looks like Julia Child ever anchoring the evening news? Looks certainly play a role, but personality and skills have a pretty big influence.
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Voluptuous, maybe?
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SWOON.
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Drowning in my MSG.
Can't cook with glue
cuz we'd probably get sued,
so here's some tripe with brie!
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I rub my hands together with glee
For my Kwanzaa cake
Will make your belly ache
Here's another cocktail for me!
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Look at me, I'm Sandra Lee
My tablescape will make you pee
My food's from a box
But you know I'm a fox
So drink your Long Island Iced Tea!
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It's not enough to have a cooking show any more - it has to be a reality style entertainment show that involves food. That's where we get all the guys eating rectums or eating in gluttonous amounts. We don't expect them to be attractive, in fact, it would be weird if they were.
That said, I find Anthony Bourdain to be hot as hell.
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And Alton Brown is my favorite. He's not a manly man at all -- he made a clafoutis on one episode (french fruity, custardy pastry thing). He's my nerdgasm.
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I agree on the Rachel Ray bit. She makes boring food, and yet people love her.
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But, she shows people how to make decent food quickly, mostly from scratch, with reasonably priced ingredients. I consider this a freaking public service in our current culture of eating out and eating processed foods.
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