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![[ Teevee Category ]](../teevee.gif){kind=small} Barefoot Contessa
Posted to Teevee at 09:44 PM on Jul 28, 2003
Ina Garten bugs me. I really want to like her, because she's a regular woman who likes to cook on a channel otherwise dominated by Emeril and that weatherman with the show featuring p.r. flunkies talking about their products. She's likeable, but I can't stand her, and there's one of three reasons why:
1. She mumbles. She has a severe mumbling problem. She talks reallyfast and really low, so you hear only a word here and there: "murmur murmur arugula murmur whisk murmur". And it wouldn't be so bad, if you could watch what she's doing and try to copy it, which leads me to... 2. That nauseating editing that's been plaguing Ina, as well asTyler's Ultimate and the latest Jamie Oliver spazzfest. I don't want to see the eggs falling into the bowl from an inch away, thank you. Back up. This isn't Ina's fault, but it's no fun to see someone try to be all artsy on a cooking show. It's just annoying. 3. She likes to cook, and she does, but she's filthy rich and seems to have mucho time on her hands and doesn't seem to mind showing us this. It's as if she's thinking: "scramble the eggs. While you're doing that, look at my gorgeous mansion in the Hamptons. Look. I have a kitchen the size of your apartment. I can afford lobster. Look at me. Look at my Mercedes. Wow, did you know I live on the beach? Look at my rich, snotty friends. I cook breathtaking meals for all of them. Aren't I fabulous?". It's like Martha Stewart, but only less frugal and married to someone in a hideously overpaid profession. It's one of the three. Or maybe all of them. Barefoot Contessa airs on the Food Network Comments
WOW!!! Someone else who feels the SAME exact way! I feel like a really negative person for being annoyed by her... but I can't help it! You hit the nail on the head!
She is the new Martha Stewart (not good.) "Wow, look at me, I'm so rich and am living a life that you never will, why don't I put some cream and caviar in my scrambled eggs?" Why does anyone watch her, she teaches nothing that can't be learned in another venue and is about as elitist as it gets.
Yes, you really nailed all the reasons why I can't stand this show. The camera work is extremely annoying, and Ina Garten is grating to watch. She's so smarmy it's nauseating to watch.
I was atounded to read all this negative stuff. I really enjoy Ina GArten (actually, I like Martha Stewart too, though they are totally dissimilar). I just don't see the reason for all of this. I like the stuff she cooks, and I enjoy seeing her house and beach, etc. Brava diva, I say!
I luv her show, and I enjoy the relaxed atmosphere. Sure she has a beautiful home and cooks with expensive ingredients. Would you rather watch someone grubbing about in a little kitchen and cooking moneysaving recipes like beef stew.?I think she is a great cook too and have already tried some of her ideas, like baked cherry tomatoes....delicious!!! She is a delight for me and for what it,s worth , I miss Martha!
In general, I don't like the new wave of cooking shows on FoodTV that try to be artsy and have closeups of the food/process/host from like an inch away.
This also includes recording every tiny little sound that occurs as well. Some of the shows that fall into this category are Everyday Italian (damn, she has a huge head and tiny little body), Barefoot Contessa, Tyler's Ultimate and Jamie's Kitchen. I find Paula Deen's show to be a bit annoying as well.
I never miss this show, and always tape it for future reference. I think she's just a nice down-home girl. I like to see her lovely house and her garden, and everything she cooks really appeals to me. I'd love to be going to her place for dinner one of these days, especially if we were having that filet of beef with the gorgonzola sauce, roasted cherry tomatoes and oven fries. Yummee. I think she and Lydia are the best cooks on TV, and I really enjoy Nigella as well. Oh, and I really like Sarah Moulton too. ALL great cooks IMHO. Cheers
I enjoy watching Ina's show..I would love to be invited to her home for dinner. The items she cooks always look appealing to me, and I enjoy seeing her garden. I like watching Jamie Oliver but I can't watch him for more than a few seconds at a time. The cameraman seriously makes me dizzy with his back and forth motions and the way Jamie is always bouncing around the kitchen..Oh and by the way I agree with LV, Giada from Everday Italian DOES have a big head on a small body..:)but I also like her recipes as well..
I agree about Jamie. The camera work is somewhat challenging to say the least :) I think my overall favorite show on FoodTV is Good Eats with Alton Brown. He has a style like no other, and I love all the informational tidbits he provides. Hot Off The Grill is another show I like as well. The show with Dweezil Zappa and Lisa Loeb seems like it was pretty short lived. At least I haven't seen anymore episodes, not that I miss it at all. I also love Rachel Ray shows too. She can be a bit too bubbly at times, but it just seems like her natural persona. I do almost all the cooking at home since my wife doesn't really like to cook, so I enjoy watching FoodTV. Cheers!
I LOVE Paula's shows!!!! She is the queen of foodtv. Her personal story is an empowering one, yall should read it sometime. Thanks for all the great southren cookin Paula, keep it comin
I'm watching Barefoot Contessa right now and it's so hard to hear, "now, how easy is that?" over and over in that totally affected voice she loves to use (i think she tries to copy the way her gay male friends talk but it doesn't work for her and it ends up seeming kind of sad)....Let me casually show you my huge house and gardens and ocean view, my gorgeous black BMW, and all of my waspy friends in tennis outfits, many of whom are gay and quite cultured and they just came back from Paris la de da la de da! ARG! And what about that weird demonic laugh of hers! And the kind of lurid way she looks at the food! Still, she's better than Stepford Sarah Moulton, or Emeril "Eddie Munster" Lagasse. The only cool one really is Alton Brown. That British dude Jamie Oliver makes the grossest looking food around--plus that music? omg, horrible. I like Rachael Ray, even though she's hyperactive and acts like she's all coked up.
I think FoodTV's programming is at the lamest point I've ever seen it at. There's so few shows really worth watching anymore. And there's no shortage of annoying personalities. For some reason, FTV has made their lineup based on the most annoying shows like Paula Deen, Barefoot Contessa, Everday Italian, Good Food Fast, and the unnecessary Kitchen Accomplished, Party Starter, and Entertaining. There's a handful of decent shows, but the bulk of their programming seems to consist of these lacking-in-charisma personalities. I used to like FoodTV, but I seldom watch it now. What happened to the days when the hosts of the shows were actually entertaining like Julia Child, or the Frugal Gourmet? Paula Deen really needs to go take some English lessons ;)
I'm from the deep South and Paula Deen gags me with her drawl. However, she does have some good recipes. I can't relate to Ina very well 'cause we seldom have caviar on our scrambled eggs. But...in all this bitchfest, you left out that blonde airhead on How to Boil Water. I realize with that title maybe she's the token dummy that can't even boil water. She should be replaced with someone with a personality and at least a wee bit of a clue. You have to at least be able to recognize a pot and water to attempt to boil it. She is sooo irritating. Oh! and don't even get me started on Rachel Ray.
Hey Miriam, you can visit http://www.ozawa.org/jen/reviews/archives/001911.html to post about How To Boil Water:
And to post about Rachael Ray http://www.ozawa.org/jen/reviews/archives/001705.html
Always fun to hear someone else's take on these shows.
Cheers!
The Barefoot Contessa show, and specifically, INA GARTEN is amazing. I personally LOVE to see "eggs fall into a bowl from an inch away". I think the camera work is unique, original and just so satisfying. The environment, her funny little saying and her talented friends just MAKE this the perfect 'getaway' cooking show.
Why should she apologize for being successful and have money and time to spare? Isn't that what we ALL yearn for? I enjoy watching her life. I am glad she is a successful, "filthy" rich woman. We need more of those in the world. She is an inspiration to me and many others.
Forget the uber-realism of the other shows... this one just makes my Saturday afternoon. Seriously... if anyone who produces that show is even wasting their time reading this... DON'T CHANGE A THING!!!!!!!!!!!!!
My goodness all the criticism. I love the cooking shows, Ina, Rachael, Paula and many others. The one that appears off the wall to me is Alton Brown. However, I would not begin to criticize him because he certainly has advanced in his career much further than I have. More power to those who can afford a luxury home and surroundings. That is what this country is all about.
I really don't know why Sandra Lee calls it "semi Home made." She and her husbans are worth millions so I am sure she has a personal chef. Emeril is getting to be a bore. I don't care for Sara Moulton. My favourite hosts are Aldon Brown and Rachael Ray. Paula Deen is okay.
I watch Barefoot Contessa and click my tongue at the fattening dishes she prepares and looks like she eats every bit of them. She seems to have no regard for her weight (obese). I'd rather be slim and healthy than fat and rich. Her home and surroundings don't faze me but she seems to spend little time with her hubby ( wonder why?) Rachel Ray is grating on my nerves, with her squealing laugh and repeating the word "Be-
ooh-tee-ful!" every five minutes.
Giada is enviable in her ability to eat anything she wants and still be slim. I watch these shows mainly to look at the foods I would never eat, since they don't fit in with my healthy eating lifestyle.
Thank God other people feel the way I do. I also cringe every time she starts gushing over "Jeffrey"; the way she plays the overprotective wifey makes me want to puke. Jeffrey really has the best of both worlds: great cooking at home and all of his "business trips" where he can indugle in other pleasures. Tee hee.
I read all of these comments, and was waiting to get to the bottom to share my two cents worth, but lo and behold Seema beat me to the punch! There are a few things that bother me about Ina Garten; Her creepy, fake laugh about things that aren't funny; her lame excuses about why she's using 20 sticks of butter for every recipe; and last, but not least, could she possibly be more insecure in her marriage? She's forever going on about having to cook for Jeffrey or else he'll find someone else to come home to after a long week. Come on!
I admit I'm a Barefoot Contessa junkie, which makes me feel I'm qualified to criticize! Ina's food tastes great, which is why I do watch her show, (as well it should, with the amount of butter she uses!) but I find her personality vomit-inducing. Yes, the laugh (Ah-ha-ha-ha) and the fact that she says "how easy was that", "how fast was that", "how good does that look", and, most annoying of all, "it has so much flavor" and (usually referring to the pounds of salt -- Fleur de Sel, naturellement -- she shakes into just about everything) "it gives it great flavor" approximately 14 000 000 times a show makes me wonder why no one mentions these things to her. As in, please quit it. Ina should be asked to watch the eloquent Nigella Lawson’s shows to pick up tips on what to say.
i like ina. i think the food she cooks looks delicious and although she is always doing thinks like sucking back saliva at the end of most sentences, saying "how easy was that?" etc, i still enjoy the show. and rachel, paula, etc have LOADS of personality. why do u think it is that they are SO SUCCESSFUL?! sarah moultin is boring and who the hell is nigella, anyway? btw, what does everyone think of michael chiarello and sandra lee?
Ina Garten yes can be, VERY annoying. (But, for the most part, I do enjoy watching her her show).. BUT I have to say this--has anybody else out there ever noticed, or agree with me on this: It's really flipping ANNOYING when Ina constantly rants on how her "Jeffrey", (husband), is going to just love the dish that she's prepared for him--and the fact that she constantly calls him "Jeffrey", is also EXTREMELY ANNOYING! Come on now, Ina! It's not like he's a little 6 year-old kid---please please just call him JEFF!
And has anyone noticed that her recipes tend to NOT be available on the Food Network website? Guess she's holding back for the next book...
At least Martha didn't pretend to be humble...she was rich, like it or lump it! This Ina's folksy act is most irritating.
I tend to enjoy 'Barefoot Contessa' on most shows but have to agree about the repeating of "how easy was that?" etc. and the gushing over "Jeffery" is too much! But I think her recipes look incredible and I'm sure they taste great too. Wish I could afford to eat like that on a regular basis, but then I'd probably look like her...ouch! How I found this site was looking to see if anyone else thought Michael Chiarello is gay! Apparently he's married, BUT PLEASE!!! Anyone else agree with me on this one? Not a gay basher here, if that's what you are then celebrate it, not hide it! His food though labor intensive, looks fabulous! Personally the chef that grates my nerves the worst is Bobby Flay, too conceited and my fav's would have to be Paula...sweet, Alton...cool and Tyler,as Rachel would say...Yummoooo! Rachel has grown on me, just needs to tone it down a notch. Speaking of notches, Emeril is so tired he really does need to kick it up a notch with a new format or get new writers! That Sandra Lee has got to be anal retentive with not only her tablescape matching her food choices but her kitchen is color coordinated as well. She has got to have way too time on her hands. Maybe she needs to do a little less semi-in the homemade part of her show. I miss 'Two Senioritas' and on the subject of anal retentive, I'm looking forward to seeing what the 'gay couple' that won the contest have to offer. I love Food Network!!!
Personally, I think the "Ina is fat" talk is getting old. She looks like a regular mom/wife who likes to cook. Give me good ol' Ina over the anorexic barbies on the channel (hi, Sandra!) any day. Anyone here like to snark on Mario Batali's weight? No? Didn't think so.
But Chiarello? I'm just glad someone else said it first.
ha ha! I had googled "michael chiarello is gay" and found this site, so no, you are not the only one.
loved the other threads--my roommate told me to google "i hate rachael ray" which led to my googling mc is gay.
thanks for the laughs all,
K
I found this site because I was ALSO Googling "Michael Chiarello is gay"!!!!! Have to say I LOVE watching The Barefoot Contessa and have cooked a lot of her recipes; however, don't you get sick and tired of seeing her put her celery root cole slaw in the fridge then run off to Williams Sonoma (where they all know her by name and she knows THEM by name)just to buy a present for this 14 year-old kid who is coming for lunch with her mom? Or she will go to The Barefoot Contessa store (which I read that she used to own but sold) and buy whatever the hell she wants. She picked up a catalogue at Williams Sonoma, too - like she doesn't already own everything in the damn thing. Her next cookbook should be titled "Cooking With All Your Snotty Friends." And is there anybody else that gets very annoyed at her FAKE LAUGH???? She's fine until somebody comes through the door - then the fake laughter kicks in. But NOW let me turn to Little Miss Rachel Ray. Where do I begin??? How many shows does she actually have on the Food Network??? Five?? Six?? And I am sorry, but WHY does she need to put HER NAME on a santuko knife?? Uh - a knife is a knife, sweetie. She is sickening. I thought Emeril was the whore of Food TV, but Rachel has about got him beat. She doesn't sell her name to every product like Emeril does (advertising toothpaste for God's sake), but she has definitely got to be banging somebody at the Food Network to have 10 shows a day and 10 books and all that other crap. And if you can actually sit through one of her shows, watch how at the end of "30 minute meals" where she starts eating all the food by herself and has this big maniacal smile on her face. Almost like she is a little girl playing with her dolls and her tea set - making conversation with imaginary people. I think we have all had ENOUGH of Rachel. And finally, let me just say that the new show with the 2 gay guys? "Party Line With Dan and Steve" - DAN needs to be doing gay porn and let Steve do all the cooking. They are definitely not matched up very well. I am a gay man and I love their show just because Dan is hot. They say love is blind and that surely must be the case because I do not understand WHAT he sees in Steve. Bon Appetit everybody!
I just googled "Michael Chiarello" "gay" and got this site!! LOL... He annoys me... I don't know why I watch his show! |
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