2. Introduction
I have something to confess: I am a
cooking show junkie. There I feel much
better. I watch the standard cooking
shows where a chef like Ina Garten or Tyler
Florence banters gleefully in front of a
camera, seemingly talking directly to you
while giving step-by-step instructions on
how to whip up a steak au poivre with a
veal demi-glace while sharing vignettes
about cooking with their famous
Hollywood friends that they are on a
first-name basis with.
3. Passing on My Cooking
Show Obsession
And I have passed on my cooking show obsession to my kids. I call it
educational programming since we take what we learn into the
kitchen where we often cook together. I am absolutely positive that
my kids can kick your kidsโ butts when it comes to whipping up a
seriously authentic and tasty guacamole. And I guess thatโs the
competitive streak in us because what my kids and I really enjoy are
the cooking competitions, such asย Chopped,ย Guyโs Grocery
Games,ย Beat Bobby Flay,ย Worst Chefs in America,ย Kids Baking
Championshipย andย Master Chef.
4. Our Great
Debates
We have great debates on who will get
โchopped.โย We critique the contestants plating
skills with the elitist arrogance of Geoffrey
Zakarian. We groan knowingly with Scott Conant
and Alex Guarnaschelli when a contestant
reaches for truffle oil in a desperate last second
attempt when we know it will overwhelm the
more subtle and nuanced flavor of the artichokes
in the dish. Everyone knows that Elizabeth! Put
the truffle oil down for Peteโs sake! You are not
on a train to Flavortown; you have a one way
ticket to Chopped City. . .and now I must ask for
your apron.
5. The Travelogue
Yet, my personal favorite cooking show format is the travelogue. I am not
sure who gets credit for starting or popularizing this format, but I do
remember first watching and being intrigued byย LifeStyles of the Rich and
Famousย in the 80โs. I was pretty young, but even then I was drawn to the
โchampagne wishes and caviar dreamsโ that Robin Leach was peddling. It
looked fantastic. I didnโt even know what a 50-year old Montrachet and
beluga caviar were, but it sure looked awesome to be sipping and
snacking on them in Monaco next to a Rolls Royce and what my 10-year-
old brain assumed was aย Sports Illustratedย model.
6. Legendary Chefs
This format certainly evolved as celebrity travel chefs like Anthony
Bourdain and Andrew Zimmern connected the audience to the
โother half:โ the common man, street vendors, indigenous people
and grandmas. They wanted to show us that we could not truly
understand a culture by looking at what the rich and famous eat.
They wanted to make the world smaller and more accessible for
all usโmany of us who would never see these locations in our
lifetime. They wanted us to understand the history and the people
through their food and customs.
7. They did it exceedingly well and, damn, they looked like they
were having a lot of fun doing it too! Wouldnโt you have fun? Is
there a better job in the world than being paid to travel to
exotic locations, meet interesting people, learn about their
culture all while eating amazing food? I donโt think there is a
better job. Look, I love what I do for a living, but donโt get me
wrong; if the Travel Channel or Food Network offered me
Andrew Zimmernโs job tomorrow, I would take it in a heartbeat.
(Call me.)
8. Chefs Have Personal Issues Too
However, these chefs (and others) aren't immune to personal
issues. Anthony Bourdain took his own life, which shook me to
my core. From what I have read since he committed suicide in
June 2018, Bourdain had evidently beenย suffering from
depressionย and anxiety for many years. He experienced the
highs and the lows of being a world-renowned celebrity chef,
NY Times bestselling author, award winning TV host and widely
revered by his culinary peers. It is still hard to comprehend.
9. Carl Ruiz
Another great chef and entertainer that passed away in 2019
wasย Carl Ruiz, a frequent contestant and judge onย Guyโs
Grocery Games. He brought his authentic Cuban cooking into
the TV cooking competition world and wonโoften. Ruiz
successfully opened and ran several restaurants over 20
years while also dealing with theย stressย of closing restaurants
and divorce. He was known among his colleagues for having
a zeal for life and sense of humor (known as โRuizingโ) that
got everyone laughing. Sadly, Carl Ruiz died way too young in
September of 2019 of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.
10. Cookbook author and Food Network star Katie Lee
has been public with her infertility struggles. She and
her husband have tried in-vitro fertilization (IVF) and
she hasย shared her experiencesย on social media.
Although I certainly do not know her personally and
do not have that same fertility experience to draw
from, I can only imagine that these events have taken
a toll on Katie mentally and physically. Social media
is a tricky thing, but I certainly applaud her for
sharing her story where she is inspiring others and
receiving an outpouring of support.
Katie Lee
11. No One Is Immune
These chefs, just like athletes, celebrities, and wealthy
business leaders have their own struggles despite the
fame and success they achieved. It is important to know
that no one is immune to the challenges that life throws
at us all and to paraphrase an internet meme: โNo
amount of money will make you happy if you arenโt happy
with yourself.โ
12. The only rational conclusion I can draw from these tragic
losses of life is this: everyone is struggling with something
and not all struggles are the same or visible. Also, not
everyone has the tools to deal with them. Please reach out
to someone, anyone, if you or someone you know is
struggling or needs help with a mental health issue.
