Thoughts on "Chopped"

[carol_da_queen]

Activities such as cooking don't first strike one as competitions, perhaps. But on the Food Network and other channels as well, various ways to pit chefs against one another have become common. Chopped is one of my favorites, for several reasons. First it reminds me of Lynn Rosetto Kaspar's Fridge challenge. This is on her NPR show Splendid Table

Comments

[sidur_mishpacha]

I'm not much of a chef, but simply staying with the "chopping" theme--in the last several years, I've simply started chopping everything. Not a bad approach to cooking, I think. And something Zen about it.

[carol_da_queen]

yes as long as no fingers become personally involved in the business end of the knife doing the chopping, eh?

[erinubear]

I watch "Chopped" sometimes too, and like you, am sometimes surprised by the hubris of the young chefs. Especially when talking to such experts. Oh well.

Maybe this is odd of me, but I have often wondered what it would be like if their challenges were occasionally less extreme. Once in awhile, maybe they could have a pairing of foods that went together (maybe beef, potato, and portabello mushroom) which still offers various possibilities for interpretation....instead of one of the freak pairings they so often get (marshmallow, ume, and salmon - you know, one of those things). Call me weird.

Hugs,
Erin

[carol_da_queen]

I agree- and on other cooking competition shows like Top Chef I love it when they just let the chefs make the best three course meal that they can...no artificial constraints. Cook your best stuff...no excuses.

Pretty hard to make your best meal with an old shoe, guppies, duct tape and tomatoes...

[erinubear]

Exactly. Although even on Top Chef, when they can choose their own ingredients, it amazes me how often their meals go wrong, when they are clearly very talented chefs. And they still sometimes mouth off at the expert judges, although less often than on "Chopped"! "Iron Chef" is much better on that score. Much less mouthing off. Although I admire their restraint when it comes to Jeffery Steingarten. Wow.

Hugs,
Erin

[carol_da_queen]

I refer to Jeffery as the Curmudgeon of Cuisine. His books are very fun to read actually...he is a data person and really tests things thoroughly.

[sageofthpalouse]

Sautee with 1 inch piece of chopped finger ... er, ginger. Guppies on the half shoe?

I like the "best you can do" ... cooking fast and well is exhilarating, but cooking slow lets you savor it all.

Simple can be good. A lifetime memorable meal: steamed zucchini straight from the garden, a little salt & butter. I aspire to having a kitchen garden one day.