I consider myself a damn good cook. And I recently did Alton's veg. soup, which was a moderate hit. Alton is truly fun to listen to. I enjoy his show. However, his recipes, while simple to make aren't huge hits. I'd give them a "5", although I'm sure some are better than others. Stupid Rachel, who I am not a fan of at all, actually has better recipes. And then you just have to look and see. My two signature dishes were from other cookbooks, entirely. But you have to try other stuff. Had I not, I'd never have learned my two great recipes.
I really like Alton Brown. I made his braised pork ribs once, and they weren't my favorite. However, the teracotta pot smoker I made from his show cooked a mean brisket.
allow me to field this for antisonic. she has major league hooters. beyond that, you are entirely correct.
Though Les Halles isn't rated as high, and Bourdain really doesn't have much to do with it anymore, I'd still rather eat there than Babbo. I'd rather eat at Salumi than Babbo for that matter. But I'd probably rather hang out more with Mario.
Yeah, I really like Bourdain's 'No Reservations' show. I like those travel/food shows where they do something beyond the touristy stuff. His little digs toward some of the Food Network people (Ray, Flay) are hilarious. I've also read three of his books. I highly recommend the book 'Kitchen Confidential'.
i've eaten at les halles more times than i can count and it's gone downhill. it's a glorified tourist/chain restaurant. i used to pop in to the original locale at least once a weak, summon the butcher, note- this is pre-expansion, who'd come out and make me a killer pate, roast beef, or whatever on a fresh baguette. it was six bucks. they don't do that anymore. it's stale and bourdain's an arse, i know, i've met him.
Alton is the man, I've met him once at a mall in Austin and he was a really nice dude.. I love his shows and most of the ideas behind his recipes..
I haven't met him.....and he still seems like he can be an arse. Been a while since I've been to Les Halles........although I think I've been within the last 15 months or so..........but the three or four times I have been there have all been excellent.
big fan of 'Good Eats' and Alton Brown. tried the turkey in brine recipe and its was great! the guy gets into the science of cooking and really makes it interesting. i'm much more likely to try one of his techniques than Emiril or Bartoli ...
no reservations and kitchen confidential are both excellent.... bourdain does seem like he could be an ass, but i would love to party with they guy. i'm also a big batali fan... love his dishes and his style. i'd love to go to his parent's deli in seattle.
It rocks.....and his dad is just as down to earth as can be. Not to further derail this thread, but I always thought Houston had great Vietnamese cuisine...........until I went to Seattle. Salumi was really good. The Herbfarm was...........what I expected. Some of the Tom Douglass places were certainly good. But the three meals that did it most for me food-wise were all Vietnames or inspired by Vietnamese. It's tough for me to think of Seattle as anything other than a Rockets rival in those championship years................but man........after visiting---------what a cool city!
