Relative Merits of Cooking Based Reality Shows

A Thesis on How to Stab Food and People

As a cook and pretend foodie (I say pretend because I don't actually spend copious amounts of money on obscure forms of salt or parsley to add to my food), I enjoy watching several of the reality shows on TV revolving on the general theme of "I can cook better than you." Case in point, I am currently watching Hell's Kitchen with my laptop handy which is resulting in this blog post. The other show I watch is Top Chef on Bravo.

As for Top Chef, I truly love this show. The people actually know what they are doing and are expected to be creative. Also, the ridiculous human drama is kept to a relative low as far as reality shows are concerned except for the fiasco of head shaving drunks on season 3. I actually get good ideas for food on this show and feel somewhat smarter after watching it.

Hell's Kitchen on the other hand, I feel dumber for watching but still do for no real reason it seems. Perhaps it is the fact that the contestants are all "former electrician" or "former recptionist". Maybe its because you just have to watch and see how many times Ramsey can drop the F-bomb in 44 minutes of showtime. But maybe, its just because I like the cooking in the end... naaa... definately the f-bombs.

So end the end, one is quality television and the other is guilty pleasure. But I like them both and you should be glad since you just may get to come over for dinner at my place sometime.