TV Squad reader, Steve, likes to cook with celebrity chefs. He says watching a recipe on television is "easier to understand than just reading in a cookbook." And, if you ask me, he probably likes the friendly company of Emeril, Rachael Ray and Paula Deen. But, recording cooking shows on VHS is a pain. To find his favorite pizza recipe, Steve would have to search through the tape. He asks TV Squad: Are there any DVDs/CDROMs of celebrity cooking shows?Yes and no, Steve. There are, but I found surprisingly few.
First off, you can visit FoodNetwork.com and browse through the video section for stuff like Paula Deen's macaroon recipe and Rachael Ray's Rio Grande Steaks. But that's hit and miss. You may have better luck at the Food Network online store and clicking on the DVD tab. There, you'll find Alton Brown, Paula Deen, Ina Garten and Everyday Italian DVDs. And, after some searching, I found a few DVD offerings on Amazon.com, including Martha Stewart, Julia Child, Ken Sushi and Jamie Oliver. You can also head on over to Cooking.com for PBS' America's Test Kitchen on DVD. Sadly, I can't find Emeril on DVD, not even on his website.
Too bad. A cooking show on DVD sounds a lot more useful than a reality show on DVD. Steve, I'd recommend a DVR. That way, you can at least browse your favorite shows by episode if they're not available on DVD.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
9-26-2006 @ 2:00PM
orimental said...
Actually, Target carries some of the Food Network DVDs. I've seen sets from Good Eats, Paula's Home Cooking, and some other shows. While it's a pretty limited selection, it's better than nothing. I think they've reduced in price since they first appeared.
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9-26-2006 @ 1:00PM
Akbar Fazil said...
The good eats DVDs are a mixed bag imo. While its great they are out there, they are not released as Season sets. They are put out in collections letting their content mesh together. On one hand, that is good for using them as cooking aids. On the other hand, I like full season sets of shows.
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9-26-2006 @ 2:11PM
Mike said...
I agree, cooking shows on DVD are quite convenient, and there are too few! Besides being able to pause, rewind, and fast forward easily while cooking, most DVDs should come with a cooking guide that lists ingredients and utensils needed, so you can go out and get everything ready BEFORE you start. One DVD that I stumbled across was from one of my favorite chefs in Southwestern Florida named Chef Dario Zuljani. He's an amazing person and makes delicious Northern Italian gourmet meals. He has a web site where you can order at chefdario.com or I think his video is available on amazon.com as well.
On the more widely-known circuit, Jamie Oliver does a great job on his DVDs, as does Martha Stewart, however the more well-known chefs may be better off DVR'd.
Also, be sure to check your local library as they often have DVD sections where they may have cooking DVDs available for borrowing.
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