On Tue, 02 Feb 2010 15:33:07 -0500, Kate Connally >
wrote:

>Doug Freyburger wrote:
>> sf wrote:
>>> As far as I
>>> could tell, the chefs were pretty good at instructing their teams in
>>> basic technique and directed them from the observation box without
>>> intimidation. Frankly, the chefs seemed to be reminding their teams a
>>> lot about cooking 101, which is read the *entire* recipe first and
>>> wash your hands.
>
>Well, I thought that whole thing was unfair. Usually one doesn't
>have to *memorize* a recipe. They never told them to memorize it.
>They assumed, as would I, that the recipe would remain up there for
>them to refer back to. Yes, you read the whole recipe through before
>you start but, if you don't know you're supposed to memorize it why
>would you? And then they take it away without warning? That was
>totally unfair, even if they had been experienced cooks.

They don't have to memorize the recipe. The problem is the cooks
don't refer back to it enough!
>
>> Then they are taught by top quality professional chefs
>> when what they really need is a few lessons by a local cook.
>
>I agree with this. I think it is ridiculous to expect them to
>make those restaurant-type dishes. Especially since they're
>not even the sort of thing I would want to eat or order in a
>restaurant. If I were on the show and found out that was what
>they wanted to teach me to cook I'd just quit. I won't even eat
>half the stuff in those dishes - like mushroom, scallops, mussels
>(or were they clams?). Although I do like duck so that one wasn't
>too bad but I could have done without the weird salad. And the
>pork thing might have been okay. But the point is they should
>have taught them to make everyday food. Maybe they should have
>had Rachel Ray as one of the chefs. ;-)

I agree about the more basic food part, but I don't agree with you
about the ingredients they use on the show. I do order and eat them
all in restaurants.
>
>> I'm not surprised that some break down. I'm pleased that some managed
>> to go home with obvious pride in how far they progressed how fast.
>
>I was amazed at the apparent stupidity of the guy who left and
>said was would continue "attempt to try" to learn to cook on his
>own? Aren't rhere cooking schools out there? Doesn't he know
>someone who could tutor him. Sheesh. He made it sound like he
>was left totally on his own to try to teach himself to cook.
>
My motto is "if you can read, you can cook" - after you understand
basic terminology, like what "beat" or "cream" means. Sure there are
some things that you may need to have hands on tutoring while
learning, like pie crust or bread dough, but you can make most things
taste great the first time you make it if the recipe is written
properly. The contestant's main problem is they don't read the recipe
for comprehension - meaning knowing what order the steps are in and
how long each step takes. Some of that is experience, some is common
sense. You can't teach common sense, so they have to learn by
experience.


--
I love cooking with wine.
Sometimes I even put it in the food.