Most of us here watch them. Julia, Jacques, The Bam Man and The
Perv.... But, have they ever really been of any real influence? Have
you ever really learned anything from these folks. Perhaps I should
ask, have you ever really changed how you cooked something because of
what you saw on these shows.

I certainly have. I thought about this as I was cooking scrambled
eggs for my breakfast, this morning. I used to cook scrambled eggs
like the old greasy spoon frycook. Hot and fast! Slightly browned
and dry as a bone. No wonder US eaters love ketchup on their
scrambled eggs. No more. I learned from julia how to cook scrambled
eggs like the French do it. Low and slow and with nothing added.
It's probably the single biggest change I've made in my egg cooking
over the years.

The difference is astounding. I discoverd that adding milk to eggs
just makes them watery. Not better tasting, not an improvement in
texture, just watery. If you cook your scrambled eggs like most
Americans, the water leaches out and you continue cooking until it
evaporates and it leaves the eggs almost drier than if you'd left the
milk out. Also, cooking them hot and fast kills the rich flavor of
the yolks. The French method preserves the luscious rich texture and
flavor of the yolk. It almost seems to enhance it, like you were
enjoying a Hollandaise sauce. Vive la France! ...at least for eggs.

nb