Is anyone else sick of these so-called "Celebrity Chefs"?!

Is anyone else sick of these so-called "Celebrity Chefs"?

I'm in the biz. I hit the library for new cookbooks 3-4 times a week. I love new techniques. I checked out Rachel Rays (I look like the Joker from Batman) book 365 No Repeats. What a bunch of garbage! Paula Deen is another one too. Overrated. They are "Family Restaurant" cooks who are a dime a dozen in every small city USA. Deen just wants to clog as many arteries and heart valaves as possible. Now see I respect some of the Food Network Chefs (Lieberman, Flay and the cute Everyday Italian woman have great ideas). But stop making it out to be so glam in a kitchen, show more Gordon Ramsey. Way too sugar-coated and makes it easier for these "Franchise Culinary Schools" to steal kids money. Show the real kitchen life: Criminal cooks, theft, loud music and loud banging, heavy drug and alcohol use, cursing, throwing temper tantrums, HOT and SWEATY cooks and chefs, 12-16 hours shifts, bad manners and crazy people! By the way-I love all of this (I don't take drugs though)!

1 day ago
Great answers so far guys-keep 'em rollin!!!

1 day ago
weaslewise or whatever your name is. There are no pleasant surroundings in a kitchen. Please do stay away from my joint-we do 650+ meals a night so your business is not needed. And no, I don't get drunk-yes there is drinking on the job in ever restaurant I have worked at or my fellow peers have worked at. I have even seen crack get smoked in bathrooms by waiters at a restaurant I did my internship at. See I don't eat out, friend. I know that your steak or fish isn't fresh more then likely. I know your bread has already been on 3 previous customers tables. I know the waiter probally sipped your "cocktail" before serving you your drink. And I know the grill cook just pulled out and exposed his "private parts" to the cute waitress during a rare smoke break--and he didn't wash his hands before handling your salmon. You think this only happens where I work? It isn't pleasant-it's what you pay for though-and I do find it pleasant being around un-politically correct-wild characters. Eat up!

Yes, I agree. As a European I was totally amazed at the amount of sugary sweet recipes I saw on the Food Network - most appetizers are sweet, salads are sweet, and then for "dessert" they ofetn mention cookie or dry cake recipes.....
it makes for very very dull, and nauseating watching.
Rachel Ray
Paula Dean
The fat Barefoot Contessa...
they wouldn't last one day here in Europe! All I can say is that they are either well connected in US TVland, or have great agents.

But then Ramsey is a lot of hype too - I have never been able to get anything useful out of his cookbooks - he does some pretty good and cheap lunches at his restaurants here in London, but it's his staff that cooks; he is much too busy raking it in the US!

My favourite celebrity chef is Anthony Bourdain - and I loved his travel programmes.