Competitive cooking Is Consuming America

televised cooking channels

• Televised cooking shows are dramatically changing.
• Changing from educational to competitive.
• Within the last 50 years dramatic change has occurred.
• Modern media has played a large role through television.
• The affect is felt across the county.

"Julia Child's legacy to America is felt nowhere more strongly than at PBS," said Pat Mitchell, former President and CEO of PBS.

Julia Child's First Published Cookbook

"Mastering the Art of French Cooking"

Video of Julia Child

Julia Child was a pioneer

• She transformed the idea of being in the kitchen from scary to fun.
• Preparing meals for the family was her targeted audience, especially housewives.
• Mistakes were aired on television and she laughed it off.
• Fun and laughter were part of the menu.
• She was a mentor and inspiration to many chefs all around the world.
• She never imagined how she opened the door for the cooking TV reality shows that would be created.
• The Food Network show is aired in 1993.

the Food Network was established in 1993

Because of Julia Child the use of electrical appliances became part of everyday use. Blenders, Microwaves, and Food Processors. Now that appliances were becoming increasingly popular, a new style of cooking was brewing.

Competitive shows

• Hells Kitchen
• Iron Chef of America
• Cupcake Wars
• Chopped
• Ramsey's Kitchen Nightmares
• There are over 40 cooking shows on The Food Network

Cutthroat kitchen clip

Chefs joke around before the competition. As soon as the competition begins, then the stress and focus is added. The competition is about eliminating the other chefs, proving that they are better than the losers. It appears to take on the flavor of a television reality show. The winner will gain notoriety and prestige in the culinary arts. At all costs whether it is sabotaging an opponent or not being pleasant, the idea is to win.

All of this drama with the intention of gaining more viewers is apparent. As a viewer we get to watch chefs getting upset with each other and not interacting nicely. The audience is definitely expecting, drama and losers. An unforgiving side is expected on these competitive cutthroat shows. Julia Child could not have imagined her culinary arts turning into a fierce and unforgiving competitive televised cooking shows.

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