Yummr

twitch twitch

By chknbone360 on March 23, 2007 at 04:52:08 PM

i can't stop my eyes from twitching. damn you misterbelly...

wow

By sarahisafoodie on March 26, 2007 at 10:59:22 AM

thank you for that. :)

this is the first time I noticed (all these years I've just hated her cooking and couldn't get beyond that) how badly she needs a stylist...Oprah should help a sister out.

You can't blame her...

By JoeHoya on March 26, 2007 at 11:32:24 AM

...or any of the other hosts of the non-cooking shows for 'selling it' and being over-enthusiastic with their praise.  It's a combination of the 'food porn' factor and the need to make the publicity worth the featured restaurants' while.

Whether it's Tasty Travels, $40-a-day, Road Tasted, or any other variation on the theme, it's really just the culinary equivalent of voyeurism:  We're watching what should be an intimate moment enjoyed in private.  Why else would they feature their younger and (arguably) more attractive hosts in these programs (the biggest stars also get to do these shows largely for their draw)?  And this voyeuristic aspect is ratcheted up when you're watching a show that isn't based in a kitchen...you're essentially along on the host's road trip, living vicariously through what they experience.  Much like movies before sound, the expressions and reactions need to be that much bigger to communicate the response.

And don't forget the need to please the restaurateurs whose establishments you invade with your film crew.  I think most smart chefs/owners are glad for the publicity as long as they're sure they're going to look good in the process - but if you tell them you want to film in their restaurant and "we'll see what Rachel thinks of your food once we're there," you're not going to get many calls back.  

It wouldn't surprise me to learn that Ms. Ray and others are held to strict "mmmm" quotas.  After all - it wouldn't do for her to utter two "mmmm's" and a "yumm-o" at breakfast and then only give lunch one "mmmm" and a "now that hit the spot"...or would it?  What's the exchange rate on those things, anyway?

By misterbelly on March 26, 2007 at 11:59:26 AM

"It wouldn't surprise me to learn that Ms. Ray and others are held to strict "mmmm" quotas.  After all - it wouldn't do for her to utter two "mmmm's" and a "yumm-o" at breakfast and then only give lunch one "mmmm" and a "now that hit the spot"...or would it?  What's the exchange rate on those things, anyway"

You know what? I never thought of that!  I bet she DOES have a quota of "mmm's" and "yummo's" that she has to meet per show.  Heck, I bet some people actually love to hear her "yummo's" and "mmm's."  We need some food shows where people keep it real.  Ghetto Gourmet!   

By chknbone360 on March 26, 2007 at 12:08:50 PM

While logically I can see your point I must say that my acid reflux tends to flair far more while being subjected to Madam EVOO then when watching similar shows. For instance Anthony Bordain's "No Reservations" or Andrew Zimmern's "Bizarre Foods". I admit that the target audience for those shows is prob a bit more in line with my demographic but still I can't shake the feeling of wanting to plant RR firmly in front of Thesaurus.com in hopes that a smattering of new adjectives will penetrate her vocabulary.

Also I must say that I think allot of the backlash against her is due to Food Network's apparent need to overexpose their TV personalities. She is annoying but in small batches tolerable. The sad fact of the matter is that you can't turn on Food Network without being completely bombarded with Rachel Ray. That is definitely not yumm-o.