I can speak to this phenomenon a little. My first jobs were all cooking jobs, centered around kitchens. From fast food to fine-dining (well, somewhat fine), I found a lot of value in my time in kitchens. I was "in the game" when the cooking reality show-mania started cropping up, with Alton Brown (the OG best), Bobby Flay, The Iron Chef, etc all cropping up on cable. At one restaurant in the late 90s, we would drink beers and watch these shows together.
I think it's like how everyone says they want to own a business (or a jiu jitsu school), seeing only the 10 or 20% of the job that seems glamorous or fun. The truth is that the other 80 or 90% is a tough grind that 95% of people won't think is worth it.
We think it's worth it, so that's why we're here, I think.
Alton Brown was the OG he brought science into it and made it easy to understand things like why yeast makes bread rise or what makes hollandaise sauce emulsify. But yes everybody sees the glamorous parts, but they don't see the really long days and the not seeing or barely seeing your kids/wife, and most people just aren't cut out for it and that's ok but it is a grind.
I can speak to this phenomenon a little. My first jobs were all cooking jobs, centered around kitchens. From fast food to fine-dining (well, somewhat fine), I found a lot of value in my time in kitchens. I was "in the game" when the cooking reality show-mania started cropping up, with Alton Brown (the OG best), Bobby Flay, The Iron Chef, etc all cropping up on cable. At one restaurant in the late 90s, we would drink beers and watch these shows together.
I think it's like how everyone says they want to own a business (or a jiu jitsu school), seeing only the 10 or 20% of the job that seems glamorous or fun. The truth is that the other 80 or 90% is a tough grind that 95% of people won't think is worth it.
We think it's worth it, so that's why we're here, I think.
Alton Brown was the OG he brought science into it and made it easy to understand things like why yeast makes bread rise or what makes hollandaise sauce emulsify. But yes everybody sees the glamorous parts, but they don't see the really long days and the not seeing or barely seeing your kids/wife, and most people just aren't cut out for it and that's ok but it is a grind.
"Good Eats" was singular. There were other shows, but there were none like Alton's.
Excellent!