The Kitchen - General Discussion

[Mammalou]

Saw sunny posted on twitter something to the effect that it's not cool when someone gets fired but says they quit and then throw their friends under the bus.. yikes!! Maybe I'm assuming wrong but that has to be referring to Marcela. Who else could it be?! When I read what Marcela wrote in her blog about her exit I didn't feel like she was necessarily speaking negatively out abt the hosts.. unless sunny is referring to her speaking negatively about the food. Hmmmm

[Kathcart]

Quote

she said food on show is not food she eats or makes for her family

So she doesn't consume only cheese and bacon and booze?

[Maya]

52 minutes ago, Kathcart said:

So she doesn't consume only cheese and bacon and booze?

And hotdogs? 

[bichonblitz]

21 hours ago, LazyToaster said:

I think that they should come right out and address the fact that Marcella has left the show.  It is ridiculous that they think they can ignore the fact and nobody will notice.  Both times she was out on maternity leave they made some mention of her on each show.  So - just say - "Hey!  Here's a big shout-out to our good friend Marcella who has decided to spend more time with her family!  Love ya girl!" etc., etc.  They don't have to tell us details - just admit it for heaven's sake!

Yes! they never failed to mention her and how much they miss her at the opening of every show when she was on maternity leave, to the point of it being fake and annoying. Now, she's gone for good and not a word. Something really ugly must have happened for FN to have handled her departure in this way. 

[Gbb]

On 10/21/2017 at 5:46 PM, Mondrianyone said:

Couldn't agree more.  It makes the whole crew, on-air and behind-the-scenes, look so terrible.  And gutless, when it comes to her fellow hosts.  Apparently some sort of word went down that no one was to mention the empty spot behind the counter, and they all just toed the line.  I hope Marcela didn't think of any of those people as real friends, because clearly they aren't.

I don’t know that their saying anything about Marcela on camera has anything to do with whether they’re genuinely her friends or not, since it’s a fairly scripted show and the editors could simply cut out anything they didn’t want said on-air. Understand, I’m sot saying they ARE friends, just that the lack of a mention of Marcela’s exit seems like a strictly executive decision to me and not something the hosts have control over.

 

13 hours ago, Mammalou said:

Saw sunny posted on twitter something to the effect that it's not cool when someone gets fired but says they quit and then throw their friends under the bus.. yikes!! Maybe I'm assuming wrong but that has to be referring to Marcela. Who else could it be?! When I read what Marcela wrote in her blog about her exit I didn't feel like she was necessarily speaking negatively out abt the hosts.. unless sunny is referring to her speaking negatively about the food. Hmmmm

FWIW, I found this interesting Twitter exchange between Sunny and Marcela from a few days ago:

 

[Snarklepuss]

I'm just coming up to speed on this.  I noticed Marcella was missing with no explanation last week but thought maybe it was a one week thing or I had missed the explanation.  GZ was missing for a while and they only mentioned why a couple of times (he was busy hosting "Cooks vs. Cons").  So it didn't concern me, but this week something seemed off when there was still no explanation so I looked at Marcella's blog post and then came here.  I agree that there seems to be more going on here than what she's saying.  I wouldn't be surprised if she was fired because FN might have been hoping she'd leave and/or they had someone else in mind for her spot.  They couldn't get away with letting her go while she was busy having kids and out on family leave so they were probably waiting for the right timing, which for whatever reason was now.  

I'm sure there are many reasons for Marcella's departure, such as the strain of traveling and all the kids.  I had a feeling after she had her 3rd child that she was not long for the show.  So really, I'm not surprised.  Maybe she was complaining about leaving the kids all the time and negotiated for more time off or perhaps some other incentive (a subsidized home in the NY area perhaps?) that the show didn't want to give her because they were secretly wishing she'd just quit so they didn't have to fire her.

I also wouldn't be surprised if Aarti is being considered for the role which makes sense given the way she acted as a guest this week.

Yeah, I spent too many years in the corporate world, LOL.

Edited October 23, 2017 by Snarklepuss

[chessiegal]

If Aarti takes Marcela's place - let's just make this crap fest worst than it is.

[Snarklepuss]

I wonder what she means by saying "please tell me you're suing" to Sunny A.?

[Maverick]

 And what does she mean by 'good look friends'.   Is that supposed to be sarcasm?   Directed at Sunny/the hosts or the network?  If there's something else going on and you're going to take the high road then take the high road and keep your mouth shut.   Or spill it.  But don't keep dropping these vaguely accusatory, passive-aggressive tweets.  

 I'm now guessing this is why Best Baker in America is on right now.  It's really odd to run it while another of their baking series is on.  There's a long stretch between the Spring and Halloween shows and I would have guessed this was meant for that gap (FN films some of these shows up to a year in advance) but they threw it on the air now to burn it off and erase Marcella from the network.   

[Gbb]

1 hour ago, Snarklepuss said:

I wonder what she means by saying "please tell me you're suing" to Sunny A.?

I think she meant about the pop-up scare hand that made Sunny fall on her ass. And I think (but am far less sure) that “good look friends” was a typo for “good luck.”

Edited October 23, 2017 by Gbb

[MerBearHou]

On 10/21/2017 at 10:01 PM, tabloidlover said:

Who was the actress guest today?  She's on a show I've never heard of and she was terrible!  So awkward and a brief camera shot of Geoffrey confirmed she had no business there.  

I missed the little intro when Geneva Carr came on the show so there may be more of a cooking connection than I know.  She's a Broadway and tv actress and right now is on "Bull" on CBS.  They hardly gave her anything to do in the kitchen!

Edited October 23, 2017 by MerBearHou

[Maya]

8 hours ago, MerBearHou said:

 They hardly gave her anything to do in "The Kitchen"!

She couldn’t even measure a teaspoon, so I don’t blame them. 

[Snarklepuss]

9 hours ago, MerBearHou said:

I missed the little intro when Geneva Carr came on the show so there may be more of a cooking connection that I know.  She's a Broadway and tv actress and right now is on "Bull" on CBS.  They hardly gave her anything to do in "The Kitchen"!

She didn't act like she's ever set foot in a kitchen before.  I'd be surprised if she'd ever eaten before too judging from how painfully thin she is.

Edited October 23, 2017 by Snarklepuss

[LazyToaster]

I get as irritated as anyone else with Sunny and her over-the-top behaviors; however, I hate, hate, hate that whole trick or treat nonsense where she ended up falling down.   I'm someone who hates pranks - so, I will never be convinced it was a good thing to do.  I'm sure it hurt and she had to be so upset over it.  She probably thinks it made her look stupid.  I think it just made the whole show sink to a new level.  I think Jeff was in on it, not sure about the others.  

[Gam2]

I never watch Beat Bobby Flay but happened across one today. One of the judges was Sunny Anderson. She was so loud and obnoxious, went down on the floor where Bobby was baking cupcakes, tried to put a huge pineapple into his batter and made him mad. She’s just awful. Click.

[bad things are bad]

I caught a bit of a very old "Best Thing I Ever Ate" a few days ago. There was Sunny. Normal hair, normal makeup, normal voice, no antics. I liked that Sunny. 

[Spunkygal]

3 hours ago, bad things are bad said:

I caught a bit of a very old "Best Thing I Ever Ate" a few days ago. There was Sunny. Normal hair, normal makeup, normal voice, no antics. I liked that Sunny. 

Yes, I made this same observation a few pages back. On that show and her old cooking show, she was interesting and I wanted to hear what she had to say. Now, she is a caricature.

[Mondrianyone]

She must feel there's some upside to acting the obnoxious fool, but for the life of me I can't see what it is.  And it's easier for her to call everyone who's puzzled by her transformation "haters" than to  concede that they might have a point, especially people (like me) who really enjoyed her in that original incarnation.

[bad things are bad]

I'm sure she's "encouraged" to act all crazy because they want to have some energy. Between her and Mauro, I guess they offset the low key personalities of GZ and KL

[Gbb]

So I wonder if Sunny’s “I don’t want to taco bout it” shirt yesterday had any hidden meaning...?

[Mondrianyone]

You think?  I just got finished watching that (ff'ed through most of it).  If the positions had been reversed and Marcela showed up wearing a shirt making some kind of fried-chicken reference, she'd have been slammed as a racist on social media.  I wonder what the difference is.  It's disgusting the producers let her do that.

I think this show is coming off the DVR schedule.

[Spunkygal]

1 hour ago, Gbb said:

So I wonder if Sunny’s “I don’t want to taco bout it” shirt yesterday had any hidden meaning...?

"It's nunya business!" But, yeah, pretty obvious. I thought Katie's different take on toad in a hole was interesting. I doubt I'll go through that for just one person, but I would order it in a restaurant. Again, I thought Jeff was kind of an outcast by the others. They didn't laugh as outrageously at every lame joke. Note to TPTB: please, please get rid of him next. 

[butterbody]

The sheet pan mac n cheese looked sooo dry. Sunny couldn't even swallow it and just kept chewing like it was a hunk of mutton. 

This episode felt more instructional to me. They gave good tips, explained the how's and why's of their method, and made me less apprehensive about fish sauce. Sunny seemed very toned down in her segment. I didn't read anything in to the great taco shirt scandaloso. Food puns are huge right now and that taco one is on everything. 

I will definitely be making GZ's chicken stir fry. That riced cauliflower is the bomb.

[Spunkygal]

So glad you mentioned it, @butterbody. That sheet pan mac and cheese did look dry. I have made mac and cheese for a crowd in a sheet cake pan (higher sides) and it was phenomenal. The recipe I used calls for evaporated milk too. I think either she spread it too thin or didn't use enough milk. I haven't checked out her sheet pan soup yet but am dubious about it.

[Lura]

I am dumbfounded that Marcella was fired.  When did this happen?  I record this show every week and am about 3 segments behind, so that's probably why I'm behind the times.  I like Marcella as a performer, and I've always thought she added a bright spot to the cast.  Maybe the FN got tired of maternity leaves?  Or her having kids with her agent but isn't married to him?  It seems to me that Jeff is the one they should put on a slow boat to China.  He is sooooo corny.

[Lura]

I remember Jeff's season on NFNS.  They actually had to tell him that his forehead was dripping sweat into the food, like he couldn't see it himself, and they waited several segments before finally cluing him in.  What a nauseating experience for the viewers.  He said he'd done a lot of standup comedy, and I remember thinking he had a lot of work to do if he was going to succeed.  When he won, I couldn't believe it.  He was in no way the best.  I guess they liked his lame jokes.  I don't mean to be cruel, but if the FN ever decided to fire him from The Kitchen, I'd be willing to show him the way to the exit door.

[Spunkygal]

@Lura, on Oct 5, Mammalou posted that Marcela said on Instagram that the next episode would be her last and there's been no on air mention of her departure. She said she was tired of the travel and wanted to be with the three kids. Also, Sunny has posted some veiled remarks on social media which made us think M had been fired (pls scroll back a page or so). Then M posted some veiled remarks (again, scroll back). Sorry for the Cliff Notes version but am also watching World Series while I type. Long story short...we don't know if she was fired or left on her own.

Edited October 30, 2017 by Spunkygal

[Hero]

In his season, I think Suzy had a crush on him and I felt like that was a little part of how he won. 

[Gbb]

On 10/29/2017 at 4:10 PM, Mondrianyone said:

You think?  I just got finished watching that (ff'ed through most of it).  If the positions had been reversed and Marcela showed up wearing a shirt making some kind of fried-chicken reference, she'd have been slammed as a racist on social media.  I wonder what the difference is.  It's disgusting the producers let her do that.

I think this show is coming off the DVR schedule.

Maybe I’m naive, but I didn’t get any racist vibe or that “taco” was a reference to Marcela being Mexican. I just thought it was Sunny’s “cutesy” way of saying, “yeah, there’s a story here, but you ain’t getting it from me.” Or as Spunkygal said, “nunya business.”

Edited October 30, 2017 by Gbb

[MerBearHou]

Food puns are everywhere these days and last week my daughter said “I don’t want to taco bout it” three times and laughed. It’s just current and fun and I’d be shocked if Sunny meant anything towards or about Marcella. 

[UniqueHandle]

31 minutes ago, MerBearHou said:

Food puns are everywhere these days and last week my daughter said “I don’t want to taco bout it” three times and laughed. It’s just current and fun and I’d be shocked if Sunny meant anything towards or about Marcella. 

I totally thought it was in reference to her falling during the Halloween episode.  I'm a total dork.

[MerBearHou]

34 minutes ago, UniqueHandle said:

I totally thought it was in reference to her falling during the Halloween episode.  I'm a total dork.

It could have been!  I feel like Sunny has a great sense of humor and fun and she knows that the Halloween fright totally undid her on camera.  I felt badly for her when she fell but she seems like a very good sport.

[Lura]

I feel that Katie has a personality that really confuses people (and may even confuse herlf)!  She comes from West Virginia, and all of her references to her life there are happy ones.  Then, she marries Billy Joel, who is not only rich but famous, too.  Living life in the Hamptons around high society, she develops this snobbish air, and now she's two people.  Years later, she winds up on the FN, and she doesn't know how to act.  Should she be "country" or "high fallutin'?"  She's both.

I've seen her a number of times make big plays for Bobby Flay.  I think she'd be perfectly satisfied to marry money and fame again.  Bobby isn't blind to the way she acts around him, and he flirts right back, but he seems to be keeping his distance.  He's been burned before, money-wise.

I have a hard time liking Katie, possibly because I don't know her.  I only know what I see, and she strikes me as being disingenuous.  I don't trust her.  She's an act.  What kind of an act, I don't know.

[Qoass]

Quote

He's been burned before, money-wise.

You mean in his divorce? I wasn't there but from what I read, his wife deserved every red cent.

Topic: I have one of her cookbooks (Comfort Table) on the shelf and have never opened it. As the weather cools, maybe I should check it out.

[Maya]

I think she is as fake as they come. Even her stories about her “granny” seem contrived at this point. 

[butterbody]

Watching a repeat, and woooot there's Jocelyn Delk Adams! I follow grandbaby cakes on Facebook and she always posts the most incredible recipes / food porn. 

[Mammalou]

1 hour ago, butterbody said:

Watching a repeat, and woooot there's Jocelyn Delk Adams! I follow grandbaby cakes on Facebook and she always posts the most incredible recipes / food porn. 

Omg I love her too! I watch her if she had her own show! I liked the chef that was on today making the sweet potato cheesecake.. she showed an interesting idea and seemed really knowledgeable.. as opposed to a tv star who isn't remotely food related. Would also try GZ apple dessert! 

[Gam2]

She’s Sandra Bullock’s sister and owned (or maybe still owns) a successful bakery in TX.

[Spunkygal]

I will try GZ's take on tarte tatin. It really did seem simple. I also enjoyed the guest chef's idea to save some of the unflavored batter to pipe on top for a design before baking. I have a decadent Kahlua chocolate cheesecake recipe and next time, I will do this to make it fancier!

ok, nice comments out of the way. I thought the co-hosts were giving Jeff the stink eye for his silliness. I really believe he has morphed into Jerry Lewis.

forgot to add! I was watching Martha Bakes today on PBS and she did exactly what GZ said she told him NOT to do. She scooped right into the flour with her metal measuring cup rather than spooning the flour into the cup. Maybe she had just had a "cooking session" with Snoop Dog!

Edited November 5, 2017 by Spunkygal

[LazyToaster]

Spunkygal---  ok, nice comments out of the way. I thought the co-hosts were giving Jeff the stink eye for his silliness. I really believe he has morphed into Jerry Lewis.

HA!  That got a snort out of me.  I think you are right!  

[bosawks]

I made the cocktail and it was incredible!

Although, I downed the cognac and cherry liquor and I upped the cranberry and Lambrusco.

Drinking it should really help my enjoyment quotient of the show as well!

[LemonSoda]

On 10/31/2017 at 10:19 PM, Lura said:

I feel that Katie has a personality that really confuses people (and may even confuse herlf)!  She comes from West Virginia, and all of her references to her life there are happy ones.  Then, she marries Billy Joel, who is not only rich but famous, too.  Living life in the Hamptons around high society, she develops this snobbish air, and now she's two people.  Years later, she winds up on the FN, and she doesn't know how to act.  Should she be "country" or "high fallutin'?"  She's both.

I've seen her a number of times make big plays for Bobby Flay.  I think she'd be perfectly satisfied to marry money and fame again.  Bobby isn't blind to the way she acts around him, and he flirts right back, but he seems to be keeping his distance.  He's been burned before, money-wise.

I have a hard time liking Katie, possibly because I don't know her.  I only know what I see, and she strikes me as being disingenuous.  I don't trust her.  She's an act.  What kind of an act, I don't know.

 

I think she exaggerates some of the humble beginnings because she attended an out of state university, did a semester in Italy. Yeah I know that's easy with tons of loans but sometimes to hear her talk you'd think she lived in a house with a dirt floor when really they did what most in rural areas do. Have a garden, buy from local farmers. I also think the desire for a grand life was always there considering the Gatsby party in high school. There's nothing wrong with wanting a better or different life. It's the split way that she carries herself that bugs. Some of the entries on her now long forgotten blog were written from the exciting perspective of new wealth. A lot of brand name dropping while complaining about food prices. Even then she seemed split. One story would be about a running in to a friend in Bergdorf's, the next about her Aunt's dinner rolls. The only thing that seemed certain was her amazement with and love of the Hamptons. 

 

As for Bobby Flay, they've always seemed like good friends. I died laughing when she posted a photo with him then deleted it and uploaded another that included the friend with them because she knew what rumors would go out. She was close with his ex wife for a while. I hope their friendship wasn't another casualty of social climbing. That's another weird thing about her. She's always glued herself to others at convenient times. Before and shortly after the first book she was always with Paula Deen. Post scandal you didn't see Katie stick up for the very close friend who helped promote her. Then she tried to be besties with Giada, even appearing on one of her shows where they navigated a corn maze together. Then she was glued to Anne from Desserts First, even featuring Anne in her first book. After Anne lost her show, I didn't see them together again. 

 

On 11/1/2017 at 8:55 AM, Qoass said:

You mean in his divorce? I wasn't there but from what I read, his wife deserved every red cent.

Topic: I have one of her cookbooks (Comfort Table) on the shelf and have never opened it. As the weather cools, maybe I should check it out.

I'm with you! Stephanie deserved every dime and more! 

Definitely check out the book, it's laughter inducing in different ways. The recipes are good. But nothing ground breaking. Standard home cook fare. Beef stew, deviled eggs, meatloaf. The photos and some of her comments are split. One page features her in a gilded gold closet in a gown putting on shoes while she complains in a recipe intro about hamptons lobster prices. It's like Who are you Katie? The country girl who thinks everything is expensive? Or the woman in a formal gown on the beach with pugs. And the three C's make me cringe. Casual and comfortable with a touch of couture! 

 

On 11/1/2017 at 10:20 AM, Maya said:

I think she is as fake as they come. Even her stories about her “granny” seem contrived at this point. 

Granny and Aunt Dora exist. Most of their recipes are in her first book. But I know what you mean. Is she the down home county girl? Is she the posh Hamptonite? Is she the athletic surfer girl happy to live on tacos and beer? 

[Spunkygal]

Has anyone else seen this? Sunny has an inflatable snack stadium kit: 

http://www.partycity.com/product/infladium+football+snack+stadium+party+supplies.do

Looks like you have to keep buying the cardboard inserts after each use. No thanks. 

[LemonSoda]

3 hours ago, Spunkygal said:

Has anyone else seen this? Sunny has an inflatable snack stadium kit: 

http://www.partycity.com/product/infladium+football+snack+stadium+party+supplies.do

Looks like you have to keep buying the cardboard inserts after each use. No thanks. 

I could see a crafty person making their own inserts or wrapping/lining the originals to get more use out of them. 

[Snarklepuss]

I watched a repeat of an episode of Thanksgiving tips from season 4, and boy how this show has changed!  I feel like their spirit is gone after whatever happened with Marcella.  And Sunny and Jeff have gotten sloppier, sillier and louder every season to the point now where they're insufferable (and I used to really LIKE them!).

[Kathcart]

Sunny: “Sage is tantamount to Thanksgiving ...” 

[Mammalou]

54 minutes ago, Kathcart said:

Sunny: “Sage is tantamount to Thanksgiving ...” 

Haha! Some of her word choices don't mean what she thinks they mean.. and i feel like we should play a drinking game and take a shot every time she says 'moment'.. we'd be sloshed by the end of a segment 

btw she should take her ring off when sliding butter under the turkey skin. Nasty 

[Spunkygal]

The caramel pecan glaze over turkey did not appeal to me at all. Just give me a moist, succulent turkey with crispy skin and that's heaven. I actually think a ham with its inherent saltiness plays well with a glaze but not a turkey. 

I can't stand Ree or her voice, so FF'd through her green bean segment. I couldn't believe when Sunny said she'd put gravy all over the mac and cheese/dressing dish that Eddie made. Ugh. Hope your cardiologist is on speed dial. I thought Trisha looked lovely and Sunny also looked pretty today. She had on a cute top, cute wig and make up was tasteful. I, too, don't care for all her huge rings but I guess at some point she did take that huge gold one off while she was buttering the turkey coz Jeff had it on. GZ looked bored the entire time to me. My opinion of this show is "it is what it is." A snark-filled time killer on Saturday mornings.

[Mondrianyone]

That turkey was disgusting.  Way to ruin the crispiness you worked hours to achieve.

The pecan pie with lemon zest seemed intriguing.  I'm the pie person every T'Day, so I'm always on the lookout for ways to change up the old standards.  I can see trying that variation this year.

[Gam2]

Pecan pie with lemon zest?! That’s a sacrilege against pecan pie. There are some things you do not mess with. This is one of them. Not everything needs to be “updated”. They’re just fine the way they’ve been for 200 years. Go away, Ree.