Would You Rather Watch Food Network or PBS?

April 19, 2009

22 Comments

3 years 49 weeks

PBS is for people who have a true appreciation for cooking, food, and education. Food Network (FN) is for people who prefer looks over substance. PBS fans are probably more likely to apply what they learn in their own kitchens. FN fans probably watch for mere entertainment (while eating a frozen microwave dinner).

leslievanhouten 4 years 4 weeks

Travel Channel over both, but America's Test Kitchen is awesome

jenni_po 4 years 4 weeks

I would definitely stay home all day and watch Food Network + cook if it would pay the bills! I love the so-called "food porn" of food television, regardless of the show... plus I do find little techniques and inspiration for my own cooking in every show, even if the recipes in their entirety aren't in my budget/reality range.

kiwitwist 4 years 4 weeks

PBS handsdown!!! I love all those shows.

Dana18 4 years 4 weeks

I watch both. I love Lidia Bastianich. I have been watching her for years before I had cable. And everyday food is also on PBS. Daisy Martinez and Rick Ballis are on PBS too.

aimeeb 4 years 4 weeks

Food :)

girl21innyc 4 years 4 weeks

I love them both , I love food tv shows. I agree that food network, is overrated, and some of their hosts, can tone it done a little, (i.e Guy, Rachel), but then theres Ina and Giada who are great, and whose food looks delicious.

ilanac13 4 years 4 weeks

i'm more of a food network fan....i don't watch PBS....even with some of the new shows that are on the air.

4 years 4 weeks

I don't see how you can realistically compare the 2. One is food all the time and the other is not. You dont see Nova, Masterpiece Theater or Sesame Street on Food Network do you? When I watch food type tv, I watch whoevers on that I like regardless of what channel. There are people on FN that i cannot stand, and there are food shows on PBS that put me to sleep. Shows like top chef, chopped, iron chef, the competition type shows, more often than not i dont like em. I like the ones that show you how to do something. Like actually cook something you'd eat that you could afford.

kia 4 years 4 weeks

Actually my fave food show is Lynne Rosetto Kasper on The Splendid Table... NPR.

shoneyjoe 4 years 4 weeks

That depends on whether I want to watch actual cooking or whether I want to watch unnaturally smiley food porn. 9 times out of 10, PBS wins. But Food Network is like Funyuns - sometimes you crave something ridiculous and utterly insubstantial. Didn't used to be like this - Food Network used to be about chefs. Now it's about home cooks being PERKY while recycling the same tired kitchen tips. I remember learning fundamentals like how to break down a whole chicken on PBS when I was a kid. Anything so useful on Food Network? Hardly.

4 years 4 weeks

The frenetic celebrity worship on the Food Network is distracting from the food info. PBS has far superior shows for the real foodie.

snarkypants 4 years 4 weeks

words cannot explain my love for pbs!

tepiza 4 years 4 weeks

I love PBS to death. Don't like Lidia. The Food Network is waaay overrated.

AmberHoney 4 years 4 weeks

All foodie shows are okay in my book.

Spectra 4 years 4 weeks

I love them both! I really like "America's Test Kitchen" on PBS because it's really informative and in-depth. I also like "Everyday Food" because it's gourmet food that's fairly accessible to prepare. But I also like Food Network's shows...I like the Food Network Challenges, especially the cake ones because some of those bakers are amazing. And I also vote for the Travel Channel! I recently have gotten into that show "Man vs. Food" where Adam Richman goes to all these pig-out places and tries to beat their challenges. And I LOVE "Bizarre Food". I wish I were brave enough to try some of those foods.

doogirl 4 years 4 weeks

I grew up on the PBS food shows, but now I admit I watch more Food Network. But I'll still catch an episode of PBS food tv, and I love them all!

WhatTheFrockBlog 4 years 4 weeks

Yum hit the nail right on the head. PBS is so much more interesting and diverse, in my opinion. I'd much rather watch Lidia, Ming, or Pepin than Sandra Lee, Rayray, or Guy Fieri.

POPSUGAR Food 4 years 4 weeks

One Saturday, I watched Lidia Bastianich sing the praises of burrata, learned of top Bay Area restaurants on Check Please! Bay Area, followed Gourmet's Diary of a Foodie travel to Tuscany, watched José Andres visit San Sebastián in Made in Spain, and Hubert Keller demonstrate hors d'oeuvres for the home kitchen. At the same time on the Food Network, there was a cake challenge and Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.

jhig 4 years 4 weeks

PBS will always be first in my book. The Food Network profiles underachieving chefs who, in the real world, I doubt would ever be considered for a gig. BTW, why wasn't the Travel Channel considered into the line up? I'd watch the Travel Channel any day over the Food Network. Thanks to Anthony Bourdain, Samantha Brown, & the always wonderful Andrew Zimmern - I've take a strong, curious interest in many ethnic cuisines, travels & cultures.