There’s always a discussion somewhere online about garnish in barbecue competitions. Some sanctioning bodies allow it, with strict guidelines, some don’t allow it at all. What I started thinking about is why it may be allowed in some cases.
The conclusion I came to was that we really do eat with our eyes first. Appearance scores wouldn’t exist if that weren’t true, but, more importantly, TV food shows wouldn’t exist without this fact.
Think about it. How likely would you be to watch some nut cook on TV, knowing you can’t taste or smell anything, if seeing the food wasn’t a crucial part of the experience? Try blindfolding yourself and eating… See if it tastes as good as it does when it’s presented nicely. Have you ever gone to a dinner where the hosts put a lot of effort into how things look, and your reaction is that you can’t wait to eat?
Here are my favorite food experiences on TV:
1. Alton Brown’s "Good Eats"
Actually, I like the guy in general as a TV personality. I even like his new show, though it’s just a 4-parter, called "Feasting on Asphalt". Unfortunately, he had an accident outside of Las Vegas and broke his collarbone! The photo on the left is all his gear for the show. What I like about Alton Brown is that he approaches food the way I try to think of it… The details and physics/chemistry behind it are the most importan part of it… recipes are easy, but knowing how things work allows you to do new things. Plus, he’s a geek… If you’re one of the few that haven’t seen his show yet, make sure to catch it soon!
2. "Throwdown with Bobby Flay"
I haven’t been a big fan of Bobby Flay, but I’ve also not been anti-Bobby Flay the way a lot of barbecuers seem to be. Some seem to think he’s a fake, but I would bet he can outgrill most anyone. He’s not a real barbecuer, but I’d also bet that, if he put his mind to it, he’d compete with the best of them in no time. On Throwdown, though, he challenges someone at the top of their game, no matter what type of food. I’ve sen him go up against a rib champ, a pizza champ, a marine that grills steaks for his troops and a breakfast mogul in Kentucky. I have yet to see him win one. One part of me says he’s not really trying to beat them, another says that he’s too competitive not to try. I think it’s somewhere in between… He tries, but he works for the network, so the people he’s challenging are likely to win. However, what I like about this show is that you get a look at his team comin up with new stuff, and Bobby Flay sets himself up to take the loss on national TV. I have a feeling part of it is to remake the perception people have of him… Lose graciously, and the arrogance isn’t as bad! 
3. OLN’s "All Star BBQ Challenge"
Chris Lilly hosted this, giving it a lot of credibility, and they got truly top barbecue cooks to compete. It was a great mix of things to see, and just plain fun. I’m anxious to see the next season!
4. Iron Chef America
Ok, partly, it’s because Alton Brown does a great job as the color man on this one. But it’s fun to see how chefs approach things when they get an ingredient thrown at them and have only 60 minutes to come up with 5 dishes based on that ingredient. I just don’t like that old guy that has no manners when he eats that judges all the time! Learn to hold a fork and chew with your mouth closed!!!
5. Napa Style
I don’t think is actually on anymore, but Fine Living did this show with Michael Chiarello. True, it touted his website with a lot of overpriced stuff, but some of it is pretty nice stuff. My wife got me some things from there for our first Christmas after we were married, and I love it. The show really tried to sell some of his stuff, but it was also a good show for ideas on entertaining. His new show, on the other hand…
That’s just a quick hit… Let me know what your favorite shows are!
Hi Curt,
Bobby Flay did win a comp against an individual on cooking clam chowder.
It was a good show, and the chowder sure looked good.
I’m glad to hear that he did… I must have missed that one. I still like his attitude on the show; it demonstrates a more human, less arrogant side of him, esp. with his assistants giving him a really hard time!
I thought more about the food image thing, too… What are we all doing drooling over images of food if appearance didn’t matter?
How many would stop coming to blogs if there were no photos?
I am a huge Alton Brown fan too. I like learning the history and science behind using different foods. I am also a huge Paula Deen fan even though the tried to make her up too much and tone her down. The Krispy Kreme Bread Pudding Episode is my favorite and I still make Donut Bread Pudding on special occasions.