Looking for the latest in tasty television? Need to know the need-to-watch episodes of your favorite foodie shows? Chow Bella is here to help. We're reviewing the most delectable and dreadful with a handy, must-see schedule so you won't miss a thing.
If there's one thing we need to get our hearts beating again after reading that our beloved Officer Tom Hanson, a.k.a. Johnny Depp, died in an alcohol-related car crash this weekend (only to find out, minutes later, that the whole thing was a hoax), it's a Zen moment. Enter Nathan Weinberger, showing us how to eat a carrot. Sure, the T-shirt's cheesy, but the hat is adorable, the music soothing and that confident little head nod around 23 seconds makes us believe Nathan's got everything (at least carrot eating) under control. He's no Jack Sparrow, but we'd let him pirate our Caribbean any time.
Weekend TV roundup and this week's food show listings after the jump.
This weekend, TV Dinner saw Chef Marcella Valladolid, from Food Network's new show, Mexican Made Easy, make chilaquiles with tomatillo salsa, which had us running to Supermercado Ranchero for ingredients, stat. Unfortunately, the other two dishes were no excitando. Chef Masaharu Morimoto wins (again) on Iron Chef America and (surprise!) more crying on Worst Cooks in America as Jenny Cross describes herself as a "complete and total wreck" but manages to stay on for another challenge.
As for the bevy of other food shows out there this week, we've sorted out a list of the ones we think are worthwhile watchers. Be sure to check back on Friday for reviews and the weekend's tastiest telecasts.
Monday (January 25)
Rachael Ray: "Top Ten Recipes of the Year." A countdown of the 10 best viewer recipes of 2009. Among them: chicken-buffalo dip, cheesy hash-brown chili, and pesto chicken. 4 p.m., Channel 5, CBS
Cake Boss: "Chimps, Cinema & Crumb Cake." Buddy designs a cake celebrating the 110th anniversary of the Bronx Zoo. Later he deals with an indecisive client when creating a cake for the grand opening of a movie theater. 10 p.m., TLC
Tuesday (January 26)
Chopped: "In a Pinch." A challenging piece of meat poses problems for the chefs in the entrée round. They also must use soft-shell crabs in their appetizers and peppermint sticks in their desserts. 11 p.m., Food Network
Wednesday (Januray 27)
* (Local focus!) Your Life A-Z: Chef Chuck Wiley from Café ZuZu joins Lisa Haffner. 10 a.m., Channel 3, KTVK
Thursday (January 28) Martha Stewart Show: Country-music singer Clay Walker prepares healthy recipes. 11 a.m., Channel 15, ABC
Modern Marvels: "The Potato." The potato is examined, beginning with its origin in Peru. Included: A potato farm in Maine that cultivates exotic varieties, the growing and processing of potatoes in Idaho and Pennsylvania, and the making of potato vodka. Also, a segment on the Mr. Potato Head toy. 9 p.m., History Channel
Food Tech: "Chinese Take-Out." Chinese takeout is examined, including segments on egg rolls, fortune cookies, soy sauce and Peking duck. 10 p.m., History Channel
Friday (January 29)
Bonnie Hunt Show: "Cake Boss" Buddy Valastro. 11 a.m., Channel 10, FOX * (Second-season opener!) Kitchen Nightmares: "Hot Potato Café." Chef Ramsay visits the Hot Potato Café in Philadelphia and is surprised to see the owners' evaporated passion, replaced by negative attitudes. 8 p.m., Channel 10, FOX