chocolate cheesecake

[perth]

Bobby Flay is a hack. I can't stand that guy.

Wolf is right on. Alton Brown brings the science. Recipes are great, but the things Alton discusses empower you to create, not just follow directions. If you understand *why* an ingredient behaves the way it does, you can use that information to change a recipe, or create a whole new one. The best example of this is his cookie episode. I learned more from that one episode than in creating 100 batches of cookies.

Emeril gets on my nerves because he is always breaking his arm congratulating himself on his food. His other show (don't remember the name), before he got big, was much better, because he explained things (much like Alton's show). Things like the difference between the balsamic vinegar you get in the grocery store and real balsamic, the kind you have to hunt down. But now its just "Bam! It's a pork fat thing! Kickin' it up to notches unknown!". It's become a cult of personality. And I can't stand that particular personality. Not bashing those that love him, because I can certainly see the appeal, especially if you like cajun, seafood and salt.

Okay, the salt bit was a cheap shot. Sorry.