So what’s the Foodie Freebie this week? Well, this is a very special foodie freebie… especially if you appreciate the knowledge, scientific enthusiasm and humor of Alton Brown. Of course, before I tell you what the freebie is, allow me to provide some background…
BUT if you don’t know who Alton Brown is, well perhaps this foodie freebie is not for you. In fact, if you truly don’t have the faintest clue of what this man is all about, it’s best you stop reading now and peruse some recipes or other adventures on my site. Are you still with me? Good. Continue reading…
Now Alton Brown’s show, Good Eats, is extremely popular on the Food Network channel. However, did you know that the pilot for Good Eats first aired on Chicago’s PBS member television station (WTTW) in July 1998? Yes, that’s right… another reason why Chicago is on the culinary map! The Food Network picked up the show a year later in July 1999, and continues to air new episodes.
I had the pleasure of meeting Alton Brown twice in the past two years and will be seeing him again this coming March. The first time I met him was quite an embarrassing run in. (I’ll divulge that story at the end of the week, if you’re really interested.) He’s an extremely intelligent and kind person, very down to earth and someone to be admired. So by now you’re probably ready to know what the foodie freebie is, right? This week’s foodie freebie is an Alton Brown giveaway which includes:
Alton Brown’s Gear For Your Kitchen
Alton’s Angles 3.5in. Shun Vegetable Knifewith autographed box
I hope the lucky winner will enjoy this special Alton Brown foodie freebie… and thinks of Chicago when watching Good Eats in the future! Here’s how you can get in on the Alton action:
Some guidelines:
– Giveaway is only for those who live in the United States. My apologies to my international readers!
– You must have a valid email address so that you can be contacted if you win.
To enter the giveaway, leave a comment about:
– Your favorite Alton Brown ‘Good Eats’ episode and why. Are there any episodes of this show that stand out to you? I’d love to hear your thoughts on Alton Brown!
Deadline: Thursday, January 15, 2009 at 12 midnight CST.
Winner will be randomly chosen by Random.Org’s Interger Generator based on the number of your comment and will be announced on Friday, January 16, 2009. Good luck!
my favorite episode of alton brown’s was his cheesecake. he made making cheesecake look like a snap and curbed all my fears of it. actually he made it look so easy that even my non cooking best friend tried it, she even burns boiled water, and it came out great. he makes cooking and baking seem so easy once you understand the science behind it..i am a HUGE alton brown fan…my whole family loves him!! LOL
My favorite is his fudge episode. While I haven’t made fudge yet, I want to and he explained the science behind how to make the fudge. Super cool. I love the science behind the food, and his show is the only show that brings that in!
My favorite episode of Good Eats is the acke decorating episode. I learned so much: how to level a cake, how not to get crumbs in your icing, and interesting ways to make the icing look neat. And all the while I was highly entertained. He made something that can be very intimidating seem very simple. I love AB!
I think the episode on water might be my favorite. It was definitely more about science and less about food than some others, so it was the first episode that I got my husband to watch.
I LOVE the science behind cooking and that is why I love Alton Brown. My favorite episode was the one where he explained how to cook the perfect omelet (and eggs in general). My breakfasts are far far far more superior than they used to be because of AB.
I love his episode on Fried Chicken (Fry Hard 2: The Chicken). It made me less afraid of frying chicken because I was always scared of it burning before the inside was cooked all the way through. His steps are very simple, straightforward and always fully explained.
I met Alton about 4 years ago at the Food Network Great Big Food Show and he was as nice and cool in person as you would think…he took the time to talk to me, take a picture with me and sign my cookbook. He’s great!
What a great giveaway! AB is my foodie boyfriend 🙂 I even have my Hubby hooked on watching him. Since we’re both engineers we totally dig the science behind cooking. I honestly don’t think I can pick a favorite episode. I use so many of his little tips when I cook on a daily basis. At least once a week, Hubby or I will say “well AB says to do this…”
But if you’re going to make me choose one episode,… I’d have to say I love the one where he’s stranded on an island. I just find it funny.
So many episodes I love. The garlic episode was great, I’ll always remember his Turkey episode and even though I’m a Mainer I really got a lot of info from his lobster episode that has helped me (thing about living in an area where something is popular is everyone acts like they know how to cook it best but never share info!)
I liked the one he did on tuna, where he seared it & all that. It looked really really good.
PS. A couple friend of ours (my SO & the other guy were high school buddies) live in the SAME NEIGHBORHOOD in Marietta as Alton! I almost freaked out when I found out, when we were down there visiting.
My favorite is sort of a silly one. I like the one where he’s on what he thinks is a deserted island, and he talks to a coconut a la Tom Hanks’s “Wilson” in “Cast Away.” It turns out that he’s actually on Waikiki Beach and his crew has been staying at the Hilton. The recipes in that one are good – he makes coconut shrimp and “hunts” a pig to make sweet and sour pork.
First, let me say how hard it is for me to pick a favorite episode of Good Eats. Every episode is filled with science, humor and, of course, food. The one episode that stands out in my mind as my favorite has got to be the episode “Fry, Turkey, Fry.” In this episode, Alton shows the audience how to properly brine a turkey. He then builds a turkey fryer with some items (including a turkey lifter that he says is definitely not a unitasker)he purchased at Ace Hardware. Then, he proceeds to show the audience how easily a frozen turkey dropped into hot oil can start a fire (all with the use of local firemen). At the end, it shows the turkey lifter being used as a paper towel holder. It really just doesn’t get better than that. 🙂
My favorite episode was the one that he talked about Pot Roast…I always wanted to learn how to make it and he not only show you that…But also explained about all the good meats … I think he is awesome and I watch his show all the time@
I love Alton as host of Iron Chef, so my favorite Good Eats Episode has to be “Scrap Iron Chef.” It’s all about the bacon!
Fun giveaway! My favorite was the Christmas episode with cookies – even Santa made an appearance. 😉
My husband and I love AB! I’ll go with the chocolate chip cookie episode as my favorite — so useful to know how to make your cookies chewy, cakey or thin.
It’s so hard to decide which episode I like. I like all of them. I saw one recently that aired his grandma and they made biscuits. They were so sweet! I love how he gets scientific with all his recipes. Even my husband likes watching him!
I’m not sure I can pick just one! I learned a lot on the “tender is the loin” episodes. The mac and cheese with Elton Brown is also good. And for some reason, I like the ones with his Colonel Sanders alter ego.
The chili episode.
mellisa.willis@sbcglobal.net
i love alton brown, he actually explains why food does what it does! My husband and I both watched and took notes for his roasted and fried turkey shows, i loved the fudge and cheesecake shows and the cookie show was fantastic. if i ever have an in depth question about a food or process odds are Alton has made an episode about it!
Alton Brown is my hero, combining the two greatest things in the world, food and geekiness.
It’s already been mentioned, but my favorite episode is definitely the turkey fryer episode. I love his creative use of materials from the hardware store, and his ingenious turkey pulley, utilizing a ladder to keep from frying yourself with the hot oil.
And yes, I want to hear your Alton Brown story!
Well I love garlic so I loved the garlic episode. I love his show because not only do you get real facts on food but he is hilarious!
I am forever indebted to Alton for teaching me how to make the perfect roast turkey for Thanksgiving. I have used a modified version of his recipe for years and always get rave reviews on my turkey!
I love Alton Brown!
My favorite episode is definitely “Casserole Over”. I make the Broccoli Casserole a lot and get a ton of compliments on it! (plus any recipe that does not contain canned “cream of” soup is a bonus to me!
– Lydia
Benz1966@gmail.com
Hmmm, hard to pick just one favorite! Let me see….I think the episode with the awesome chocolate chip cookies would have to be my favorite – I love that he uses melted butter and lots of brown sugar to insure extra “chewiness” in the cookie. Uh oh – now I’m craving chocolate chip cookies!
-Amy
http://www.singforyoursupperblog.com
I love any episode with the balloon-chicken!!
…also, the pickling episode is one of my favorites. 🙂
I have been watching Alton Brown for years and have yet to see an episode of Good Eats where I did not learn something. If I had to choose a favorite episode, it would be the very first one. In that episode Alton talked about Steak. He showed me that it is possible (and might I say easy) to perfectly cook a steak in a cast iron pan. I learned that the pans thermal properties make it the perfect vessel for getting a perfect sear on your steak every time.
My favorite episode would be season 4 episode 10, which was on Mayonnaise. I had never realized that Mayonnaise was something that you could make from scratch. I had been raised on Hellmann’s mayo and thought that was the only game in town. After making Alton’s recipe I was amazed at the level of flavor and will never go back to store bought Mayo again. Thanks Alton!
I love AB, he makes such difficult things seem so easy. I love the way he explains everything!
My favorite episode is the chocolate chip cookie episode. I had always wondered why one cookie was flat, another was chewy, and another was crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside. Alton explains it all, so I can now make my version of the perfect CCC!
I liked his episode all about different types of muffins, but I honestly have to say the only episodes I don’t get something from are the seafood shows just because I don’t eat much seafood. I love AB. 🙂
My favorite episode is the one on biscuits. Alton’s grandmother appears in the episode, and it is so neat to see them cooking together! He talked about a few variations he uses on his grandmother’s recipe which made the episdoe very interesting. Both sets of biscuits looked fantastic!
What a great giveaway! I love Alton Brown! I think my favorite ones were on ice cream. But I think I love all his episodes! I always learn so much!
Hello from Chicago!
I’ve been enjoying your blog. Thanks for the friend add last week.
The one episode of Good Eats that always stands out in my mind was his lobster episode where he completely demystified how to cook “your bug” and how to get all of the meat that you’ve paid so dearly for.
I have his other 2 books and this one would be a great addition to my collection and the vegetable knife is very intriguing! Thanks for the chance to win them both. Have a great week and I’d love to hear about your embarrassing run in with him!
My favorite “Good Eats” episode is the one where he talks all about peppers and their varying degrees of spiciness. I remember seeing it when I was just beginning my love affair with cooking and, since I live in a region with plentiful amounts of peppers, very much enjoyed learning about capsasium and the heat index of different peppers.
I love the idea of angling the knife handle. I often use a larger knife than necessary just so I don’t bang my knuckles on the cutting board!
Handsdown favorite episode is the turkey frying episode. My husband and I watch it every Thanksgiving on You Tube. It cracks us up! This year we fried our turkey and used this episode as as guide. So fun!
My husband is a science teacher and just loves Alton. He was just miles from our house during Feasting on Asphalt 1 and 2 and my husband was so disappointed we didn’t see him.
It’s wrong to admit I’ve never seen Alton Brown episode, right?
Can I redeem myself, (and therefore still be eligible for inclusion on this) if I say (truthfully) that I DID make his brined turkey for Thanksgiving?
K
Although not an episode of Good Eats, I really enjoyed Alton Brown’s “Feasting on Asphalt,” where he and a few friends rode motorcycles across the country looking for authentic American eateries.
Does that cout as an answer, or must it be an episode of Good Eats?
My fave was Macaroons. I have always been fascinated with them but didn’t know how to make them and was quiet intimidated by them, isn’t that weird! My mom loves them, so after seeing that show, I felt like I could totally do it. Go Alton.
spinach salad! My favorite kind of salad, but not always easy to execute!
I love the garlic episode! And the donut one is my second favorite. cinnamonyspice@gmail.com
Ooh, I love Alton! My favorite is Toast Modern – my French Toast has never been the same since!
So many that I love- the water episode was a cool one. As scientists, my husband and I love his “nerdiness.” Alton is just amazing!
I like the one where he actually made macaroons. I had always wanted to make them, but was intimidated. Then I saw his show and thought, hmmm… I can do this…
I love every episode of “Good Eats,” it’s hard to decide which one to pick as a favorite. They’re all so clever and funny, not to mention mouth-watering! I just love AB! <3
I'd say any one with a cute and silly plot line. Something special that gets away from the standard ‘cooking show’ genre. I especially love “Down and Out In Paradise,” “Oh My, Meat Pie,” and the two with Frances Anderson (*the super-fan*), “This Spud’s For You Too” and “Ill Gotten Grains.”
“Romancing the Bird”. From the first time I made the brined turkey recipe, I haven’t made a non-brined bird.
Oh wow, this is way cool Joeleen! AB is the coolest food nerdie ever, and he’s one of my top cool chefs that I’d like to meet. I’m dying to hear your AB story, too!!!
My fave episode is the Roasted Turkey because this was my first big attempt in cooking!
I liked the Popover Sometime episode. I have always wanted to try to make popovers, but never was brave enough until I watched this episode.
rsgrandinetti(at)yahoo(dot)com
My favorite episode of “Good Eats” was when Alton was telling his viewers about how to cook a Lobster. He put the live lobster in the pan of boiling water and put the lid on. He told the viewers to count to 10. Then he told us the lobster was now dead. I still giggle about that episode! It must have been his delivery!
I love his show and all the “technical stuff” you learn. I must say though, that the time that he showed how to make sauerkraut at home, I wanted to never ever ever eat that stuff again, and I don’t eat it now 🙂 lol. I would say that is my fave only cuz I think of it often 🙂
I have no idea how to pick my favorite episode!! My 6-year-old absolutely *loves* Alton Brown!! Two of his favorites are the Pancakes episode and also the Waffles episode, but really, I’m not sure he has a favorite either.
It’s definitely hard to pick a favorite, but the first one that came to mine was the one where he talks about how to mix good standard drinks at home (classic martinis, etc.) First I was inspired to be able to entertain with really good classic drinks like that…and then I decided he should just come be the bartender at my house. 😉
My favorite was his lobster one. I grew up in Maine, famous for the crustacean, and their are as many opinions on cooking them as there are about potatoes! Good to see his show! Thanks
Oh, its so hard to choose, are you really going to make me? Ok, I guess if I have to, Okraphobia. Reason, its hilarious that there is actually an okra mascot out there and before that episode the only things I knew to do with okra were fry it or make gumbo. Second favorite would be Amber waves for getting me interested in making my own beer.
My husband and I learned so much from his Garlic episode. Being Italian, even we were surprised at how much we didn’t know about it! I think Alton gives the Food Network class, and I enjoy his insights on Iron Chef too.
cdziuba@aol.com
I love Alton Brown though I don’t get to watch his show much because I don’t have cable. I really like the episode where he cooks duck. I appreciate that I always learn something new from his show.
I really liked alton’s cake decorating show. I also love his new grape juice commercials. I think the is a great personality on the food network. He always knows way too much about what ever food he is talking about but it’s just so interesting.
I like his one on squid — he always finds the coolest ways to show how things work. He used different colored balloons to show how the squid’s skin changed color.
I enjoy all of Alton's shows. My favorite probably isn't what you're looking for but, we were fortunate enough to see him in person about a year & a half ago.
He had a great presentation; even showed us how to spin cotton candy between two folding chairs. It was great to see so many families there. During his Q&A the kids asked great questions.
i love just about anything that man does from Feasting On to Good Eats to Iron Chef.
My favorite episode is the Tenderloin ones. I like the fact that he shows you how to work with an expensive cut and use all of it so it becomes afforable
I love the turkey episode where he brines the turkey. That is the best recipe and I love how he describes every step so well!
Thanks, Joelen for a fun giveaway!
My favorite GE would be the one about pizza. I just have to get me a pizza peel one of these days because of it!
My husband and I both like Alton Brown. He’s so informative. I truly enjoy all his shows but if I had to pick one it would be the one about the ice cream. THanks!
I actually remember the first episode of Good Eats I ever saw…it was about sauerkraut. I did not cook at the time and thought, geez…what is the point of this! But now that I cook, I get it. I love his show. It is great to learn from and fun to watch. I don’t have one favorite episode, but the ones that stick out are the pretzel, rice and Thanksgiving turkey episode.
My favourite of his episode is hotdog when he travels to las vegas. Great giveaway!
My fav is definitely the sushi episode. Thanks for the giveaway opportunity!
His chessecake one–thanks to him, I can now make a BEAUTIFUL cheesecake! Hubs and I are crazy for his shows and we catch him on youtube too!
mariannakeough at hotmail.com
My favorite is the episode where he teaches you how to make power bars. The whole “Silence of the Lambs” thing is hilarious, and the recipes are perfect.
The most memorable episode was the one he did on beef. I was watching it with my sister and they showed a huge piece of raw roast and my sister ran to the bathroom and puked. The next day she found out she was pg so the puking was really caused by morning sickness and not from the show like she originally thought.
I like the one he did on grenadine. It was interesting to see it made.
My favorite is probably the muffin method episode. It started off a lot of good baking and learned so much from it.
Tender is the Loin is my favorite episode- it taught my fiance how to buy a great tenderloin (from Costco where we shop so perfect) and from that create filet mignons, 2 roasts (one stuffed with gorgonzola) and cheesesteak sandwiches. I just ate lunch, but now I’m getting hungry…
the one with his grandmother is my favorite thanks for the giveaway
My favorite episode was the one where he explained Brining a turkey. I enjoy his shows.
Alton is my favorite host on the Food Network. I loved his Chocolate Chip Cookie episode and I make these sweet treats all the time!
My favorite Good Eats is the one on squid. I love how the giant squid attacks the boat they’re on and how Alton is using the squid bait to make things like calamari.
My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed the episode on Monday where the Almighty Alton explained the different cuts of a whole beef tenderloin. Yummy!
I love Alton Brown and my favorite was his holiday cookie show.
I love the cupcake episode b/c he makes them in coffee mugs and I think that’s the coolest thing ever.
Favorite would be the Christmas Cookie episode, who doesn’t love cookies!
My favorite episode was the ribs one. It was the first time I actually tried any of his recipes. Actually, it’s the first time I tried anything from any cooking show! And it turned out great!
I am so envious that you had the pleasure of meeting Alton! He is such a great guy. We also love when he does his specials in the summer, (e.g., Feasting on Asphalt). I am not sure that I have a favorite episode. I really liked “Give Peas A Chance” and “If It Ain’t Broccoli Don’t Fix It.” I like when the yeast puppets show up. I missed “Oh My, Meat Pies” which I would really like to see. Thanks for the great giveaway.
I’m not sure I can pick just one! I love Alton Brown – he’s such the nerdy cute guy! The one where he made caramel corn was pretty cool. I like how he incorporates dramatic sketches into the show too.
That is one crazy looking knife, I’d love to try it out. I’m a big fan of Good Eats. My favorite episode is the strawberry episode. It’s funny and has good recipes and information. The pretzel and pocket pie episode stand out to me too because I use the recipes from them often, with my twists.
obviously, there are a lot of good ones but the first one that came to mind was an episode on pickling. I always have loved pickles but never thought to do it myself until this episode. i especially remember the “firecrackers” cause i love carrots. anyway, i pretty much try to pickle everything now. i’d love to use alton’s veggie knife to cut up stuff for some more picklemania!
I loved the Chocolate Cookie episode. I loved learning how just changing one or 2 things could change the cookie so much. ie flat and crunchy to chewey and so on.
Ooh, man. So tough to pick just one. I’m partial to the Down and Out in Paradise episode, as it’s the first episode I remember really sitting down and watching, not to mention the great recipes like coconut shrimp and sweet and sour pork. The Fry Turkey Fry episode is always entertaining for the fire =) I think if I really had to pick just one, though, I’d go with The Pouch Principle. Ramen noodles were never so good!
I think my favorite is Steak your Claim. Or Three Chips for Sister Marsha. Or really, any episode. I hated marshmallows until I saw him make them. I determined there must be something good about them with all that sugar…so I made them. And what do you know? I LOVE THEM! And so did almost everyone else that ate them. He gets me to cook things I don’t like. Wonderful man. I get so excited when I see a new episode scheduled to record on my Tivo. And I’ll watch reruns all day.
Sorry this was so long.
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