Alton Brown podcasts about food
August 6, 2013 3:13 AM   Subscribe

The Alton Browncast [iTunes link] is a weekly podcast by the creator and star of the Good Eats cooking show. The podcast is a mixture of interviews, recipes, food news, food tips, and questions from listeners, occasionally about Doctor Who (he's a fan). There have been six episodes so far and the guests have been Sandy Waddell, Bobby Flay, Keith Schroeder, Alex Guarnaschelli, Hugh Acheson and Justin Warner.
posted by Kattullus (28 comments total) 39 users marked this as a favorite
 
Alton's show "Good Eats" had the cheesiest visual props I can think of! I loved how he used the props to explain a scientific principle. A podcast wont have these. : (
posted by BillyAnne at 3:21 AM on August 6, 2013


I should warn you that the Doctor Who cooking show thing I linked to is uncomfortable to watch in parts.
posted by Kattullus at 3:24 AM on August 6, 2013 [1 favorite]


Alton's show "Good Eats" had the cheesiest visual props I can think of!

And don't forget Thing!
posted by RonButNotStupid at 5:07 AM on August 6, 2013


Ooooooo thanks for this!!
posted by nevercalm at 5:08 AM on August 6, 2013


This is great. As long as I don't have to watch him mishandle food, I like Alton Brown.
posted by Ice Cream Socialist at 5:09 AM on August 6, 2013


I've got these in my podcast rotation. I hope he branches out on the guests over time. I'd love to hear him talk to food scientists, farmers, and people in other parts of the food chain beyond the people who cook for a living.
posted by COD at 5:22 AM on August 6, 2013


So, I just woke up. And moseyed on over to Metafilter, as one does. And I think to myself "Oh hey, I like Alton Brown and cooking shows and Doctor Who. I'm gonna watch that Youtube link." And oh my goodness I am going to be cringing for hours. Heed Kattullus' warning, folks.
posted by pemberkins at 5:24 AM on August 6, 2013 [2 favorites]


What's so cringeworthy about the Doctor Who one?
posted by supercrayon at 5:40 AM on August 6, 2013 [1 favorite]


Ood Eats.
posted by dywypi at 6:00 AM on August 6, 2013 [11 favorites]


This is great. As long as I don't have to watch him mishandle food, I like Alton Brown.
posted by Ice Cream Socialist


I am now imagining ice cream rousing the other foodstuffs against the TV Hosts who unfairly control the Means of Preparation.....
posted by GenjiandProust at 6:24 AM on August 6, 2013 [2 favorites]


You just made my morning running miles a lot better. Thank you.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 6:26 AM on August 6, 2013


I disagree that the "Dork Fork" Doctor Who cooking bit is uncomfortable. They did a nice job and they were funny. It was unpolished, but these were two people trying to get a new (web) show going. What I find uncomfortable is that they were so attacked and humiliated by the comment crowd and the show seems to have mostly disappeared. There was a follow-up Nerdist Podcast with Andie from the Dork Fork and she was very cool. I wish there was still a world where people would give things a chance. Seinfeld would have not gotten beyond 2 episodes today.

Anyway - Alton's podcast is great and while I find him a bit over goofy at times (which is saying something from one of the more goofy people out there), I think the show and he are both great. Check out all of the other Nerdist offerings as well. I've rarely been let down.

dywypi Ood Eats. NICE.
posted by Clinging to the Wreckage at 6:27 AM on August 6, 2013


I watched that Doctor Who one a while ago...and man oh man...you could just feel Alton cringing not over what he was doing..but the level of non-Whovian co hosts were showing
posted by ShawnString at 6:28 AM on August 6, 2013


Re: the Doctor Who segment, YMMV depending on your own personal level of involuntary-sympathetic-cringe in response to situations that are presented as uncomfortable (including funny-uncomfortable). I'm basically incapable of watching anything involving awkward situations, someone being uncomfortable (as Alton is acting here), or hilarious-misunderstandings. I didn't mean to suggest it was a bad segment.
posted by pemberkins at 6:34 AM on August 6, 2013


Up to now I've not had a reason to listen to podcasts on my Android phone. I just realized I have no idea how to do it AND NOW I WANT TO. Off to search Google Play for a streaming app!
posted by monkeymadness at 6:34 AM on August 6, 2013


I am now imagining ice cream rousing the other foodstuffs against the TV Hosts who unfairly control the Means of Preparation.....

First the ruling class will break its teeth on the hardened popsicle of the proletariat. Eventually the ice cream will have to become softer and milder as the economic welfare of the country is raised. The present method of frozen treat cold storage will give way to one of soft service to all. This road leads not to the frigid steel of the shop-window automaton but to the happy grin of the universal guest.
posted by Ice Cream Socialist at 6:43 AM on August 6, 2013 [6 favorites]


Hah - I checked out the Alex Guarnaschelli one last week (how cool is she?). The interview portion was great (though they're good friends, so no idea how he'd get on with someone in a more blind situation), the rest of it okay. Totally likeable dude. Hope it goes well.
posted by mintcake! at 6:46 AM on August 6, 2013


Yeah, the Guarnaschelli episode is my favorite so far. The description of growing up with her mother, meticulous food editor Maria Guarnaschelli, was really interesting.
posted by Kattullus at 6:57 AM on August 6, 2013


Ice Cream Socialist: "This is great. As long as I don't have to watch him mishandle food, I like Alton Brown."

Or discuss politics.
posted by Chrysostom at 7:25 AM on August 6, 2013 [2 favorites]


Or pitch MGD.
posted by entropicamericana at 7:29 AM on August 6, 2013


Or discuss politics.

Just realized I have no idea what Alton Brown's politics are and I would like to keep it that way, thanks.
posted by murphy slaw at 7:45 AM on August 6, 2013


I love this podcast since he announced it on twitter. I have a feeling it fits his style and demeanor more than a show, so I think it may grow into a big thing eventually.

My favorite episodes are the Hugh Acheson one for all the behind the scenes info on Top Chef (and how those shows make up ways to get interesting people back on after elimination), and the Bobby Flay one. Now, let me be clear that I've never liked Bobby Flay. His shows are dumb and he seems like a jerk. The long interview with him was the first time he seemed genuinely human to me, I understand where he came from, and he does a lot of good work. Totally changed my opinion on Flay.

I also love the format lets Alton do things he can't otherwise like spend 30 minutes describing a recipe for perfect biscuits.

About the only downside are his attempts at stand-up comedy bits in his monologues. One episode featured not one but two weird lame misogynst jokes. It's the only part that feels forced and unnatural, but I suspect after 5-10 more episodes it'll smooth out and be stellar from start to finish.
posted by mathowie at 8:02 AM on August 6, 2013 [1 favorite]


The description of growing up with her mother, meticulous food editor Maria Guarnaschelli, was really interesting.

I have this pet theory that anyone that refers to their mother as "my mother" instead of "my mom" never really got along very well with their mom. You never hear the word "mom" in that episode.
posted by mathowie at 8:06 AM on August 6, 2013 [5 favorites]


How about Alton Brown LIVE ON TOUR, as he will be in my town this fall (for the 2nd time). I've always enjoyed Alton on semi-free cable TV, but I wouldn't pay $125 to see him. At least Lewis Black tickets top off at $82, yet I've seen enough of him on TV too. And Alton's front-row seating is apparently a "poncho recommended zone". I don't know about his politics, but it's a bad sign when he steals a gimmick from Gallagher.
posted by oneswellfoop at 8:53 AM on August 6, 2013 [1 favorite]


And Alton's front-row seating is apparently a "poncho recommended zone". I don't know about his politics, but it's a bad sign when he steals a gimmick from Gallagher.

Oh, for fuck's sake, Alton...
posted by entropicamericana at 9:13 AM on August 6, 2013


I trust this isn't a big derail, but germane to the discussion of why some folks aren't thrilled with Alton Brown is summed up this blog post The Taste of Disillustionment. I'd been a fan for a long time but felt unease with some of his on-screen antics, then I read this from a person who attended a live event. It simply confirmed some of those feelings I couldn't quite put a finger on.

That being said, he should just stick to talking about food, food science, and fun in the kitchen without his personal biases leaking out.
posted by kuppajava at 12:38 PM on August 6, 2013 [3 favorites]


I once met Alton Brown at a book signing. It was an independent bookstore, and my friends and I got there two hours early. We got excellent seats, and were in the first twenty people to get our books signed, but anyone who came not long after us ended up cramped around the shelves and even out the door, snaked around the store.

He was terrifically funny, and answered questions from the audience, provided they stop it with the camera phones, jeez.

After the talk, I handed Alton my books, and his assistant my camera, and after he signed (one signature asked me why I didn't bring him muffins) I slapped my arm around him. The audience roared, and I had no idea why. I had to ask my friends, who were off to the side, waiting for me after getting their own books signed.

I found out when I put my arm around his side quickly, he implied to the audience that I'd slapped his ass.

It wouldn't be so bad, having 300 people think I goosed him, if only I'd actually done it!
posted by jenlovesponies at 2:05 PM on August 6, 2013


It's funny, when The Food Network started, it was about showing people how to cook (Bobby Flay talks a bit about this in the podcast). Next it became about watching people cook, no more lessons. Next it became more about watching people eat. Now with this podcast, he is talking to people who cook. Alton is well suited for this, but I wonder what the future holds for food programming.
posted by phirleh at 3:55 PM on August 6, 2013 [1 favorite]


« Older Hell, I was too old for this shit fifteen years...   |   The titanic fatberg menace beneath our streets Newer »


This thread has been archived and is closed to new comments