Last updated on December 4, 2016 by Liza Hawkins
I’m late to the game with podcasts.
My sister, on the other hand, is a podcast junkie. I like to blame this on the fact that she and her husband haven’t owned a television in over five years, but I have a feeling she’d be listening to them regardless. Especially now that she lives in Brooklyn and commutes to the farm on the subway.
“YOU haven’t been listening to the Alton Browncast?!”
Well, nope.
But I love, love, love Alton Brown, which might be why my sister was all shocked when I told her that I hadn’t even heard of it while we were on vacation last summer.
So, after the initial shock and horror wore off, I did what any self-respecting Alton Brown fan would do: I quickly subscribed to his podcast, and was completely and immediately sucked in. The tips, the Q&A with callers, special guests, food trivia, recipes – ALL THE THINGS!
It’s fantastic.
For instance, have a child who’s a picky eater in the house? Alton’s fix for that was to tell his young daughter (paraphrasing here), “You can’t have that; it’s for grown-ups.” And it worked. She’d eat sautéed kale with garlic without protest. What kid doesn’t want something they can’t have? Genius.
And, in a sneaky bit of irony, I used this logic with my 9-year old during several recent long-ish car rides.
“Oh, you wouldn’t like the Alton Browncast. It’s for grown-ups.”
{snicker}
Actually, my daughter’s introduction to the Alton Browncast wasn’t quite so mischievous. I simply asked if she’d like to give it a listen on the way back from our road trip to Virginia Beach, instead of my usual Mumford & Sons Pandora station.
“Okay,” she said. And then she was hooked too, asking for the Alton Browncast anytime we’re in the car.
Or maybe she’s just tired of Mumford & Sons, the Avett Brothers, Eddie Vedder, the Shins, Deathcab for Cutie and Regina Spektor. ANYTHING TO GET AWAY FROM MOM’S PANDORA STATION. But, I’d like to think the former’s true.
“Who is Alton Brown?”
Who is Alton Brown. WHO IS ALTON BROWN!?
I guess it’s a fair question, given the fact that Food Network no longer airs Good Eats and we only just got the Cooking Channel last month. I mean, my kid’s watched Food Network Star and Iron Chef America. She’s seen ads for Cutthroat Kitchen.
Interestingly, Alton Brown’s not actually a nerd, although he kind of plays one on TV. He’s unique, clever, witty and a holds wealth of foodie knowledge. And then there’s Good Eats.
The Alton Brown I grew to love was the Good Eats Alton.
Quirky, simple and over-the-top sets and scripts – that’s one reason I love Good Eats.
Matter-of-fact cooking instruction that TO THIS DAY happens to be my go-to when I’m trying to cook something for the very first time – that’s the other reason I love Good Eats.
How’d Alton do it? Lemme check. Google, Google, Google.
The Alton Browncast reminds me of Good Eats Alton. I’m hooked.
{Now leaving…Nerdist.com}
