My husband, the Food Network junkie - The Port Lavaca Wave... http://portlavacawave.com/opinion/article_627bab1a-e619-534... My husband, the Food Network junkie Posted: Wednesday, August 19, 2009 12:00 am TANIA FRENCH Bobby Flay he is not… But then again I’m no Barefoot Contessa. If these names are not familiar, you are probably not watching daytime cooking dramas. Not long ago I, too, had not heard these names… until my husband, Mac, became addicted to the Food Network channel. Once Julia Child and Rachel Ray were the only famous chef names I knew, now I have learned such names as Bobby Flay, Barefoot Contessa, Guy Fieri and Alton Brown. I am not sure when his obsession started, but one day I came home to find the television blaring through the house with some indescribable music that is symbolic to a certain Food Network show. “What is that sound?” I asked. “Oh, the television? It’s Iron Chef America,” he replied like there was nothing out of the ordinary. I didn’t respond with the obvious next question, “Why are you watching that?” That interlude happened several months ago, and Hubby has been watching the Food Network ever since. Mind you (I used that term for dramatic effect for my friend, Al), Hubby is retired which leaves a lot of time for Food Network viewing. I don’t mind so much, expect for the noise… along with the fact that although hubby is reluctant to test his skills in the kitchen, he is quick to offer his newfound knowledge. Though I am sure I have tuned out many important tips, I have heard about methods for brining chicken prior to cooking, the chef that always uses the term EVOO for Extra Virgin Olive Oil and the chef that substituted portabella mushrooms for hamburger buns. One night, not long ago, Mac was standing across the bar as I was cooking dinner. “You know I saw on a cooking show that if you…” he began. “You may take over cooking dinner any time you like,” I responded. 1 of 2 8/6/14, 2:33 PM My husband, the Food Network junkie - The Port Lavaca Wave... http://portlavacawave.com/opinion/article_627bab1a-e619-534... “I think I’ll leave the kitchen now,” was his quick reply. Smart guy. For months now, Mac has been daily improving his cooking knowledge, while I try to tune out the loud and annoying Iron Chef America music. Every now and then, he calls me at the office during the day – always with the Food Network playing loudly through the phone. Unless, of course, it’s during his short break for talk radio listening. When I arrive home from work, I am greeted by the melodic sound of Food Network music. At night, when he shares his day with me, Mac often tells of tips or stories of food competition winners. When I share this story with friends they assure me that one day I am going to arrive home to find a gourmet four-course meal carefully prepared by hubby using all his Food Network skills. Sadly, however, one night I was poking fun at my food network husband and shared the story with our managing editor, John Verser. “I like it when they go to the ballpark and do ballpark food specials,” John said. Then he and Mac began sharing the stories of Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. Really? They are really discussing the Food Network? Recently, while I was away on a short trip, Hubby ventured to the grocery store. “I am going to get portabella mushrooms and ground turkey breast and try the burger,” he said. Yep, wait until I am away to cook. Did he plan that? That evening I called home and he told me of his portabella burger meal, and the things he would do differently. Two nights later, I returned home from the trip to find dinner prepared – yep, you guessed it, portabella mushroom burgers, which weren’t bad, by the way. Now if I can just get that four-course gourmet meal. 2 of 2 8/6/14, 2:33 PM.