The last new episode of Alton Brown's Good Eats aired back in 2012, but Good Eats: The Return is bringing back the chef's unique mix of culinary science, comedy, puppetry, unusual camera angles and great recipes, starting this Sunday, Aug. 25, at 10 and 10:30 p.m. ET/PT, on Food Network.
It's a shame the show's on so late, but thank goodness for DVRs, because Brown's unusual approach to cookery will fascinate the foodies and the technies in the family.
After premiering in 1999, Good Eats ran for 13 years, combining food science, skit humor, innovating cooking and, every now and then, a burping puppet. It won a Peabody Award for broadcast excellence in 2007.
From the press release:
“Many of our viewers fell in love with food by watching Alton on Good Eats and they are not shy in letting us know they are hungry for more,” said Courtney White, President, Food Network. “We also cannot wait to give the next generation of fans the opportunity to discover the show, which is chock-full of food facts, comedic skits and fantastic recipes, all in Alton’s inimitable style.”
“I took a break to work on live tour shows and a game show (Cutthroat Kitchen) and a book that I needed to get out of my system. Now it’s time to get back to work and that work is Good Eats: The Return,” said Alton Brown.
Each episode of Good Eats takes an informative and comedic deep dive into a specific ingredient or dish through Alton’s eyes. Punctuated by pop culture, tried-and-true recipes and the show’s unique cast of characters, Good Eats is about food in its finest and funniest form.
In the season premiere, Alton makes the argument that Italian food as we know it was actually invented in America and that Chicken Parmesan is the dish where it all began – and yet, an Italian canned tomato makes it all possible. The episode immediately following explores ancient American grains amaranth, chia and quinoa. They are making a comeback due to their versatility and nutritional content, and Alton shows how to make the most of these very old kitchen newcomers. Upcoming episode themes include the ultimate sourdough recipe, shakshuka and steak tartare.
On a personal note, back in my entertainment-journalist days, I told Brown that I had the Good Cook series of cookbooks from Time-Life (still available from third-party sellers via Amazon), earning his envy and admiration.
In the interests of creating the next generation of cooks, I passed them on to newlywed friends -- in the hopes they'd invite me to dinner (which they have).
Now you can watch the whole first episode right here:
Image: Food Network
Kate O’Hare, a longtime entertainment journalist, is Social Media Manager at Family Theater Productions.
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