My Food Idols
Martin Yan:
Have you ever seen someone cook with so much life and passion that you had to believe what they made was incredible? Growing up, I recall watching Martin Yan cook with a flair that was unique. Adding to the fact that he is Asian and HIGHLY resembles my grandfather, Martin Yan made me believe that if “Yan can cook, so you can you!”
He looks exactly like my grandpa
Anthony Bourdain –
http://anthony-bourdain-blog.travelchannel.com/?fbid=j4xjW2qRRJA
Insert swear word
His dislike of the commercialization of food celebrity disagrees with some of my favorite chefs BUT his rogue, honest, and open-minded approach to travel and unique cuisine is unmatched. He has a less than sunny past but that’s what makes Anthony capable of providing viewers and readers with a genuine and rugged food voyage.
Paula Dean
I often tell my friends, my top three females chefs include Giada De Laurentis, Rachael Ray, and Paula Dean. Paula is the meaning of love of food. She cooks with passion and so much excitement that you want to take whatever essence she has and bottle it up to give you a boost when you’re down. She’s the grandma you always wanted or the woman who could literally melt you heart like the copious amounts of butter she uses in her cooking. Paula is a whole lotta woman and I love it!
She's dropped a few points in my favorite list but still a great!
Guy Fieri
Guy’s name says it all, he’s just a regular guy like any of us who has a simple appreciation for food but the background to understand it’s complexities. His show Diner’s, Drive-in’s and Dives is one of my all-time favorite shows. If it were possible, I’d follow in the same path as he has and visit the great average joe dining establishments this nation has. What better job than to go to places in the US, eat, enjoy, and that’s it?
He has my dream job: Travel across the US tasting the best road food
Giada (yes I know she has a last name, but Giada is enough)
http://www.giadadelaurentiis.com/
I believe this picture says it all:
And yes that’s tomato sauce. Eat your heart out Tony.
Other chefs I enjoy include
Alton Brown – The dictionary of food
Robert Irvine – Dinner “possible”
Masaharu Morimoto – I never know what he’s saying but he’s Asian.
Ina Garten – Maybe it’s her voice or maybe it’s simplicity in action but she makes me comfortable with cooking things I would otherwise never consider
Jacque Pepin – He is known mainly for his Jacque and Julia (Child) collaborations but Jacque for me really comes into his own as a chef. Often seeming to play off Julia Child’s spunkiness, Jacque was always calm, cool, and collective. And his accent made his food sound even better.
George Forman: He made the man food machine of the century.
Peng's Palate 