USA TODAY International Edition
Dig in for a taste of television inspiration
There are shows for pros, amateurs, even potheads
There’s no better time to flex your culinary skills than during the lazy, hazy days of summer.
The weather is perfect for grilling, and on rainy days it’s a good time to stay indoors and try baking. And if you’re searching for inspiration, look no further than your TV.
Summer is flush with food shows to give you the nudge to get in the kitchen. With all the cooking, grilling and baking competitions out there, at least one will convince you to slap on an apron and attempt to nail a delectable creation. We rounded up a few favorites premiering in June and July.
‘MasterChef’ (Fox)
The ninth season of Fox’s reliably fun home cooking competition (Wednesdays, 8 EDT/PDT) kicked off a few weeks ago. And it’s worthwhile, considering the show proves that even nonprofessionals (and in the junior version, kids) can whip up restaurant quality food. The best part of“Master Chef” is how educational it is. Judges Joe Bastianich, Aaron Sanchez and even notorious hothead Gordon Ramsay critique the contestants’ food, but they also teach eager home cooks about the culinary arts.
‘Gordon Ramsay’s 24 Hours to Hell and Back’ (Fox)
Ramsay isn’t always as nice and relaxed as he is on “MasterChef,” including in his latest show for Fox (Wednesday, 9 EDT/PDT). If you miss the fire of his “Hell’s Kitchen” days and you want to see how even top restaurants can have bad days, “24 Hours” sends Ramsay on the road to save restaurants on the brink of closure.
‘Cooking on High’ (Netflix)
If you ever looked at your favorite cooking shows and thought they could include more pot, Netflix is here for you. “Cooking on High” (streaming June 22) is billed as the “first-ever competitive cannabis cooking show,” and the tongue-in-cheek series asks contestants to prepare marijuana-infused dishes for some very relaxed judges. This may be one show that’s best not to imitate, unless you live in Colorado or Washington.
‘Girl Meets Farm’ (Food Network)
Food blogger Molly Yeh brings her farmhouse-chic decor and cooking style to this new Food Network series (June 24, Sundays, 11 a.m. EDT/PDT). The author of “Molly on the Range” is a darling of the hip food-blogging world and famous for bringing her Jewish and Chinese heritage to the table. Her blog and cookbooks make it easy to cook with her.