Written by adam on Apr 18, 2008
"Down Home" Looks Promising
I've been faithfully watching the new Food Network program Down Home With the Neelys for the past 3 months, and I am cautiously optimistic on where the program is headed. Initially, I tuned in to see Gina and Pat Neely and their wonderfully fresh relationship with each other and a healthy appetite for southern cooking and barbeque.
To be perfectly honest, I had hoped the entire show was about barbeque alone, but after watching, it appears to be more about Pat and Gina than the food.
I can appreciate that sentiment as the Neelys have a wonderful family chemistry and genuinely appear to care about each other. The spark of romance is obvious between Pat and Gina and despite their years together and two children, it appears as if they had just met.
Half way through the season now, Down Home With the Neelys has guided us through family recipes of barbequed shrimp cocktails, creamed collard greens, and a large pot of gumbo. The food is definitely southern, definitely soul food, and rooted in time-honored family traditions.
On the set of Down Home, Pat and Gina banter back and forth while awkwardly chopping vegetables and sprinkling spices into various places. Pat is definitely not the best at chopping vegetables with a chef's knife, something that is kind of surprising. Looks like a first year noob at culinary school, and sometimes I fear he may cut himself as I did. But this kind of realism and honesty is what seems to be drawing readers to programs of this type. Pat and Gina are not classically trained chefs much like their counterpart, Paula Deen. In spite of it all, these are two of the most popular shows on Food Network currently.
Down Home dishes up dose of "real" home cooking programming every Saturday morning, and I think it has a promising future. The only thing standing in the way of the Neely's continued programming success is the food. Yes, the food looks good and I'm sure it is. However, nothing I have seen so far is spectacular. Nothing jumps out at me and screams "EAT ME PLEASE!"
I would love to see the Neely's get out of that kitchen and into the backyard on the grill and smoker. They built their success on barbeque, and if they do not get out there and show us some BBQ skills, I don't think the show will last beyond a second season.
Down Home with the Neelys can be seen on the Food Network, Saturday mornings at 11am/10central
Responses to ""Down Home" Looks Promising" ...
Kevin
I've been thinking along the same lines, I really like and enjoy their show, their chemistry together, and what they cook. I'm just thinking that it may not be a broad enough scope, they seem a little one-dimensensional. I also hope that they venture out to the grill and smoker.
I think when you look at their style of cooking, it's been absolutely outstanding. They're just like a next door neighbor that really loves homestyle cooking and entertaining and is very good at it.
I agree with your article whole heartedly. I too have been very disappointed with this show. I watched two episodes and was turned off with the "all about us" banter and the lack of showing BBQ and what its all about, its MORE then just the Neely’s.
I even wrote a letter to Food Network asking them to take the show off and put some real true blue BBQ guys on there that would do our art and sport justice. I hope they pull this embarrassing show off soon!
I agree with your article whole heartedly. I too have been very disappointed with this show. I watched two episodes and was turned off with the "all about us" banter and the lack of showing BBQ and what its all about, its MORE then just the Neely’s.
I even wrote a letter to Food Network asking them to take the show off and put some real true blue BBQ guys on there that would do our art and sport justice. I hope they pull this embarrassing show off soon!
Pat and Gina are not classically trained chefs much like their counterpart, Paula Deen. In spite of it all, these are two of the most popular shows on Food Network currently.
The classically trained chefs have really floundered on that channel, and with good reason. If you're eating their food then the true chef's are probably gonna come out on top, but watching them make it is all about personality. Rachel Ray's(the ultimate non-chef) food may not be as good as Emeril's, but she has a lot more fun making it.
I REALLY made an honest effort to watch this show and couldn't stomach more than 3 episodes. Gina has to be one of the most annoying people I've ever watched on FN. She reminds me of that I Love New York chick from VH1.
I guess what bothers me most also is that I felt the show was sold to me as a BBQ show so I was hella excited to watch but instead all I saw was another show about someone's family. the whole network has disappointed me lately.
Since winter of 2004, I have been exploring the world of cooking and helping out my fellow men in their quests to better themselves in the kitchen. My name is Adam Byrd, you can learn more about me and my mission on my