Feasting on Waves Locations

There is an extensive list of the locations visited in the Feasting on Waves series on Alton Brown's website for all who are interested.

http://www.altonbrown.com/adventure/knowledge/fowLocations.html

Feasting on Waves: Catching up

I was pleasantly surprised with the third installment of Feasting on Waves.  Not only did they get rid of a lot of the unnecessary travel clutter, but the parts of it they did show were more fluid and cohesive.  The content was also presented in a way that you could actually follow and Alton Brown himself was in much better form.  Ironically, this was the episode in Anguilla for which I found out they had made arrangements with the local tourist board.  Maybe that was what was needed to get this show rolling; more of a plan.

My favorite part was the hydroponic garden at the Cuisinart resort which reminded me of something you'd see on Good Eats; learning something new about food other than just how to cook it.  The lobster roast was also enjoyable from a Feasting series perspective in that it brought out the group mentality of the adventure.  No longer was it just Alton Brown with a hand-held camera; now it is about a group traveling in search of good, local food.  The essence of the Feasting theme.

Feasting on Waves: The Plan

Well, as many of us have noticed, Feasting on Waves definitely has a more 'planned' feel than the wandering based on tips and suggestions seen in Feasting on Asphalt.  Today I ran across this article in an Anguilla news site that mentions how their tourism board and a NY public relations company set up the FOW team visit.  This just reinforces my opinion that Feasting on Waves should have been more removed from the Feasting line and marketed as a different type of series.

Click here to read the article

Feasting on Waves: Episode Two

Well, still not feeling the 'open road' sense from the Feasting on Asphalt series with this take.  It seems more like an unedited version of a 'Best of Caribbean Local Cuisine' show with all of the disjointed travel.  Maybe it would be better without the traveling aspect since there is no flow.  In FOA there was a sense of a group of guys on a road trip; seeking out adventure and classic road food.  With this series there is not really a group feel; just Alton being obnoxious and interrupting the people he's interviewing; seems a bit impatient and left out trying to hold his own.  Doesn't seem himself; as in comfortable self or anywhere near Good Eats self.  [Weather's bad, he's got a printed off piece of paper of things he'd like to see while dressed up as a stereotypical American tourist with a video camera]  A visit from Deb Duchon would do this series well and slow the pace down.  I don't feel I remember much of what I just watched.  Not that it isn't interesting, but it's just too random.  How many islands were in this episode?  I lost track.

Feasting on Waves: Sugar on Isle One

In the bonus disc feature of Feasting on Asphalt Alton expresses his concern that he will not be able to find the old Mom & Pop or roadside eateries they went out in search of for the first foray of the FOA series.  Luckily there are still many of those old joints still around.  However, after watching the first episode of Feasting on Waves I began to wonder if he was running into the exact problem he was worried about the first time around.  There seems to be an awful lot of time spent on the logistics of the trip and not as much variety in the way of local food.  Despite the seeming lack; there were some interesting meals.  The most interesting to me was the roadside tent under the mango tree.  It doesn't get much more local than that!  It reminded me of all the local farms in my area who have little tables and stands set up during harvest right now.  For now I reserve my judgment of the series since only the first episode is out.  For Alton's sake; I hope the rest of the trip goes better in terms of finding true local cuisine.

As for mobility, it definitely has a different flavor from the FOA series.  Instead of being independent and able to travel wherever they please and having the ability to dart off in another direction on a tip; they are bound to the boats and vehicles of others.  In my mind there was the impression that Alton and the crew would have chartered a single boat and cruised around an area of the Caribbean.  Now I don't know if the boats they went aboard in the first episode will be their mode of transport for the rest of the series, but the venture didn't have a very cohesive feel at the start.  Intro on a boat, then they are walking around, then they are in a van, etc.  We'll see what happens next.  I really enjoy the FOA series and hope FOW improves.

p.s.  I miss having Jean-Claude on the show.  He's a bit of a character and definitely added to the entertainment value, as well as the wonderful photos!

Feasting on Waves

The next installment of Alton Brown's Feasting series is coming!  Feasting on Waves begins airing in September on Food Network.  The first episode will run Sunday night, September 7th, at 10:00pm EST.  Not a very good time slot for a new series, but it will air again on a more reasonable Wednesday night (10th) at 8:00pm.  After just watching Feasting on Asphalt 1 and 2 a few times; I'm pretty geared up for this one.


Food Network link to FOW show information

Alton Brown site link for FOW linkage

Feasting on Asphalt 2 Map

I've been working on a Feasting on Asphalt 2: The River Run map in Google Maps.  So far I have made it from the Gulf Coast to Popeye's statue plotting all of Alton's stops along the way.  I'll try to trace their road course when I find a little extra time, though judging by the Memphis to Chester leg I'll have to do some guessing in parts.  Please feel free to check it out and add any comments/suggestions for improvements or things I left out.  FOLLOW THIS LINK TO THE MAP

P.S.  I'll start working on an FOA 1 map when i finish this one.  I started with the second season since all of the places were listed int eh book along with their GPS coordinates.  I'm currently watching FOA1 again and jotting down notes and coordinates.

Feasting on Asphalt: The Lost Road

When Alton Brown says that you will never see anything worth stopping for on the Interstate he may be close to the mark, but then again there may be things you don't want to get caught up in on the back roads.  I ran across this article on Yahoo news this morning about a town having to institute a 24 hour curfew; apparently they are plagued by drug deals and random violence from assault rife toting criminals.  The town is Helena-West Helena in Arkansas.  I sat for a minute trying to figure out why that sounded so familiar.

Finally it hit me; wasn't that where the drive-through donut shop was in Feasting on Asphalt?  Or was it Ray's Dairy Maid?  I'm pretty sure that was one of those.  Whether I remember the correct place or not, it is an interesting additional perspective on Alton Brown's Mississippi journey.  It serves as a reminder that while it can be a great experience to hop off the freeway and explore some new territory, you might not find exactly what you are looking for.  Living near Detroit I know this all too well.  You had better know what exit you need to take to your destination in that city or you might end up on some street where the locals are hostile to you.

Here's a link to the Yahoo article

Feasting on Asphalt 2 Makes a Comeback

After my initial disappointment with the lack of director's comments or much additional material in the FOA2 box set I have returned to view the series in its entirety.  Why the change of heart?  Well, I have been reading the companion book and gazing longingly at the pictures of roadside food joints. Feasting on Asphalt has also become a new influence on my lifestyle this week.

When my daughter was born fifteen weeks ago we quickly discovered that my Saturn VUE was not quite up to the task of hauling her and her gear along for anything other than a trip to Target; and even that was pretty cramped if my wife wanted to sit next to the car seat in the back.  Reluctantly I have began shopping for a larger vehicle.  In what was a boring task of looking at bland hulking SUVs, minivans, and crossovers I, for the first time, could not get excited about car shopping.  Then it all changed....

After a good dose of FOA and planning for future cross country trips to out of the way places I drove by the Ford dealer and something caught my eye.  There was a new Ford Flex parked out front.  The first thought that entered my mind was 'road trip!'  It's sleek lines and old wagon looks spoke to me.  I could picture myself rolling up to a donut shop in Mississippi in that thing.  The next day I was back with my wife and daughter in tow.  We looked it over, took and drive, and are ready to order one.  The nostalgia of the FOA series just opened up a new adventure for me.

Feasting on Asphalt: River Run DVD Shocker

So, last night I finally get a chance to sit down and watch the copy of Feasting on Asphalt 2: The River Run that has been protecting part of my DVD player from dust for three months.  Yes, even Alton Brown takes a back seat to my three month old :-)

I pop in the first DVD and the menu doesn't have a listing for the director's 9AB's) commentary.  OK, so I pull out the other tow discs: nothing!  What?!  That was the best part of the first FOA set and the main reason i went out and bought the box set.  OK, i see 'deleted scenes' on the menu; let's check that out.  Even more disappointment, there are only a few minutes of unseen footage that never really needed to be seen.  It's not like the first set where there are hours of new footage with Alton's commentary.

I was looking for some real substance in this box set, something more personal from AB that really made me like the guy more as a person and respect the effort he puts into his productions.  Well, let's just say I had to crack open a beer and start watching the director's commentary from the first season of FOA to ease my mind.

Alton Brown Hits the Road: Feasting on Asphalt 2 Marathon

Food Network is airing a Feasting on Asphalt 2: The River Run marathon this Saturday starting at 7PM EST. Here's where the advantage of having a newborn kicks in: I'll be stuck in front of the TV until the wee hours of the night and have a valid excuse for watching all six hours :-) Actually, I'll use it as an excuse to start in on the DVD version. I'm excited to see what extra material is in there. The first season had a few good stops that didn't make it to the final version.

Alton Brown has His Reasons

My FOA2: The River Run DVD set arrived today! Ironically, I finally was able to start reading the accompanying book yesterday. Within the first page I was reminded why I like Alton Brown so much: he has reasons for his work other than fame or money. Of course, fame and money would motivate most people to work harder to achieve their goals, but Alton seems to be pushed along by something a little deeper (though I do have question the old Miller Lite ads).

Why did Alton Brown set out on his journey to find family diners and local joints that aren't plastered on the interstate billboards: because those establishments have long been a part of our traveling culture and are disappearing only to be replaced by generic fast food and non-regional restaurants. I can identify with this purpose. I too remember sitting in the backseat of my grandparents' Impala cruising across Michigan during the summers of my youth; stopping in tiny little towns along the way for donuts or an egg salad sandwich. Maybe in a few years I'll have a bit of time to retrace my steps and see what is left out there.

Since I will starting to work part-time from home in a few weeks and spending the rest of my time changing diapers and sitting in front of the TV with my little Angel cradled in my arm; I plan to take advantage of the situation for a full-blown FOA review. Starting with the first season and proceeding throught he second and the book I would like to take a second look into Alton's mind and write up some reviews/my thoughts on Alton and the foodie adventures. If I'm lucky it will be finished by the time FOA3 debuts!

If you haven't picked up either DVD set I highly recommend ordering them. The voice-overs Alton provides and all of the extra footage really gives a deeper insight into Alton Brown as a person and how extensive and difficult the task really was.

New Good Eats Episode: Cupcakes

Back from vacationing in Charleston and into the anxiety mode. Approximately six weeks until the baby arrives and I still have a huge list of projects to start or finish and all the little things to buy! Even making a blog entry has to be squeezed in nowadays :-)

First order of business: new Good Eats Episode next Monday, the 28th. 'Honey, I Shrunk the Cake" will feature baking chiffon cupcakes. Unless I'm mistaken, and very well could be with all I've been up to the past few weeks, this is indeed a new episode and rounds out the season.

Second order of business: My copies of the FOA2 book and DVD set have been ordered and should arrive soon. I can't predict when I'll have time to peruse them, but I hear babies sleep a lot and I'll be home 24/7 so the opportunity should present itself. I'm thinking of scheduling a an all day FOA 1 and 2 marathon. I really enjoyed the first DVD set and have wanted to take a second screening to write up a review. Hopefully, the second set is equally revealing and insightful with Alton's commentary and all of the extra scenes.

Stay tuned for more! I will try to keep up with posting Alton news as he criss-crosses the Mississippi signing books as I prepare for fatherhood. And thanks to y'all for stopping by!

Feasting on Asphalt Book and DVD Set

I'm on vacation enjoying the fruits on the sea in Charleston right now, but wanted to remind everybody to pick up a copy of Alton Brown's Feasting on Asphalt: The River Run book and DVD set! The book should be available at your local book store, Amazon, or anywhere there are books to be found. The DVD is probably only available through the Food Network website. really enjoyed the all of the features, especially the voice overs, on the first FOA DVD set. You really get some good insight on how tenuous the venture was at the outset.

Alton has some features about both on his site right now. I'll be picking up my copy when I get back home next week!
Alton Brown's Site

Food Network and Alton Brown Agree to Three-Year Deal

After a little holiday break I am pleased to return with wonderful news for all the Alton Brown fans out there. Looks like Alton has signed on for another THREE YEARS at Food Network!

According to Food Network president, Brooke Johnson, "In 2008, he will produce new seasons of the popular Good Eats and Iron Chef America, as well as assorted specials. In addition, Brown will produce a new season of limited series Feasting on Asphalt, titled Feasting on Waves, premiering in summer 2008."

Feasting on Waves will feature the food and culture of the Caribbean. Not what I had expected for the next take on the Feasting series, but a welcome surprise. In fact, I just caught Down and Out in Paradise the other night. I forgot how good that special was! Anyhow, we'll probably hear more about it in the summer before it airs.

Alton Brown in People Magazine this week

There is an article about Alton in this week's (or maybe it was last week already) People magazine and a recipe on their website. A little talk about surviving air travel from the ever-traveling Alton Brown!

Check out People's Website here!

The Future of Good Eats and Alton Brown

A good question from a reader: how long is the Good Eats contract? I can only partly answer this one. According to Alton's website he is in the process of filming more episodes in November and December. I'm not sure how TV contracts work; if they sign up per season or for a certain number of seasons. If anything it seems that Alton Brown has gained more clout at Food Network this past year or so. Maybe somebody else who wanders by here can provide a bit more insight into the contract issue or stop by the Good Eats Fanpage chat room. There are a lot of people over there who know the ins and outs of the industry better than I do.

Something interesting that this brings up is how long is Alton commited to producing Good Eats? I had started to wonder about this last season after a few lame episodes, but I have reversed my opinion after the quality has picked back up. I believe Good Eats has been impacted by all of Alton's other projects and the quality of the episodes is probably a reflection of how much time he has to spend between filing specials, Feasting on Asphalt, Iron Chef, doing talks, etc. Good Eats still has a lot of life to it because of the effort Alton and his crew put into not only the cooking, but the scince, scripting, casting, and filming. It's not the same week to week and it holds the viewer's interest. I hope the series keeps on going for quite some time.

From Alton's site:
"Time to fire up the lights, camera and cooking action for new Good Eats episodes - this time AB and the resident culinarians tackle Rack of Lamb, Dutch oven cooking, Fats, Cupcakes, Broccoli, Cranberries and that perennial fav taken to new heights... Apple Pie."

Alton Brown's Granola Bars: Good Eats Power Trip

I ran across a blog article that somebody by the name of Jenny wrote about Alton's granola bars. I always love to hear feedback on the recipes from Good Eats or Alton's books; whether it be about the taste, recipe, or difficulty level. I have to admit that I didn't pay much attention to this show since it seemed like a lot of trouble for something all too easy to grab off the shelf at the grocery store, but this article may inspire me to think twice. Jenny has a couple of tips and a good description of what they taste like. The bars don't sound as bad as they looked on TV.

Click here to read the blog post

Good Eats: Kool-Aid Pickles

Kool-Aid Pickles! You've seen them on Feasting on Asphalt, then on Good Eats, now you can read about them in the New York Times. Actually, this article is from May. Hmmm...when did Alton Brown and his gang ride through the Ol' Miss? Of course, nobody can top Alton's creative allusion to what brand of drink mix he had in his hand during the show! I love how he tries to push things like that to the very limit, but in a fun way.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/09/dining/09kool.html

Has anybody tried Alton's version yet? I'm tempted! I still ahve about two dozen pints of dills from this summer. Shall I make a sacrifice?

Good Eats, Pickles, and Alton Brown's Culinary Circus

I think the "culinary circus" comment from the Sour Kraut really summed up this episode. There was even one point where Alton was visibly laughing at his own antics. Probably one of my favorite episodes in the past season or two.

Having ventured into preserving this summer and enjoying my jars of pickles I really took interest in the fermentation method. It reminded my of my adventures in home brewing but a lot less work. Now I just need to find a good crock or two. The crock Alton inherited from his grandmother had the thoughtful addition of the weighted lid; I wonder if anybody makes them like that anymore? I'll have to keep my eyes open.

Darth Vader, again? Alton definitely has a favorite Star Wars character! I'm surprised I have seen a Darth Vader cookie jar on the set counter yet.

P.S. The Zevro dispensers I bought for work and been popular! Of course, working midnights I can't see who has been partaking of my treats, but the M&Ms are going much quicker than the roasted peanuts.