Man vs Food
Despite the hours of programming devoted to food – whether restaurants or recipes – on terrestrial and satellite TV, there are precious few shows that celebrate the joys of culinary excess. In today’s health-conscious climate, fast food and big portions are normally only seen in a damning light – either spread over a table and sternly condemned, or linked to ill-health, stress and disease. While it’s right and responsible that programme makers seek to enlighten viewers on the dangers of a poor diet, the argument has felt one-sided. Just as any balanced diet can have room for the odd trip to McDonalds, surely there is room in food programming for a positive look at unhealthy eating.
Man vs Food, a U.S. show currently playing on the Travel Channel, may be the show to fill that hole. It follows host Adam Richman visiting a host of what he happily describes as “pig-out spots” across America. The restaurants are usually enormous and packed to the rafters, whilst the portions are super-sized and loaded with what are best described as hearty ingredients. The half-hour show culminates with Richman taking on a restaurant’s own food challenge. Recent episodes have seen the avuncular host eating giant burritos, downing ice-cold milkshakes and consuming white-hot spicy chicken wings without so much as a cold beer to take the edge off.
It’s worth pointing out that the show is certainly not about junk food – in virtually every restaurant, the food is fresh, locally reared and follows traditional recipes. The dishes range from the outlandish – 18 pounds of Alaskan crab legs – to more familiar burgers and sandwiches. Richman clearly loves his work, his appreciation of home cooked, greasy delicacies shining through in each instalment. What Man vs Food celebrates is food that may not be good for you, but is well-made, lovingly prepared and totally delicious. It celebrates a type of food that America is famous for, and which 90% of the population loves to tuck into – once in a while.
If you are curious to find out about these ’American delights'for yourself, or even try your and at cooking them, there are many ’down home'chicken recipes that can be found on multiple sites online. Although, I am satisfied just watching Richmond have his way with these American dishes and resturants. Tucked away amidst the tiresome doom-mongering and health-conscious food programming, it’s an essential part of any balanced TV diet.