I've plowed through quite a few favorite television shows over the past few years. At various times, that slot has been held by "Selling New York," "House Hunters International," "Million Dollar Listing - Los Angeles," "The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills," and "Yard Crashers." Each of those shows occupied the top position for a couple of months and, during that time, became quite an obsession for me. Even now, those are my go to shows when I'm looking for something to unwind with before heading to bed.
In the past few weeks, I've discovered a new number one -- "Chopped" on The Food Network. I just can't get enough of that show. The format is perfect with each episode a self-contained, one-hour competition to determine the "Chopped" champion. It's got a C-level (at best) celebrity host in Ted Allen and an almost laughable first prize of $10,000. Best of all, it's got crazy ingredients.
Speaking of crazy ingredients, earlier this week I was watching an old episode in which the contestants opened up the picnic basket for the appetizer round and found a whole pig's head. A whole pig's head! It was both disgusting and remarkably compelling. As the contestants worked frantically to create an appetizer in twenty minutes by frying pig ears, dicing pig tongue, and sauteeing pig cheek, I hung on everything. When they moved on to pig offal (in case you're wondering, that would be heart, kidneys, and liver) for the main course, I thought I might have to switch channels. But, I couldn't. Finally, there were just two contestants remaining for the dessert round in which they had to create something sweet out of pig tails. It was awesome.
I'm now trying to convince the family that we should have our own version of Chopped at home. I suggested that Kim purchase some mystery ingredients, place them in picnic baskets on the kitchen island, and have each of us then whip something up for a Saturday dinner. At the end of the night, we'd vote on who did the best job with what they were given. Strangely, I can't get anyone else on board with this idea.