What can Alton Brown do for you?

Ok, that's a blatant ripoff of the UPS slogan, but seriously is there a better question to pose? To me, the question comes down to what I've learned from Alton Brown. There were cooking shows I watched in the past and during the discovering of Good Eats, but I quickly saw something different with AB's show.

Explaining why I enjoy GE and all of Alton's shows so much has been rattling around with me for awhile. First, in creating the website and blog I knew it was for more than just being a fan. With the blog, I knew a lot of posts would center on cooking in addition to news of Alton's projects. Recently, I've seen a few questions about why one watches cooking on TV and if recipes from these shows are tried on messageboards I frequent. That got me thinking about this more. And when I replied, I found a simple answer.

When I first began watching GE I knew my way around the kitchen fairly well. I had been cooking since a teen and watching TV cooking shows even earlier. I can still remember making blueberry muffins from watching the Frugal Gourmet and French Toast from a Disney cookbook. I even pined for sweet cooking gear like I saw on TV. While other girls were into hair, makeup and musicians; I wanted cookware, cookbooks and utensils. I'm sick, I know. ;)

Learning about cooking has fascinated me for a long time and when I came across AB's show it was the perfect fit. It was exactly what I wanted. There's more to watching GE to get a recipe. I have always found the lessons Alton teaches to inspire me to attempt and explore.

While I love trying AB's recipes from GE and his cookbooks, the most valuable element from Alton his ability to inspire. I've tried so many dishes because of watching GE. I now read recipes completely new way--I can spot potentially troublesome parts with ease. I'm not afraid to vary, add and experiment with cooking. And when AB discusses an interesting ingredient (this happens with ICA too!) or technique I want to try to do more with the knowledge and sometimes that morphs into making something of my own.

And that is what AB has done for me.

PS:
I even have a little AB inspired culinary madness planned for this week!