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Sweet Genius with Ron Ben-Israel

annabelle

By annabelle
in Food Media & Arts

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annabelle

annabelle

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Food Network has launched the second season of "Sweet Genius" on Thursdays at 10:00 EST, 9:00 CST.

If you haven't seen this show last year, you are in for a treat! Please give it a try. It's weird and wonderful.

Enjoy!

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annabelle

annabelle

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No takers?

First round of three, the ingredients are: strawberry toaster pastries and pepitas. The inspiration? A goldfish.

Candy is the second round and cake is the third.

edit: My mistake on the third round, I had thought it was chocolate.

Edited by annabelle (log)
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minas6907

minas6907

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There have been a few occasions that cheese has been the theme ingredient. I actually have been really liking the show. Honestly, I do think the "sweet genius" thing is over done, to me that title barely makes sense, in addition to being somehow reminded of the turtle man from that master of disguise movie every time I see Ron, what the chefs come up with is very interesting. Its kind of cool having a 'chopped' type of show for pastry chefs. I always look forward to the final chocolate round, you can see some amazing skills and occasional bonbon from the contestants, been recording them all, nice show.

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Tri2Cook

Tri2Cook

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I'll have to check out the second season. I was undecided on the first season. I like the idea of a Chopped-esque dessert show but something about it just wasn't exciting me as much as I hoped it would.

It's kinda like wrestling a gorilla... you don't stop when you're tired, you stop when the gorilla is tired.

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merstar

merstar

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Ron Ben Israel gives me the creeps, although I like watching what the contestants create within such ridiculous parameters. This article from last November sums it up nicely - There are also some great reader comments:

http://blogs.sfweekly.com/foodie/2011/11/sweet_genius_is_pretty_much_th.php

There's nothing better than a good friend, except a good friend with CHOCOLATE.
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Zeemanb

Zeemanb

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WOW! Is Ron chipper this season or what? The way they have apparently attempted to make him less sinister has made him MORE sinister! And I like it!

I don't like the way they have eliminated the female robot voice that announces and describes the additional ingredients...."Secret ingredient...water. Water is a liquid, and it is consumed by both animals and people. It is very wet and will always seek its lowest point".

Love this show.

Jerry

Kansas City, Mo.

Unsaved Loved Ones

My eG Food Blog- 2011

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annabelle

annabelle

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Aha! I knew something was missing from this season. Ron is one e-vil dude, isn't he?

I'm awaiting some hapless douchebag of a cocky cook to microwave him a cake so we can watch Ron turn him into a mouse.

I love this show.

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Tri2Cook

Tri2Cook

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I don't like the way they have eliminated the female robot voice that announces and describes the additional ingredients...."Secret ingredient...water. Water is a liquid, and it is consumed by both animals and people. It is very wet and will always seek its lowest point".

It sounded exactly like the challenge-describing voice from "Minute to Win It" to me.

I'm awaiting some hapless douchebag of a cocky cook to microwave him a cake so we can watch Ron turn him into a mouse.

That already happened in season 1... he was skeptical but admitted enjoying learning something new (to him).

Micro-cake, as long as hold time isn't a factor (and if it is, that defeats the whole point anyway), can actually be nice when done well.

Sincerely,

your friendly neighborhood hapless douchebag. :raz::biggrin:

It's kinda like wrestling a gorilla... you don't stop when you're tired, you stop when the gorilla is tired.

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annabelle

annabelle

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Listen, you hapless douchebag... :laugh:

I remember that microwave cake from last season and thought it was interesting, but dude! Not on Ron's show on tv! I knew Ron was going to drop the axe on him as soon as he sneered "You microwaved me a cake?!

My favorite cring-worthy episode from last season was the guy who hacked up a Bonzai tree to garnish his dessert. I watched through my fingers as Ron told him he was disrespectful.

This show would be improved by trap-doors in the floor after the verdict is rendered.

Edited by annabelle (log)
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Tri2Cook

Tri2Cook

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Listen, you hapless douchebag... :laugh:

I remember that microwave cake from last season and thought it was interesting, but dude! Not on Ron's show on tv! I knew Ron was going to drop the axe on him as soon as he sneered "You microwaved me a cake?!

My favorite cring-worthy episode from last season was the guy who hacked up a Bonzai tree to garnish his dessert. I watched through my fingers as Ron told him he was disrespectful.

This show would be improved by trap-doors in the floor after the verdict is rendered.

I agree, bad idea under the circumstances. Particularly when the challenge was titled "baked". The "I'll marinate the jelly beans in the hot sauce, chop up the bonzai tree and sprinkle it all on a pie during the frozen dessert challenge" guy almost caused me to not watch further episodes. I was thinking "if this is the caliber of contestants...".

It's kinda like wrestling a gorilla... you don't stop when you're tired, you stop when the gorilla is tired.

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Jaymes

Jaymes

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First round of three, the ingredients are: strawberry toaster pastries and pepitas.

I've watched several episodes and do find it entertaining. In this episode, I particularly liked the fact that these high-falutin' professional pastry chefs were undone by the most plebeian of truths: you have to toast those poptarts, dude; and (in another episode), I told you for a reason that redhots turn into unchewable rocks when frozen.

But the bottom line for me is that I don't feel emotionally attached to the show, so it's easy to skip if I'm busy. I just personally prefer the cooking contest shows where the same cheftestants return until one finally prevails. For me, anyway, getting to know them, and to root for or against them, is emotionally satisfying, and most of the fun.

Edited by Jaymes (log)

I don't understand why rappers have to hunch over while they stomp around the stage hollering.  It hurts my back to watch them. On the other hand, I've been thinking that perhaps I should start a rap group here at the Old Folks' Home.  Most of us already walk like that.

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annabelle

annabelle

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It is amazing how many of the winners are either self-taught or work in their own shops and end up waxing the floor with the pros or my least favorite contestant from last season, the molecular biologist with the snarky attitude who got kicked to the curb by a homecook (I think).

I know this show is not to everyone's tastes and it is easy to skip. Plus, it's in heavy rotation so you can always watch it later! :laugh:

I like it because it reminds me of the original Iron Chef Japanese version that I used to watch with my kids when we were vacationing at the shore. We'd spend days calling each other "Fukai-san!" (always with an exclaimation point, of course) and yelling "Allez cuisine!" when it was time to cook supper. Yeah, we're a little weird that way.

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ErinM

ErinM

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He completely creeps me out. I can't even watch the commercials. Though, Mr. Kim says it's good to see the MC from The Weakest Link finally got another gig. :laugh:

I always get the feeling he is try to channel Gene Wilder's and Johnny Depp's Willie Wonka character.

At the same time.

Erin

"American by birth, Irish by the grace of God"

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Zeemanb

Zeemanb

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He completely creeps me out. I can't even watch the commercials. Though, Mr. Kim says it's good to see the MC from The Weakest Link finally got another gig. :laugh:

I always get the feeling he is try to channel Gene Wilder's and Johnny Depp's Willie Wonka character.

At the same time.

My wife goes "So I guess we know who's going to get the lead in the next Human Centipede film". I guess she'd have a point if pure mirth was the main ingredient in THAT franchise.

Jerry

Kansas City, Mo.

Unsaved Loved Ones

My eG Food Blog- 2011

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