Somebody Feed Phil

Have you seen Somebody Feed Phil?  It's a Netflix original series that originally began as "I'll Have What Phil's Having" on PBS, but got picked up an renewed via Netflix.  Always a sucker for a good travel show, then throw in a focus on food, and I'm sold!

The host, Phil Rosenthal is a Los Angeles based TV writer, best known for his work writing Everybody Loves Raymond.  He's not your typical travel host - he's quirky, eccentric, but an affable and lovable host who seems to truly connect with the people he meets abroad.  In the show, he travels all over the world, interacting with famous chefs, partaking in culinary traditions and regional cuisines and activities, all the while peppering the show with a slough of eye popping facial expressions.  While he's no Anthony Bourdain, he does bring a certain sentimentality to traveling.  

My husband and I love this show and save it to watch together.  Favorite episodes include Copenhagen (hands down), then Bangkok, Tel Aviv, Lisbon, Dublin, and Venice.  I love shows like this, they give me inspiration for all the places to see someday!

Have you watched it?  If so, what do you think?

Chef's Table

Need a new TV series for the summer?  My husband and I recently started watching Chef's Table on Netflix streaming per a friend's suggestion.  It's a 6-episode documentary series about six distinctly different chefs who are considered visionaries in their area of culinary expertise.  Their restaurants and cooking styles are vastly different from one another, making each episode exceptionally unique; ranging from the beginnings of farm to table, to outside-the-box-Italian, to cooking off the grid in the far reaches of Patagonia.  We're only three episodes in, but so far it's pretty interesting.  Check it out!

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Do you HGTV?

Do you HGTV? Until recently, I had never before seen anything HGTV. But when a friend got me into House Hunters International, I officially became hooked. My next HGTV endeavor has been Cash and Cari. Ever seen it?

Here's the scoop: Cari Cucksey is a self proclaimed "treasuer broker," who digs through basements, attics, and garages for hidden finds that are revamped and resold at estate sales. While a lot of the finds are not my style, this show has attracted my attention because of the way Cari and company revitalize furniture and such to give them a new purpose and new life.

Now I feel *inspired* to hit up my local goodwill and "repurpose" some furniture of my own. Stay tuned...

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House Hunters International

I just discovered a new show which I'm now currently obsessed with - House Hunters International on HGTV. I've never really indulged in any of the HGTV shows previously, because I made the blanket assumption that most HGTV shows would be about home projects or renovations, which I didn't think would keep me interested... And yet, I'm finding myself captivated by this show because they take home buying international!

I've been DVRing up a storm, and have watched potential buyers travel to Mexico, Morocco, Slovenia, and beyond in search of the perfect international home. I think it's more inspiring to me from the travel perspective than the actual home, but nonetheless, I'm enjoying my new TV find!

If you could buy a vacation home in another country somewhere in the world - where would it be? Right now I think I'm leaning toward France or Argentina (based on what I've seen on House Hunters International).

Come On!

I said I'd give up watching The Bachelor after the awful rejection the last time around - when Jason dumped chosen Melissa for rejected Molly...and yet I continued watching. But this is awful! Jake rejected the wonderful, sweet, wholesome Tenley for the immature, promiscuous, (and dare I say...slutty) Vienna. Anyone echoing my sentiments?

P.S. Did anyone else roll their eyes and resist the urge to vomit during the "On the Wings of Love" montage at the end??

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Why?

The Bachelorette continues to baffle me. Why Jillian, why would you keep Wes around after all of the shady things that he's done?!? You need to get over the younger-man complex, stop being swooned by the accent, and ditch the musician obsession. What you should've done is keep Michael!

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They're Back!

Yes, all you dedicated Hills fans, the final season has arrived. The premiere went off with a bang with Heidi crashing Lauren's birthday yacht extravaganza, some more black mascara-eyed tears between the troublesome twosome, and Spencer punching out Cameron (Stephanie's ex) for texting Heidi that he was flirting with the bartender.

Let the games begin...

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Lovely Leanne

Another season of Project Runway is now behind us, and the winner is....LEANNE! With the demise of crazy Kenley and likeable Kator, Leanne takes the cake with her architectural petals.

Funny story - my friend Moira actually ran into Leanne in a swanky Portland restaurant shortly before the finale aired. According to her, Leanne's looks and personality were definitely dulled by the tube - a.k.a. she is much cuter in person!

Congratulations Leanne!

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They're Back!

Our fave girls from LA have returned from hiatus. Anyone watch the season premiere? Lots to dish on...thoughts?

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Back to the Hills

Christmas come early! The Hills Season 4 trailer is out! Get excited - LC and the girls are in for a new crew of cute boys, private jets to Vegas, and of course, backstabbing...oh, drama, drama, drama!

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Critical Review

Most of the TV shows I follow, (sans LOST) are easy-to-watch, frivolous indulgences, that are usually appealing for one of the following reasons...
a). great fashion
b). juicy plot twists
c). catty girl drama

These shows are my guilty pleasures, part of my end of the day rest and relax routine. However, I find it amusing to read how the critics interpret my gossip-ridden girly shows. Here's what the NY Times has to say about a few of my favorites: Gossip Girl, The Hills, and the Real Housewives of NYC.

"Gossip Girl” focuses on worldly little girls who join forces against one another. The series, along with such like-minded shows as the MTV semireality show “The Hills” and a cautionary senior edition, “The Real Housewives of New York City,” are focused on friends, and most of all on frenemies. They are so postfemininist that they circle back not just to “Mean Girls,” but to the pre-Friedan era of Clare Boothe Luce and Rona Jaffe.

Thanks to Brilliant Asylym for the heads up on the article. Pretty entertaining.

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Housewives

I never got into the reality TV show Real Housewives of Orange County - as many of my friends did. But a few Saturdays ago, I was bored and what do you know - a Real Housewives of New York City marathon was playing on BRAVO. I watched an episode, and then another, and another, and was hooked.

The finale of the 1st season was Tuesday. Oh the drama of the NYC housewives!

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