For nearly as long as television has existed, the medium has offered audiences programming devoted to the most delectable-looking of life’s necessities: food. As much as the fondant-covered landscape has definitely evolved over the decades, with all manner of fanciness and competitiveness put into play, a core slice of the Food TV spectrum sticks to the simplest of all formats, a chef in a kitchen showing viewers how to make scrumdiddlyumptious meals.
Many of these shows share something in common, but not so much a particular culinary culture or ingredient. Rather, they can spark instant hunger cravings just from thinking about throwing an episode on. (Not so much the case with a lot of Seinfeld's best food moments, but I always crave a black-and-white cookie.)
