A Brilliant Conflict

Although it has its amusing moments, in eneral the plot does not convince.

It is both painfully honest and laugh-out-loud funny at the same time.

While it doesn't offer any answers, it both thrills and makes you think.

For those that think it's fake and staged let me make my argument that it isn't. He goes to places in Pasadena/Glendale/Hollywood area. These people are rich! Plus they are shopping at very high end super markets. Like organic everything, high end food. Just look at how nice the super markets are. They go to these expensive high end super markets in nice neighborhoods knowing they will get people who are rich, willing to pay a premium for good food and probably appreciate good food and have nice houses and cars. no way poor people are shopping there. Go into one of these supermarkets and it's filled with hot rich housewives for the picking. Plus when they go shopping they aren't at a cheap market where they won't have good ingredients. They know they want to pick someone up from here so they probably have it planned to go to a cooking store to pick up his dishes or whatever that is close to the super market. I live in that area and can tell they are shopping at places that are close like Colorado blvd. No mystery or conspiracy about it. I'm sure they don't show the people that say no, whats the point? On the house part, I'm sure they give them time to clean and whatever. Many times he tells you that it's like 10 or 11 in the morning and they are cooking dinner for 5 or 6 at night. So yea they cut out a lot of cleaning prep who knows what else out, but I'm convinced that these interactions with these women are real. Sometimes husbands don't seem too pleased coming home to strangers in their house which really enforces the reality of it, but they always warm up to the idea when they see it's innocent and they are getting a great free meal out of it. I'm sure they pick pretty ladies to make the show more interesting. There is obvious awkwardness when he first approaches them but it's a simple concept to get your head around, so it's either a yes or no. I love when he first approaches women. It's like he's trying to pick them up or something. There is definitely sexual tension between many of these women and him and you can tell that they are charmed with him(probably why they said yes!) There is something interesting about boyfriends or husbands coming home to their girls cooking with this guy they are obviously into. The lying on the phone to them to surprise them the massive amount of giggling, and let me change into something when they get to the house(usually sexier) all leave you with a feeling like they are doing something naughty but they are really just having a nice surprise for their husband. Sometimes they don't seem too pleased coming home to strangers in their house which really enforces the reality of it. One time this girl had the saddest look on her face when he said goodbye like she really didn't want him to leave or wanted to say something to him. OK, now to the cooking and food. He makes really good food and these people genuinely seem like they enjoy it. The whole process of deciding what food they like choosing ingredients and making up recipes in the supermarket is entertaining. They seem to go rather quickly when it comes to making the actual food and gloss over some finer details. The most interesting part is the tension between him and these women. Picking up lonely rich housewives at supermarkets while their husbands are at work, convincing them to let him into their beautiful house which is usually empty, constantly calling hubby to see when he's at home and shhh... be quiet don't let him hear you, feeding the women to taste the food, and just the looks they give each other and the giggly women make it seem like they are a step away from doing the dirty. And oh yeah there is some cooking there too.

Although I have seen this on several occasions, I'm writing this mainly on behalf of my husband who loves this show! From my few viewings, I can see how the program effectively combines humour, romance, and drama with great cooking.For those who have not seen this show, a little introduction --- The young male chef named Curtis visits a market where he chooses a female shopper, explaining to her that he would like to cook a gourmet meal for her and her husband/boyfriend or sometimes a female friend. He then pays for all the culinary ingredients, goes home with her and proceeds to prepare the feast, in the process providing her (and viewers) with his cooking tips. The woman generally sees to it via telephone that her husband's return is delayed until dinner is ready. Naturally this unsuspecting male receives the surprise of his life when he arrives home, and the couple is then wined and dined in style, compliments of this 'take home chef'.I note complaints here that the entire show is a setup, but it wouldn't be practical to have a truly random selection. Some complain that the girls selected for his surprise dinner preparations are too pretty and others that they aren't pretty enough! However, the selections seem to me quite reasonable, and the little scenarios where they surprise the men in their lives with this gourmet feast are cute. It's always fun to watch the man opening his door to discover this good looking chef and his television crew!I've also noted complaints about the kitchens being generally quite luxurious and while I haven't watched that many episodes personally, my husband claims that such is definitely not the case. I recall him remarking to me at the time that one kitchen was really very modest, and he actually felt quite sympathetic for the female guest in that episode because of it.The cooking is always intriguing with no question as to this chef's considerable skills! Curtis himself is handsome (my own opinion here!) and unquestionably charismatic but also seems like 'just a really nice guy' -- not phony but truly personable, highly skilled yet modest, loves his work, shows genuine interest in the people on his show, and has a relaxed and refreshing air. Sometimes the women flirt a tad with him but he never reciprocates -- nothing is ever offensive.I'm not much of a fan of cooking programs myself but of all the ones I've seen, this one with its little story in every episode most appeals to me, and my husband watches it faithfully every day. Great show, Curtis, I'd love to see you in MY kitchen!

It's interesting how 99% of the people he chooses have huge homes, always clean, how does that happen. Just once, I'd like to see him choose someone who's home is small and messy. It seems like a set-up to me. The "contestants" must be chosen ahead of time for their affluence. They probably have their maids clean up before Curtis is allowed to enter. Maybe they see what people are driving BEFORE he speaks with them in the supermarket. Also, on the way home, they always pass a gourmet store and he knows exactly where it is. This is a little too convenient and certainly shows that this is not just happenstance, but preselecting goes on.