An Observation

As a student of Popular Culture and a Food Network scholar, I ask this question: why do all of the female chefs/cooks on the network include their husbands, significant others, and families in their shows while most of the male chefs/cooks saute solo?

Okay, so maybe Emeril did showcase Hilda in the early years but you don't see him trotting out his current wife and kids to sample his etouffe these days. And where's Bobby Flay's current wife? How about Tyler Florence: where's his support system. Michael Chiarello talks about his family but you never see them, do you? And hey, Mario, where's the little woman?

Rachael Ray's mother is a frequent guest on 30 Minute Meals. Her brother and sister have visited. And she talks a lot about her husband. (Or did before the tabloid scandals broke.) Sandra Lee yaps endlessly about the husband; her niece and nephew have played guest roles on the show. And don't get me started about Giada DeLaurentiis and Ina Garten. I love them both but their shows are family gatherings more than cooking displays.

Do the Powers That Be at the Food Network think women need the extra help? Do the female cooks/chefs want to broaden their appeal? Did the men put down their clogged feet and refuse to provide dog-and-pony shows?

I like the glimpses into the chefs' private lives. I enjoy that peek behind the curtain. So I ask you why is the curtain over the guys remaining tightly drawn? What's with that anyway?