HOLLY-BOLLY-TOLLY: POPULAR COOKING SHOWS by Alex Arghya Adhikari

 Cooking shows or cookery shows are quite popular nowadays across the globe. It not only serves as a source of entertainment but also helps people to explore foods of different continents and countries sitting at home.

HOLLYWOOD: 

There are many well known cooking shows in Hollywood and 'The Great British Bake Off' fits in that category.

The Great British Bake Off is a British television cooking show in which baking competitions takes place in between a group of amateur bakers.  The competition is conducted in a series of rounds in which the contestants attempt to impress the group of judges with their baking skills.

The Great British Bake Off.

The show is presented by Noel Fielding and Matt Lucas and the show is judged by Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith. The show has given the opportunity to the participants including winners to start a career based on bakery.

Some of the well known dishes made by the contestants of the show:

1. Sticky toffee pudding cake

2. Mini doughnut muffins

3. Mint chocolate 

4. Caramelised Red Onion And Cheese Tart

Another very popular cooking show in Hollywood is Hell's Kitchen.

Hell's Kitchen is cookery reality show which was first aired in the year 2004 on the British television ITV.  With time the show gained importance and popularity so the Americans and the Australians came up with their version of the show. 

The Hell's Kitchen.

The American series is hosted by the celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay who also appeared in the British series of the show. In this show two teams of chefs compete for a job as a head chef at a restaurant, while working in the kitchen of a restaurant set up in the television studio.

5 classic Hell's Kitchen dishes you need to know.

1. Beef Wellington

2. Risotto

3. Scallops

4. Lamb Chops

5. Salmon

BOLLYWOOD:

India is well known for its food and spices across the globe so the cooking shows are quite popular across the nation.

One of the good example of a popular cooking show in India is 'The Great Indian Rasoi'.

The Great Indian Rasoi is a travel food show hosted by Chef Ranveer Brar. In this show he visits various cities of India and explored their famous cuisines as well as street foods.

The Great Indian Rasoi with Chef Ranveer Brar.

Chef Brar in his journey discovers the flavors of India not in a modular kitchen but in the actual rasois of India as he travels across the country. The show revives the age old culinary traditions, giving the viewers a peep into the local kitchens.

Chef Ranveer exploring local foods.

Chef Brar through his journey pays tribute to the Indian culture and the essence of food culture. In his journey he not only tastes the food served in the langar of the religious sites like golden temple but also the local food of rural areas of different states across the country.

Chef Ranveer having Punjabi homemade foods.

Another cooking show which can be considered as the most entertaining cooking show is 'Turban Tadka'.

Turban Tadka is a cooking show which is hosted by Harpal Singh Sokhi who is known as the most entertaining and energetic chef in India. He takes the audience on a gastronomic journey in his funny and lively manner. This show reflects the true flavors of Punjab. This show is all about MAA ki daal and makkai Di roti which is rooted in the cooking traditions of India.

The 'Turban Tadka' hosted by Harpal Singh Sokhi.

The show not only reveals the cooking secrets of authentic Indian food but also the use of ingenious ingredients. Also not to forget the Harpal style of sprinkling the salt over the food popularly known as "Namak Shamak, Namak Shamak daal dete hai".

Some of the famous dishes cooked by Harpal Singh in this show are:

1. Amritsari Fish fry

2. Patiala Murgh

3. Chatpate Dum Aloo

4. Sarson da Saag

TOLLYWOOD:

Bengalis have always been associated with food. Innovative cuisines and unique recipes have always been welcomed by them. So the cooking shows fall under the watchlist of Bengalis.

One of the newly launched cooking show which has gained popularity in a very short period of time is 'Rannabanna'.

Rannabanna is a Bengali cooking show which is broadcasted on the Bengali television channel 'Star Jalsha'.

Rannabanna a Bengali cooking show.

Anchor Aparajita, a loving mother and Gopal her foodie son dishes out various delicious recipes while engaging in lively conversations with common people from various walks of life. 

Rannabanna available on hotstar

Aparajita and Gopal preparing and enjoying delicious foods.

 

The guests prepare and cook the dishes with care and also narrates their story in the show which somehow serves as hope and inspiration to the audience. Rannabanna depicts the strength and resolve of a common person and their life journey which is weaved beautifully into the show as they prepare their favorite dishes for the viewers. Apart from being a cookery show, every episode of Rannabanna brings an inspiring and unheard story of someone from amongst the viewers who has overcome obstacles to emerge as a champion. 

Celebrities like Shaheb Bhattachary, Poni Debi were welcomed as guest and

 had cooked dishes like Bhetkir Bandha paturi, Mangsher Malpoya, Murgi Muitha and many more delicious dishes.