I used to respect him because of his views on "unitaskers." (Stuff that does only one thing and takes up space.)

Almost every show he mentions that the only unitasker allowed in his kitchen is the fire extinguisher.


I just watched a show where he said he keeps a coffee grinder on hand solely for chopping fresh seasonings. That's uber-unitasking with what's already a unitasker.

Consider my bubble burst.

I've seen most of his shows, and the part about the fire extinguisher doesn't ring a bell...which isn't to say it's not true, I'm just saying for as many eps as I've watched, you'd think I'd remember something like that. I do, however, know that he sings the praises of multi-taskers, so it does surprise me that he'd suggest a coffee grinder solely for fresh herbs/seasonings. But no one can be perfect, right?

Well, if you consider every different type of herb and/or spice an individual 'task'... "time to make a rub - I'll use the coffee grinder;" "I need to chop basil for a pesto - coffee grinder"...

That's like saying his knife is a unitasker because all it does is cut.

I just watched that episode last night. To be literal (and sound like a gigantic uber nerd), he wasn't actually IN his kitchen... he was in that RV thing. And, true he did say that he keeps a grinder around "just for grinding spices", but that's not to say that it IS a unitasker; it is, but it could still easily be used to grind coffee beans or other assorted crap.. that needs grinding.

Alton's the man. He ain't no hypocrite, fo sheezy.

We're making complaints against a cooking show?

A low-rated expanded cable cooking show?

Alright, I could be wrong, but I think there's probably something more productive I could be doing right this very moment.

So.. uh.. I'm gonna go do that *backs away slowly*

... because the host used a grinder for spices...because he stated in the past he doesn't like "unitaskers"... so he is a hypocrite and not "respected" anymore....

It is amazing what people find newsworthy.

Like others have said, it's not necessarily a unitasker because it only does one thing--if it does that one thing on multiple items (ie, all spices, and possibly coffee if he's in a pinch), I would still consider it a multitasker.

That said, Alton does change his mind a lot. On the cream puff episode, he extolled the virtues of using a cheap piping end set on a plastic bag, rather than a canvas piping bag for filling the cream puffs. In a later episode, he used an actual canvas piping bag for something. It does take him down a slight notch in my book, but it is just a TV show. And for the most part, the guy is consistent and knows his stuff.

jenhudson--just about any time he mentions unitaskers/multitaskers, he makes his "There's only room for one unitasker in my kitchen" speech--it's almost as common as Norm's "And always wear these safety glasses" speech.

And I still don't know where to find those safety glasses...

By all means, multitask that grinder and enjoy a steaming cup of herbal pepper coffee. Anyone who watched the season finale of CSI knows that a fire extinguisher is also a fine insect extermination tool.

Well, it is the highest rated show on The Food Network.....how's the view from that high horse?

I was thinking the same thing...

I'm sure I would NOT want fresh ground coffee from the same grinder that yesterday prepped nutmeg, black pepper, and fresh cayenne.

::sip::

Well, I'd guesstimate that I've heard him admit mea culpa on that policy a couple of times for special equipment. I think he also realizes it is part "schtick"- most people aren't going to construct some of the gizmos he comes up with. No matter how good you can smoke something in cardboard box with a hot plate- I'd rather have a sturdy smoker... Does that make me a hypocrite if I like AB? I think not.

He also grind nuts with it.

I am glad someone said this because this is exactly what I was going to post myself. Either he or someone else has made this point! I too use a coffe grinder (and I don't even drink the swill) so grind spices like cumin. The smell of herbs really stays in there.

That box worked swimmingly... more swimmingly that that salmon I put in there.

I'd guesstimate that you're more adventuresome than I in that respect...

He sometimes even makes fun of himself for it. There was one episode where he says "do not add oil to the boiling water your about to make pasta in; it just sits on top and does nothing". Then in a later episode, he tells you to add the oil to the boiling water. And right afterwards, he turns on a tv that's sitting on his counter that shows the clip from the earlier show. He then pushes the tv off the counter.

BTW: I've constructed the ceramic smoker with hot plate to make pulled pork...works rather well considering the whole contraption cost me less than $15.

Same thing with stuffing... It's nice he doesn't take himself to seriously.

You can buy a water smoker at Wal Mart for about $19. Mine's become one of my favorite things.

Extinguishers are also good for breaking windows, padlocks, and bag guys heads, when the need arises. Definietly a multi-tasking tool.

STUFFING IS EVIL!

(and many times when he wants out of that conundrum, he'll refer to it as "filling" and not stuffing. Cheater!)

Grinding cinammon and then cardamom is going to have the same effect as a pepper coffee.

Plus, my coffee grinder is something like $300.

Personally, I'd use a mortal and pestal. But there really aren't a lot of spices I'm grinding anyway, other than pepper (for which the peppermate is my recommendation).

As opposed to a God and Pestle?

get a cheap blade grinder. They are just fine for grinding spices.

I have 3: one for coffee, one for spices, and one for grinding dried chile peppers. Never the twain shall meet. These are NOT compatible flavors.

No hypocrisy in my view.

My personal lineup exactly.

When I was younger, newly married (and, er, less savvy) I ground up a batch of dried piquin peppers in the (only) coffee grinder. I thought I had done a pretty good job of cleaning it out, but the wife was not amused when she had her morning cuppa the next day...

Capsaicin and caffeine! That'll get you going!

Mmmm... Nothing like an ice cold glass of smoked water...

My family loves the "Good Eats" show. There are many episodes of this series storied on our Tivo. I've also purchased two of his books.