From Scratch

Inside the Food Network

By: Allen Salkin

Narrated by: Julian Fleischer

Big personalities, high drama—the extraordinary behind-the-scenes story of the Food Network, now about to celebrate its twentieth anniversary: the business, media, and cultural juggernaut that changed the way America thinks about food.

In October 1993, a tiny start-up called the Food Network debuted to little notice. Twenty years later, it is in 100 million homes, approaches a billion dollars a year in revenue, and features a galaxy of stars whose faces and names are as familiar to us as our own family’s.

But what we don’t know about them, and the people behind them, could fill a book.

Based upon extensive inside access, documents, and interviews with hundreds of executives, stars, and employees all up and down the ladder, Allen Salkin’s book is an exhilarating roller-coaster ride from chaos to conquest (and sometimes back). As Salkin takes us inside the conference rooms, studios, homes, restaurants, and after-hours meetings, we see a salty Julia Child lording it over the early network performers; a fragile Emeril Lagasse staggering from the sudden public shock of cancellation; a very green Rachael Ray nearly burning down the set on her first day; a torn Tyler Florence accepting the Applebee’s job he knows he can’t refuse, but with a chill running down his spine; a determined Bobby Flay reinventing himself once again to survive.

Paula Deen, Tom Colicchio, Anthony Bourdain, Mario Batali, Jamie Oliver, Martha Stewart, Guy Fieri, Cat Cora: Salkin illuminates the people we thought we knew, and the ones we never knew about, in this irresistible story of the intersection between business, television, pop culture, food—and us.

Entertaining and interesting story

Was really fun to hear behind the scenes of a world we’ve all watched for so long

food Network history lesson with some audio flare

this definitely reads more like a history than a story but it was fun to see all the characters and hear where they came from what they did at the beginning the middle and the end. I feel like the narrator did an excellent job reading the story aloud and adding the exact amount of flare to be entertaining.

More Business Related Than I Thought

Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?

Parts of this were a fun listen parts of this were dry and boring. Overall ok.

What was your reaction to the ending? (No spoilers please!)

The last part of the book had more to do with food stars so it was better.

Which character – as performed by Julian Fleischer – was your favorite?

Bobby Flay & Rachel Ray

Do you think From Scratch needs a follow-up book? Why or why not?

No I don't think there should be more to say.

Any additional comments?

This one was just ok for me.

I laughed. I cried. I got hungry... .

Great book. Well written. Smart, funny, literate. Like the network he writes about, this book has something for just about everyone.

Entertaining look at The Food Network

A good listen if you are interested in the Food Network or television in general. From its beginnings as an idea to start a cable network of some kind to make some money, to its present day presence in the news this book examines the triumphs and pitfalls encountered during the rise to the top of the food chain by the Food Network.

Emeril, Bobby Flay, Rachel Ray, Paula Deen and more make their appearances showing how TVFN became what it is today.

Entertaining, informative and a good narration from Julian Fleischer all combine for a good listen