Take Home Chef

 Review

Common Sense Media says

Cooking show is endearing, but lacks bite.
greenON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
yellowPAUSE: Know your child; some content
may not be right for some kids.
redOFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
not for kidsNOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age.

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Quality
 
Sometimes media can be age appropriate but a real waste of time. Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

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Parents say

Not yet rated

Kids say

Not yet rated

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that in each episode, a chef walks up to a "random" shopper in a grocery store and offers to take care of the cooking that night. They then agree on a menu, gather the ingredients, and return to the shopper's home to cook. While it's obvious that this is a controlled environment, parents who watch with young kids might want to remind their children that talking to strangers isn't OK, no matter how friendly or responsible they seem.

  • The show demonstrates that even if you think you're not good at something, you can learn and become better.
  • Not applicable.
  • Not applicable.

What's the story?

TAKE HOME CHEF serves up viewers a half-hour of home cooking as an unsuspecting shopper is whisked from the grocery store and treated to a personal food preparation lesson in his or her own kitchen. Australian-born chef/author Curtis Stone serves as the show's host and cooking instructor. In each episode, Stone zeros in on a shopper and guides cameras around the aisles as he and his new student work together to choose the ingredients for the meal they're going to prepare. Next stop: the shopper's home, where Stone provides meal preparation tricks and tips. At the end of each episode, the shopper's family returns home to a surprise gourmet meal.


Is it any good?

 

Foodies will appreciate the insider tricks that Stone divulges. For example, in one episode, he suggests spearing grilled shrimp with slices of sugarcane rather than plain wood skewers to make the food sweeter. Viewers looking for compelling reality fare may be disappointed -- Stone's energy and useful tips help keep viewers' attention, but the episodes feel a bit weak without the surprises, challenges, or suspenseful moments inherent in most reality TV -- but fans of cooking shows will likely find Take Home Chef tasty enough.


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What families can talk about

Families can talk about the risks of talking to strangers. Why is it important to be alert in public places? What should kids do if they're approached by a stranger? Families with older children can discuss how to prepare a meal. Why do you read a recipe? How do you time your cooking so that all the elements are ready in time? Or take it one step further and make a meal together.


This review was written by Lucy Maher
Adult
April 16, 2009
 
Take Home Chef is Cute, But Predictable
The Take Home Chef is a handsome Aussie (lots of flirting ensues) with a gift for cooking fabulous meals for women and their significant others. In each show, he approaches a woman at a grocery store and returns home with her to cook dinner. The food is yummy, and the couple (or family) always enjoys it. Take Home Chef is a fun, but not fabulous, show.

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Parent of 5, 12, 15, 18, 23, and 26 year old
April 12, 2009
 
I cried! I laughed! But mostly, I sleeped!
This show is really dumb. You can TOTALLY tell that the person that the chef meets in the store is expecting him to come up to her and ask her to bring him home. Also, when the husband comes home, he NEVER seems surprised. They obviously let EVERYBODY in on the secret and it is REALLY dumb!!! The cooking tips are useless, the food is garbage. I tried cooking the Tariaki Chicken and the Flaming Yon, but I ended up starting the house on fire. The quote "Everybody can do this" is a lie!!!!!!! Dont waste your hour on this rubbish! If you see your child watching it, PUNISH THEM!!!!!!

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This review was written by Lucy Maher
TV rating:TV-G
Network:TLC
Cast:Curtis Stone
Genre:Reality TV

This review was written by Lucy Maher
 

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About our rating system
ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids.
OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
Learning ratings
BEST: Really engaging, great learning approach.
GOOD: Pretty engaging, good learning approach.
FAIR: Somewhat engaging, OK learning approach.
NOT FOR LEARNING: Not recommended for learning.

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