The Best Of America’s Test Kitchen (WGBH DVD Box Set)
Picture: C+ Sound: C+ Extras: C Episodes: B
Cooking
shows have been around since the first black and white analog TV could catch on
the air broadcasting. At the same time
was the first of many food commercials and the rest is history. Though many think the place to go for food
ideas is automatically Food Network, other networks have offered great shows
for years on food and some are so good, Food Network has yet to match
them. The WGBH hit America’s Test Kitchen is one of them.
Like
Julia Child before them, the crew of the show led by Christopher Kimball not
only offer great cooking ideas, but investigate the latest cooking utensils,
devices and food mixes on the market belying what you would expect from any
test kitchen. The new The Best Of America’s Test Kitchen DVD
Box Set offers 3 DVDs, split into two for meals (Weeknight, Entertaining)
and a fine deserts volume (Baking)
that cover the whole gambit of cooking needs.
I found myself agreeing more than disagreeing with their advice and some
of their research is impressive, possibly even saving you money. If you like cooking and eating, this is a set
more than worth your time.
The 1.33
X 1 image on the classic episodes originate in analog NTSC video and look good
for their age with consistent color and slight variance between shows, which in
this compilation jump all around between several seasons. This is not a problem for picture, but it can
be for the sound, presented here in simple Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo. In that case, though the sound individually
is no problem, you may want to be careful about playing some of this at loud
volumes. Extras include a new HD-shot
special with more recipes that is a live special, the same on all three
discs. Each disc also offers DVD-ROM
printable recipes for the programs on their respective discs and a printable
shopping guide.
- Nicholas Sheffo
