Taste Is Half The Battle

As the last of 3 children, I learned at a young age what needed to be done to escape the dreaded rug-burn torture. Never attempt to control the television. As a result of this simple unspoken rule and the fear instilled in me by my brother, I spent my youth full of appreciation for G.I. Joe and its teachings. No other cartoon offered a life lesson complete with an unforgettable catch phrase- "Knowing Is Half The Battle". But as much as I enjoyed an action packed episode of G.I. Joe, the show was clearly geared towards adolescent boys. If I were able to get my hands on the remote control and somehow restrain my older (much bigger) siblings, I would have sought out a program a little better suited to my interests. As I picture it today, my favorite after school program would have been found on a channel born from the marriage of the Cartoon and Food Networks.

If I could go back in time (maybe I should get in touch with the writers of ABC's Lost- they seem to think time travel is acceptable), the first step would be to soften G.I. Joe's main character to appeal to a young viewer who loves food. Easy- replace military fatigues with a chef's jacket, replace muscular frame with one that screams 'I love to eat', replace ammo belt with a knife roll, and replace battlefield with a stocked kitchen. This is how I picture the star of "Chef Joe: A Real American Cook", a show I would have weathered bumps and bruises to watch as a youngster. Throughout the thirty minute episode, lovable Chef Joe, along with his sous chef and helpful kitchen staff, tackles a recipe while teaching viewers how to measure, dice, sauté- the list is endless. Special dinner guests may even include G.I. Joe's first in command, General Hawk, and second in command, First Sergeant Duke. After reviewing the valuable lessons learned and the components that make a great dish, Chef Joe ends each episode with a reminder, "Taste Is Half The Battle".