he's a nerd, but i can't get enough

Alton Brown's flair in the kitchen developed early with guidance from his mother and grandmother, a budding culinary talent he skillfully used later "as a way to get dates" in college. Switching gears as an adult, Alton spent a decade working as a cinematographer and video director, but realized he spent all his time between shoots watching cooking shows which he found to be dull and uninformative. Convinced that he could do better, Alton left the film business and moved to Vermont to train at the New England Culinary Institute in Montpelier, Vt. Soon after, Alton tapped all of his training to create Good Eats, a smart and entertaining food show that blends wit with wisdom, history with pop culture and science with common cooking sense. Alton not only writes and produces the shows but also stars in each offbeat episode.

Honestly, one of my favorite shows. Watch it on Food Network. If you can get over the cheesiness, you're guaranteed to improve your skills. Don't worry, he knows he's ridiculous. That helps.

My favorite thing about his shows? Last night he did a show on butter. Just about butter and why it's better for you than margerine, how it's made, what it can do, etc. He's thorough and informative...I think I'm a nerd guys.