At one time I had every one of his episodes on VHS. He gave viewers the history of the recipes he was demonstrating. I’m 67 and I learned more about “Cooking” from Jeff than anyone on the Food Network. CIAO!!
I think Smith had flair like a few others but something always seemed off. 🍳 Much like the Besh chef from NOLA. He was a USMC veteran 🎗 & celeb restaurant owner. Sad how he cracked apart.
Yes, I liked his show - one of the best was the truly "American" desert - a baked apple with real maple syrup - something native americans had been eating for many years before contact with europeans...
From wikipedia: 'Sexual abuse allegations In 1997, seven men filed a civil lawsuit against Smith, charging him with sexual abuse. Six of them alleged that they were molested as teenagers in the 1970s while working at the Chaplain's Pantry in Tacoma; the seventh claimed that he was assaulted in 1992, at age 14, after Smith picked him up as a hitchhiker. Smith denied the allegations, and no criminal charges were filed, but he and his insurers settled the cases for an undisclosed amount in 1998. The litigation ended his television career."
Back in the early days of Wikipedia his entry was constantly edited by a Stan to take out references to the abuse allegations. I and others would have to go in and revert his entry. It was totally weird to have seen the abuse allegations play out in real time.
Up to the sexual abuse issue, this seems to be just a load of nit-picking. This was a great show and I learned a lot. It was fun. I don't think anyone worried about the definitions of frugal or gourmet. The abuse is a whole other issue.
His show was before any Food Network. I used to watch him, Justin Wilson, Martin Yan, etc. on PBS. I still have all his cookbooks, though I haven’t used any of the recipes in years. I wonder what happened to his Chef.
I have three of his cookbooks in hardcover. A church going man and husband, I believe. A real sick man inside. He deserved to go to jail. Sad that money talks so loud.
Jeff Smith and the Frugal Gourmet inspired me to start my cooking adventure in the 1980's. I have every book. I'm truly saddened by his downfall. I still refer to the books occasionally. However, one thing should be made clear (and this has nothing to do with his sexual accusations): You cannot copyright and own a recipe. You can guard it, keep it secret, but once a recipe is published it is fair game. There is no "stealing". You cannot "own" a recipe. Most cook-books are full of copied recipes. The worst offenders are the most celebrated chefs.
I was saddened to hear the allegations. Growing up I heard of and respected Julia Child, but it was Jeff Smith that I watched every Saturday. Julia taught me to carve a turkey, but it was him that really made cooking accessible to me and taught me things like hot pan and cold oil and don't refrigerate tomatoes and garlic. He inspired me to experiment, be creative and to try other cultures food. PBS was sponsored by companies and of course those products would be featured, he never said "this is my recipe", just the opposite. It breaks my heart what he is alleged to have done, but i still have his cookbooks and have wonderful memories bonding with my mother over his show, cookbooks ans cooking with her.
I did watch his show and bought one of his cookbooks but threw it away when his sexual scandal came to light. I was tell my adult son last week about one of his recipes I made.
While watching his TV show, I don't know that I ever heard him claim that a recipe he presented was strictly his own creation. I've never had that expectation of any cooking show that I've watched. I wasn't watching to learn some cook's / chef's exclusive recipe.
I used to like his show. He introduced world cuisine concepts at a time when most shows were focused on one style of cuisine such as French, Italian and so on. I remember some of maxims "hot pot, cold oil, food won't stick!". Also introduced me to the concentrated flavors in dried foods such as mushrooms. He definitely was palate expanding. Too bad he had those scandals which ruined his reputation as a Christian minister, husband and father.
Jeff Smith got me interested in cooking back of those years I still have several cookbooks and kitchen gadgets. He’s recommended that I still used to this day. I have heard the allegations and it’s a shame.
BFD. I worked on Jeff's show at the very beginning at LH Bates voc-tec. He was a theology minister at UPS College. He incorporated foods and the history of various cultures in his teachings. I have all his cookbooks and are my go-to for ethic recipes. I was sorry to see his show get canceled
If people thinks all cook books have original recipes, it's unrealistic. if he's copying verbatim, then he should have cited. In terms of recipes not working, there are popular "chefs" today that are guilty of the same thing. if anything, the problem with him was pederasty. All the other shit is just piling on because he has fallen out of favor, to put it lightly. The good thing about his shows was putting history and cooking together and shooting in one sequence as opposed to some of the highly polished shows which are fiction in terms of time and effort. Still, he earned his brickbats.
I enjoyed the show. The set was amazing. It's what I wanted my kitchen to look like when I was young. I inherited his cook books from my mother. It's sad he did what he did to those people. I wish them the best.
I have two of his cookbooks and learned a great deal about food history. I thank you Jeff for that. However, I am saddened and discusted about his sick actions. It's a horrible situation.
The word around here was that he was gay and had roving hands. Probably, today, that accusation would have been thrown out. Everyone I know who watched the show, adored it and his crusty character. Gay or not, he was an excellent showman, whether they were his recipes or not. I'm sorry he is gone.
Never heard of this guy; but I have seen this upload before. Taking in the circumstances behind his downfall, I think this is pretty tasteless of Mashed. Shocking bad form, old son. 🤨
@@Marcel_Audubon The article is tasteless, in my opinion. Especially when Mashed is supposed to be about food, not a person's dubious lifestyle. You're pissing in a fan if you think you can pick a fight with me over this.
Wow! I cannot believe how Mashed glossed over the fact that this guy was a sexual predator and paedophile!!! This entire episode should have been about that and the allegations.
Agreed. I remember a comment he made on the air that was creepy and weird. I stopped watching him after that. Was not surprised when the scandal surfaced.
Were you a fan of "The Frugal Gourmet" while it was on TV?
At one time I had every one of his episodes on VHS. He gave viewers the history of the recipes he was demonstrating. I’m 67 and I learned more about “Cooking” from Jeff than anyone on the Food Network. CIAO!!
I think Smith had flair like a few others but something always seemed off. 🍳 Much like the Besh chef from NOLA. He was a USMC veteran 🎗 & celeb restaurant owner. Sad how he cracked apart.
Yes- loved "The Froog". It was appointment TV in the house I shared in Grad School. I think one of his cookbooks was the first I bought for myself.
Yes, I liked his show - one of the best was the truly "American" desert - a baked apple with real maple syrup - something native americans had been eating for many years before contact with europeans...
From wikipedia:
'Sexual abuse allegations
In 1997, seven men filed a civil lawsuit against Smith, charging him with sexual abuse. Six of them alleged that they were molested as teenagers in the 1970s while working at the Chaplain's Pantry in Tacoma; the seventh claimed that he was assaulted in 1992, at age 14, after Smith picked him up as a hitchhiker. Smith denied the allegations, and no criminal charges were filed, but he and his insurers settled the cases for an undisclosed amount in 1998. The litigation ended his television career."
Back in the early days of Wikipedia his entry was constantly edited by a Stan to take out references to the abuse allegations. I and others would have to go in and revert his entry. It was totally weird to have seen the abuse allegations play out in real time.
Loved his show as a kid. Watched it with my mom. I was sad and disturbed to hear of his later troubles.
I could not believe it shocking.
PBS & Create TV had a few scandals, chefs who fell flat. Food Network too. 🍳
his troubles? they were the troubles of his victims, he was the perp
In the 70's I had PBS on Saturday morning, no cable and lived in a farming area. Was my first insight to food outside my lifestyle
Up to the sexual abuse issue, this seems to be just a load of nit-picking. This was a great show and I learned a lot. It was fun. I don't think anyone worried about the definitions of frugal or gourmet. The abuse is a whole other issue.
This was my favorite food show back in the day... that and Wok With Yan
Yan can Cook! Was the actual name of the show... Loved that one too!
Watched the frugal gourmet and Yan can Cook all the time!
@@Joeyindahouse2 different shows, 2 different Yans, Yan Can Cook and Wok With Yan
His show was before any Food Network. I used to watch him, Justin Wilson, Martin Yan, etc. on PBS. I still have all his cookbooks, though I haven’t used any of the recipes in years. I wonder what happened to his Chef.
He taught me," Hot wok ,cold oil, food wont stick". Loved his show.
Wasn't that Martin Yan?
Yup! After all this time, I still quote him out loud! 😂
@@mikepellerin4611 Nope
I think he actually said hot pan, not wok.
I have three of his cookbooks in hardcover. A church going man and husband, I believe. A real sick man inside. He deserved to go to jail. Sad that money talks so loud.
Jeff Smith and the Frugal Gourmet inspired me to start my cooking adventure in the 1980's. I have every book. I'm truly saddened by his downfall. I still refer to the books occasionally. However, one thing should be made clear (and this has nothing to do with his sexual accusations): You cannot copyright and own a recipe. You can guard it, keep it secret, but once a recipe is published it is fair game. There is no "stealing". You cannot "own" a recipe. Most cook-books are full of copied recipes. The worst offenders are the most celebrated chefs.
I was saddened to hear the allegations. Growing up I heard of and respected Julia Child, but it was Jeff Smith that I watched every Saturday. Julia taught me to carve a turkey, but it was him that really made cooking accessible to me and taught me things like hot pan and cold oil and don't refrigerate tomatoes and garlic. He inspired me to experiment, be creative and to try other cultures food. PBS was sponsored by companies and of course those products would be featured, he never said "this is my recipe", just the opposite. It breaks my heart what he is alleged to have done, but i still have his cookbooks and have wonderful memories bonding with my mother over his show, cookbooks ans cooking with her.
I did watch his show and bought one of his cookbooks but threw it away when his sexual scandal came to light. I was tell my adult son last week about one of his recipes I made.
While watching his TV show, I don't know that I ever heard him claim that a recipe he presented was strictly his own creation. I've never had that expectation of any cooking show that I've watched. I wasn't watching to learn some cook's / chef's exclusive recipe.
I used to like his show. He introduced world cuisine concepts at a time when most shows were focused on one style of cuisine such as French, Italian and so on. I remember some of maxims "hot pot, cold oil, food won't stick!". Also introduced me to the concentrated flavors in dried foods such as mushrooms. He definitely was palate expanding. Too bad he had those scandals which ruined his reputation as a Christian minister, husband and father.
Jeff Smith got me interested in cooking back of those years I still have several cookbooks and kitchen gadgets. He’s recommended that I still used to this day. I have heard the allegations and it’s a shame.
Under US copyright law, copying another person's recipe is not illegal. All recipes are public domain as a matter of law.
It is pretty lame though.
BFD. I worked on Jeff's show at the very beginning at LH Bates voc-tec. He was a theology minister at UPS College. He incorporated foods and the history of various cultures in his teachings. I have all his cookbooks and are my go-to for ethic recipes. I was sorry to see his show get canceled
If people thinks all cook books have original recipes, it's unrealistic. if he's copying verbatim, then he should have cited. In terms of recipes not working, there are popular "chefs" today that are guilty of the same thing. if anything, the problem with him was pederasty. All the other shit is just piling on because he has fallen out of favor, to put it lightly. The good thing about his shows was putting history and cooking together and shooting in one sequence as opposed to some of the highly polished shows which are fiction in terms of time and effort. Still, he earned his brickbats.
I enjoyed the show. The set was amazing. It's what I wanted my kitchen to look like when I was young. I inherited his cook books from my mother. It's sad he did what he did to those people. I wish them the best.
I have two of his cookbooks and learned a great deal about food history. I thank you Jeff for that. However, I am saddened and discusted about his sick actions. It's a horrible situation.
I liked his shows. “Don’t pick up a hot pan if you don’t know where you’re putting it down”
"Politically correct" newspeak for...sighs.Make America able to make/take a joke again...I learned much from the Froogie.
The word around here was that he was gay and had roving hands. Probably, today, that accusation would have been thrown out. Everyone I know who watched the show, adored it and his crusty character. Gay or not, he was an excellent showman, whether they were his recipes or not. I'm sorry he is gone.
I was disturbed to hear he was a predator.
You lost me when you went down the PC trail.
who cares is he stole recipes or was condescending on set? he was a sexual predator - cut to the chase
Jeff got me into cooking! At 12 I’d bing watch all day!
I feel like I learned a lot about cooking from him. I didn't really like him very much, but I still use a couple of those recipes
The glaring omissions are just stunning, tell the whole truth or not at all.
This is a series of baseless accusations and a hatchet job
Would watch this show after school. Remember it well.
I don't want political correctness. I want honesty
Never heard of this guy; but I have seen this upload before. Taking in the circumstances behind his downfall, I think this is pretty tasteless of Mashed. Shocking bad form, old son. 🤨
you're defending a sexual predator???
@@Marcel_Audubon The article is tasteless, in my opinion. Especially when Mashed is supposed to be about food, not a person's dubious lifestyle. You're pissing in a fan if you think you can pick a fight with me over this.
@@thaisstone5192 you're defending a sexual predator???
@@Marcel_Audubon Thick as pigshit, aren't you???
Thanks. Now do a similar show about another recipe (and food photography) thief, Steven Raichlen.
Great show.
Wow! I cannot believe how Mashed glossed over the fact that this guy was a sexual predator and paedophile!!! This entire episode should have been about that and the allegations.
I loved this show
I always thought he was creepy as h*ll. Stealing recipes is the least of it.
Agreed. I remember a comment he made on the air that was creepy and weird. I stopped watching him after that. Was not surprised when the scandal surfaced.
always didnt like this guy
Lol
I distrust anyone from PBS from the 1990s until today. There seems to be a dark undercurrent with every host.
That is interesting....😮😢
Tutti fruitti
I heard there was some P Diddy going on.