Review of TasteTV

TCB Café Publishing & Media, an innovative multimedia lifestyle brand based in San Francisco, first created the Indie Food Channel in 2004 in an effort to bring real stories, recipes, and food ideas to the Northern California population. With a distinct lack of overly produced segments, celebrity chefs, and blatant food porn, it’s become a sort of anti-Food Network.

With the realization that the internet was the best way to inexpensively reach a broad market, the channel changed its name to Taste TV and made the move to the web in early 2006.

Oenophiles and foodies alike will find something they love on Taste TV.   There’s Chocolate TV, which features Bay Area chocolatiers like Charles’ Chocolates and his signature fruit ganache; Chefs Specials, where real chefs – like James Ormsby – who actually cook in their own restaurants, give recipe instructions; Drinks & Wine, with series like Million Dollar Wines, in which sommeliers suggest wine pairings; Cool Restaurants, which introduces viewers to Bay area eateries like Sutro’s; Cooking Shows, like Art of Food with Wendy Brodie; Music & Movies, which includes trailers of foodie flicks like Chocolat

and Sideways; News/Reviews with host Susan Jones; Taste TV Picks, a Showcase of suggested products; and Style & Design, in which dishware becomes the center of the table.

The site also has retro videos, including Emily Post etiquette tips overlaid with classic video instructions, and music videos like “Cake,” which mixes a classic cake-baking video with music from Charity and the JAMbands. In addition to the video content, there is a newsletter, a list of resources, recommended blogs and podcasts, and bios for the hosts and Producers.

The indie network’s ultimate stab at its celebrity-driven counterpart is the homemade, New York-based, 16-minute Average Joe Cooking Show, in which a regular guy trades in take-out menus and fast food for home-cooked meals in order to live a more healthy lifestyle. Joe’s recipes are easy to cook and geared towards average Joes like himself, each one requiring only six ingredients (beat that, Rachel Ray).