Four Niches the Food Network Is Missing

The Food Network and its bevy of stars have a lot of culinary bases covered, but they are missing many, especially some pretty trendy ones. Given the economy, the focus as of late is on budget cooking, but there are more than a few niches the Food Network and its new sister network, the Cooking Channel, are missing.

At a screening of 'The Next Food Network Star' (Sun., June 6 at 9PM ET), judges Susie Fogelson, senior vice president of marketing, creative services and brand strategy, and Bob Tuschman, senior vice president of programming and production and the newly announced general manager of Food Network, discussed many aspects of what makes a great food program.

Coming into the 'Next Food Network Star' competition, Tuschman said he and the producers do not have a show idea in mind. This season features many contestants from very different walks of life. There are chefs, lawyers and bloggers all vying for the top prize, their own Food Network series.

"I think we like the fact that we never know what the show is going to produce," Tuschman said. "So, what we're looking for is just somebody we think could be a breakout star."

Tuschman and Fogelson said they're not looking for a chef who specializes in a particular type of cooking or a travel type of program, they're always just looking for a person they can make into a brand.

However, one particular segment that has long been ignored on Food Network is that of a vegetarian/vegan. Tuschman said a vegetarian cooking show would work, but it has to be under the right circumstances.

"I think if we found a great, break-out personality, yeah [a vegetarian show would work], but our food shows are driven first and foremost by our talent," Tuschman said. "So when people go to the Food Network, you think of the talent you love on it, whether it's Bobby or Paula or Giada or Ina, whoever it is you love ... I think if we found a great personality, then sure."

So, all the Food Network needs is a great personality to launch a vegetarian show? Ladies and gentlemen, please turn your attention to 'Top Chef' season five finalist Carla Hall. Here's my pitch for a vegetarian show, as well as a few others that would fit into the Food Network line-up ...

'Everyday Vegetarian'
Host: Carla Hall (left)
Concept: Carla Hall, a finalist on season five of 'Top Chef,' proved she has the chops and vegetarian know-how to cater to herbivores. While not a vegetarian herself, she made it known during the show that vegetarians shouldn't be regulated to eating only side dishes. On this program, Hall, whose engaging personality and cooking with love philosophy won many over on 'Top Chef,' would make easy, accessible vegetarian dishes, including main courses, appetizers and a vegan desert every now and then. For some reason, many omnivores get very, very defensive when others reveal themselves to be vegetarians (I'm speaking from experience). This show would be a good way to sort of breakdown some of those barriers as well. Come on, just look at Hall's pecan and oat crusted tofu from 'Top Chef' season five, episode 10 and tell me it doesn't look great.

'Real Secrets of a Restaurant Chef'
Hosts: Various
Concept: Sorry, but Anne Burrell's ill-fitting clothing and attitude do not make me want to learn secrets from her. Instead, this show would feature rotating restaurant chefs providing little tips and tricks for everyday cooking. They'd also share some real secrets of how to cook signature dishes from their restaurants. This could be gold, especially if it boasted high-profile chefs like those on 'Top Chef Masters.'

'Foodie Finds'
Hosts: Trio of bloggers
Concept: Sort of like Rachael Ray's '$40 a Day,' but younger and hipper. Take a gaggle of food bloggers (no more than three) and send them around the country to find the little-known cafe with awesome French fries or the best gelato ever. Then, Food Network could have a branded foodie blog, something very hip and attractive to the younger crowd. Make the bloggers vastly different, like Lolo of Vegan Yum Yum and Deb of Smitten Kitchen

'Organic Adventures'
Hosts: Colin Beavan and Chef Al Rosas
Concept: Organic is hot right now. So is sustainability. In this show, Colin Beavan (right), of 'No Impact Man' fame, travels across the United States to sustainable farms and farmer markets, highlighting the organic regional products from fruits and vegetables to grains and meats. After each little farm adventure, Chef Al Rosas makes a meal out of the local products.



Tell us: What kind of food programs do you think Food Network and Cooking Channel are missing?