CHOWDOWN COUNTDOWN Travel Channel's Latest 'List'!

 
I caught about half of the first episode of this "Countdown List" of 101 food places favored by the Travel Channel 'raters'. It is a fairly fast moving show with a wide variety of food-types intermixed in the ratings. They start at Number 101 and do about 20 locations in each program. This means a rather short clip for each place as the Travel Channel does use a LOT of commercials and self-plugs in their schedule.
 
  I did manage to uncover the website clip that gives the top 5 BBQ locations in their survey. You can find it at-
 
http://www.travelchannel.com/TV_Shows/Chowdown_Countdown
 
Number 5 on the BBQ list is Dinosaur BBQ in Syracuse. I've not been there but have read many good reports about the Upstate versions of this  BBQ Stand.
 
Number 4 on that BBQ list is our friend Bill Armbrecht  from Mobile, AL and his BRICK PIT BBQ. I am glad to see him getting some of the recognition he deserves.   You can check the film clip on the website for more on this list.
 
Number 3 is the Memphis BBQ favorite, The Rendezvoux.
 
Number 2 is Arthur Bryants, in Kansas City.
 
and they list the Number 1 BBQ place in the country as the Salt Lick BBQ in Driftwood, Texas. I like the Salt Lick, but I don't think I would rate it above several of the other Texas locations like Louis Muellers in Taylor or Blacks, Kreuz, and Smitty's BBQ in Lockhart

Looks like some great spots, but I have a hard time believing how anyone can rank a top 5 BBQ list - the genre is just too large.  You can maybe list the five best, but to rank them is really like comparing apples to oranges.

 I saw that show too, Seems like they mostly just used clips from the "Paradise" series...Hmmmm. 

The agenda is muddled a bit by mixing all the catagory entries into one list. Having an Ice Cream place one number above a BBQ stand and then a hot dog place gets very 'confusing' to me. I agree with you Stephen, What's super for me may be ok but not excellent to someone else! That applies to all the possible catagories of food-types. Allowing for individuals taste likes and dislikes is what makes these forums the fun they are.

The last couple of episodes have seemed to put a lot more emphasis on the quantity rather than the quality of what's being served.

If you watch Man vs. Food, you can tell that they used extensive footage from that show for the Countdown.  but hey, if these lists make me aware of a place I had not yet heard of, all the better!!

This show is a rehash of the restaurants they have featured on their other programming.

Stephen Rushmore Jr.


This show is a rehash of the restaurants they have featured on their other programming.

You've got to stretch the dollar and fill programming.

Stephen Rushmore Jr.


This show is a rehash of the restaurants they have featured on their other programming.

      I agree. it is a bit of a dissappointment.

I got bored with it pretty quickly.

Yep, just a rehash but I still liked it even though I have seen most of the stuff several times on the other TC shows,
Joe

I've probably seen more than once all the TC food shows so don't need to see a re-hash countdown based on some producers and staff that sat around a conference table trying to come up with a list.

does anybody have or is there a list of ;
how many bbq joints
donut places
burgers
etc?

The last couple of episodes have seemed to put a lot more emphasis on the quantity rather than the quality of what's being served.

 
I agree - it was kind of a toss up between what was really rated as good food or who made the biggest or tried to eat the biggest food. 
 
I still found it entertaining and interesting.

Does anyone Know what restaurant made the El Gigante Burrito on the Chowdown Countdown list? tried looking and came up with nothing.

Shoque


Does anyone Know what restaurant made the El Gigante Burrito on the Chowdown Countdown list? tried looking and came up with nothing.

 
 
Bandidos Cafe in Durham, NC maybe?
 

billyboy


If you watch Man vs. Food, you can tell that they used extensive footage from that show for the Countdown.  but hey, if these lists make me aware of a place I had not yet heard of, all the better!!

 
IMO, Man vs. Food is the Most Stupidest Show on TV. Even beats out all the Soaps!

Foodbme
 
 
IMO, Man vs. Food is the Most Stupidest Show on TV. Even beats out all the Soaps!

In terms of dumbness, I would have to rank shows such as Survivor, The Apprentice & The Bachelor way above this show, plus they cost a lot more to produce.

cavandre

Foodbme
 
 
IMO, Man vs. Food is the Most Stupidest Show on TV. Even beats out all the Soaps!

In terms of dumbness, I would have to rank shows such as Survivor, The Apprentice & The Bachelor way above this show, plus they cost a lot more to produce.

Let's just compromise and say 95% of the shows on TV are either Stupid, Dumb, Annoying, Aggravating etc----With the exception of PBS and NCIS! It's a shame that TV has not been used for the greater good of our country. We could have the most well educated, enlightened, populace in the history of the world if TV was used for the greater good, instead of solving the problems of those with Erectile Disfunction and if you REALLY can have Sex in the City!

I really haven't watched much TV at all in the past 3.5 years (except for Phillies games, "Cash Cab", the Weather Channel and the news), and I see I have not missed much. I cannot sit and watch food shows anymore. Sometimes my daughter tries to get me to watch something on one of her channels she watches. Regarding the Travel Channel, I don't have that (but maybe I would watch it if I did have it).
 
 

FoodBme

I wonder if we could get Mark Harmon (Jethro Gibbs) to host a review of the food (Chow) served in Mess Halls at various military bases around the world. Sort of a "NCIS vs Food" series. Now I might watch a few of those, especially if 'Diva' was included in the 'Action' !! 

harriet1954


I really haven't watched much TV at all in the past 3.5 years (except for Phillies games, "Cash Cab", the Weather Channel and the news), and I see I have not missed much. I cannot sit and watch food shows anymore. Sometimes my daughter tries to get me to watch something on one of her channels she watches. Regarding the Travel Channel, I don't have that (but maybe I would watch it if I did have it).
 
 

If the show is about Travel, it usually is interesting. Man Vs. Food,  F- . Bourdain, ranges from A to D+ depending on where he is. Zimmren who eats weird bugs and other disgusting stuff, B to D-. ALL TV shows cater to our Dumb Down Populace. Just show me something and don't ask me to think about it!

Foodbme

harriet1954


I really haven't watched much TV at all in the past 3.5 years (except for Phillies games, "Cash Cab", the Weather Channel and the news), and I see I have not missed much. I cannot sit and watch food shows anymore. Sometimes my daughter tries to get me to watch something on one of her channels she watches. Regarding the Travel Channel, I don't have that (but maybe I would watch it if I did have it).
 
 

If the show is about Travel, it usually is interesting. Man Vs. Food,  F- . Bourdain, ranges from A to D+ depending on where he is. Zimmren who eats weird bugs and other disgusting stuff, B to D-. ALL TV shows cater to our Dumb Down Populace. Just show me something and don't ask me to think about it!

 
One thing I really look forward to listening to during my second job (I deliver the paper) is "Travel with Rick Steves" at 5:00 AM on Sunday mornings on the local public radio station. Nine times out of ten it's a VERY interesting show, and I like his style. I know he's on TV but rarely will I see him on there if I happen to be in the room when TV is on.
 
You have to pay quite a bit extra to get Travel Channel; I'm sure it's part of an expensive package. I just have basic cable.
 


 

mayor al


FoodBme

I wonder if we could get Mark Harmon (Jethro Gibbs) to host a review of the food (Chow) served in Mess Halls at various military bases around the world. Sort of a "NCIS vs Food" series. Now I might watch a few of those, especially if 'Diva' was included in the 'Action' !! 

I heard dat! Maybe they could do an episode Where the Capt and all the Officers of a Nuclear Sub die as a result of eating a batch of Denny Moore Beef Stew. Or a NCIS SWAT team neutralizes a McDonalds because they suspect that a Microchip has been put in Tony's Big Mac!

Harriet1954,
Out here, The Travel Channel is part of our Basic Package! Go West Young Lady, Go West!