Celebrity chef Emeril Lagasse is kicking organic cuisine up a notch with his TV cooking show, Emeril Green, which encourages countless viewers to try a more environmentally conscious diet.
The series airs daily on Planet Green, a channel of the Discovery Channel network that delves into different aspects of environmental lifestyles and activities. Both the program and network began airing in 2008 as a part of the Direct TV Choice Extra lineup.
Emeril Lagasse has already achieved fame on the Food Network, where his shows, Emeril Live and Essence of Emeril, guide viewers through the joys of cooking. In Emeril Green the focus is on the benefits of an organic diet. Each episode is set in a different town somewhere in the United States, where Emeril helps average people find the best and freshest ingredients possible at a Whole Foods Market. After that he helps each of his charges prepare a meal, teaching them how to make organic cooking easy and enjoyable.
The ingredients chosen are not only organic, but also local to the area where each episode occurs. They can include anything from fruits and vegetables to meat or seafood. Emeril takes time in each episode to discuss the benefits of eating local foods. On occasion he also teaches how to adjust his recipes for different health concerns.
Emeril has worked on a number of different cuisines in his TV shows and restaurants, especially Creole and Cajun dishes. The focus on purely organic fare, however, is a shift from his usual style. Nevertheless, Emeril has long encouraged the use of local ingredients for maximum freshness, and producers seem to hope that his lively hosting style and spicy, flavorful recipes can inspire more people to try a healthier, more eco-friendly lifestyle.
“Since my early days as a chef, I’ve always been passionate about using the freshest quality ingredients from farmers, fisherman and ranchers,” Emeril told Treehugger.com, an environmental site currently owned by the Discovery Channel. “While I’m no green expert, I try a little harder every day to think green and be respectful of our environment and our resources… We’ll unearth how easy and fun it is to cook with the foods that are fresh, tasty and in-season and find smart ways to make each day a little greener for you and your family.”
I’ve been buying more organic things like Organic eggs, almond butter, and organic chicken and beef. It’s more expensive, but the food does taste better.