Back in the late Sixties, most kids my age were watching “The Flintstones” a Stone Age version of “The Honeymooners” and Don Adams the inept Maxwell Smart or better known as Agent 86. His sidekick, Agent 99 (Barbara Feldon) both worked for CONTROL and would get there secret missions from the “Chief” to fight crime against their nemesis KAOS.

Or on Sunday nights, some kids were watching TV Westerns like “Bonanza,” which focused more on the Cartwright family, the owners of the Nevada ranch. Pa Ben played by Canadian actor Lorne Greene had been widowed three times, and was left with three sons – well bred eldest brother Adam, darling sweet Hoss and the volatile Little Joe played by Michael Landon whose difference of opinion and personal lives kept the patriarch busy.

My curiosity with food really began when I found myself glued to the TV not only watching the aforementioned TV shows that had nothing to do with food at all but instead watching one of the first influential cooking shows on television called the “French Chef.”

This strange sounding woman by the name of Julia Child created and produced a live to videotape from start to finish cooking series and introduced French food to viewers. I am not really sure why I was so drawn to watching her, but leaving little room for mistakes the culminating erratic accidents became a popular trademark of her on air presence and it left audiences wanting more of this food television sensation.

Child’s emphasis on whole, fresh ingredients often led to markets running out of whatever particular meat, fish or vegetable was featured when an episode aired. But Julia Child did more than unpretentiously instill methods for making the perfect Beef Wellington or souffle, we have Julia Child to thank as she set the stage for the creation of the Food Network. This icon set the consummate stage for other chefs who now resemble rock stars on a television channel strictly devoted to all things tempting and appetizing, there is simply no better place for wannabee chefs or food lovers to get their fix at any time of day or night but on the Food Network channel. I have learned quite a few tips and tricks watching various types of cooking styles since its inception.

The Food Network’s success is exceptionally associated with its first major personality Chef Emeril Lagasse, who, on his show “Emeril Live,” jammed packed audiences and was taped live in New York. The show featured the music played by Doc Gibbs and the Emeril Live Band. Emeril Lagasse nourished viewers with his infectious energy and trademark “bam!” “Emeril Live” was a big hit and was one of the first breakout shows to take cooking to a whole new level. Who would have thought that watching a cooking show could be so interesting and to savour for hours at a time? Well it was, not only for women but for men too.

Men also tuned into the Food Network to watch Britain’s alluring and divine domestic diva, Nigella Lawson who series “Nigella Feasts” and “Nigella Express” have made her a household name as well. Quick dinners are always in demand for the working moms out there as shows like “30 Minute Meals with Rachael Ray” who has made us addicted to and who has coined the phrase EVOO, extra virgin olive oil.

Then you have the exuberant and lively personality of Giada De Laurentiis, the granddaughter of famed film producer Dino De Laurentiis. Giada creates hearty Italian fare on her show. “Everyday Italian” which focuses on traditional Italian cuisine but with an American flair. Her other show takes you on the road with “Giada’s Weekend Getaways” indulging in food-inspired travel around the US for “3 day weekend adventures.”

Some of my favourite programs on the Food Network are the reality based type programming. “Iron Chef America: The Series” is where food is sport and world-class chefs battle the legendary top chefs like Iron Chef Mario Batali, BBQ King Bobby Flay, Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto and Chef Cat Cora who, in only 60 minutes, with the use of the secret ingredient have to prepare five dishes in a culinary showdown. Then there’s “The Next Food Network Star,” where several chefs vie for their own food show battle it out under harrowing circumstances.

The Food Network has even released “Cook or Be Cooked,” a video game for the Wii console. The game simulates real cooking experiences using motion controls to imitate specified tasks in the kitchen and the result is a game that makes it fun to learn the fundamentals of cooking various recipes.

The Food Network with over a staggering 90 million viewers they are at the top of their culinary game, tapping into and embodying our love affair with food on our television screens.

Another food phenomenon is the Fast Food phenomenon. One of the principal reasons for the cause of fast food and the appearance of fast food chains is the one big factor which is the convenience and speed. “Fast Food” is literally fast food. Many people in this modern day are too busy to cook and Rachel Rays 30 minute meals just won’t cut it, which causes them to choose a one minute prepared meal instead. The convenience includes a myriad of fast food restaurants. This allows easy access for a hungry person who is in a rush to get food quickly. So the liberty of eating in or taking out at a fast food joint is one great contribution to the “Fast Food” phenomena’s success.

More and more, we’re feeling that the Internet holds the solution to every problem known to man, well, every problem of no significance. The latest one I have stumbled across is Fancyfastfood.com, a photo-recipe blog that reveals how to convert fast food into haute cuisine. There are step-by-step instructions for methodically taking apart a fast-food staple like a Big Mac, Whopper, Tim Hortons’ Canadian maple doughnuts and rearranging it to resemble a gourmet-quality dish.

An unusual little niche has popped up in the blogosphere: the food blog. Written by “foodies” people simply blog about what they eat everyday. Some post recipes, or share specialty meals, like vegan or gluten free, but most are just an online food journal, with multiple posts daily of absolutely everything that enters the foodie’s mouth. If they are at a restaurant, the movies, in the car, at parties, at home, anywhere, they snap a picture before they bite and post it on their blog. Most of these are health-minded blogs, meant to show healthy meals and snacks, and talk about little else besides food.

Diet food, local food, processed food, organic food and junk food are other examples of food phenomenons. There are many more food phenomenons out there; my intention was simply just this, food for thought and in the famous words of Julia Child and her closing line at the end of every show: “Bon appetite!”