As a former Chef, I am Planning to Produce Video Cookbooks for "The Basics" and "Gourmet" Would you Buy?

Question

As a Former Chef, I want to produce Video Cookbooks with Recipes and Calorie Counts. I want to show in detail, visually, The Basics to Advanced Cooking for those with little or no experience in the kitchen.

You will be able to learn the essentials of cooking in the comfort of your home. I want to be able to offer the Video Cookbooks in different formats, DVD, MPG, DIVX, etc. To be able to play on your TV, Computer and or Laptop right in the kitchen!

Please give me feedback if you would be interested in buying this kind of product and what kinds of foods you would want to see, and learn to Cook.

Be your own Chef!.. and impress your friends and family.

Thank you and Bon Appetit'

Please consider now a' days, with all the ways to view media, ex., Portable DVD Players, Wireless Laptops, or Laptops that are able to Play DVD, and the PSP. All can be setup in a viewing area nearby, or in the Kitchen.

I once lived in a Studio, and the Full Kitchen was in the same room. I could see my Laptop, My TV, or even my PSP from the Kitchen area.

I now have a much larger Kitchen, and I entertain myself with my PSP while I am cooking. I setup the PSP in a Theater type docking station. The PSP plays Video, MP3s and UMD Movies and Games.

Having some sort of Visual aid Video) when learning something, you remember what you learn. ex., Like cooking...

Bon Appetit'

Chef Thomas
Catering Express

Answer 1

You ask a good question.

I'll begin by telling you I'm a baby boomer-- who never learned to cook.

So, I'm in dire need of a course in "The Basics." But... honestly, I don't think I'd buy a video. I'd be much more likely to buy a cookbook targeted to my skills, or lack thereof.

Gen Xers or younger may want a visual, interactive media. That would be the question to explore. What people are using laptops in their kitchens... or would they if they had your content.

As far as content: for me, it would be from, dare I say, soup to nuts.
1. What kitchen staples to have (including pots and pans)
2. Vocabulary
3. Grocery shopping (how to buy meat, produce)
4. I'd like to learn to make a great fish dinner.... steak, pork chops, a way to prepare vegetables so that even non-veggie lovers like them, pasta.
5. Have it be simple, simple, simple. (I think this is one of the reasons for Rachel Ray's success-- it seems very "doable."

Good luck on your venture!

Answer 2

Absolutely, I would buy a course like that. I have thought about taking a course at one of the cooking schools like CIA or the French Academy but I'm 67, retired, and I just don't have the physical stamina to be in a class 8 to 10 hours a day.

I have all of the "Good Eats" episodes saved off on DVD and use them if I'm trying to do something, but that is really a limited course, if it's even a course at all.

If someone came out with a GOOD "Professional Cooks" course on DVD, with the accompaning study guides and a classroom format, I would really be interested in buying it provided it was reasonably priced... say $100 or less for a 5 or 6 DVD set.

What I would want to see are all of the 'trade secrets'... the tips, hints and kinks of just HOW the professional chefs do what it is that they do and shown clearly so I can duplicate them in my own kitchen.

I hope this answers your question and I wish you well.

Answer 3

No. Already went to cooking school but if one watches enough FoodTV one can learn all of the same material free. Add Tivo and no need to buy DVDs.

My suggestion is to update your thinking just a bit...not on the cooking side but on the distribution side. Think of it this way. How many people have DVD players in their kitchen?

How about break up those videos into step by step video snippets offered in a Java or Flash framework designed to run on the phone. Then you can do pay as you go lessons. The best part is you eliminate the expensive part of the distribution system; mail or multi-tier channel is replaced by web server.

Answer 4

I think both are okay and watching gives you a clearer idea of the procedure of the recipe. I don't have a computor or lap top in my kitchen but do have a library of cook books for reference in it.

I know loads of fish recipes for various fish - but would like to see more lobster, mussels, cockles recipes available and how to actually clean and prepare them. Also fish and lobster sauces too. It would be nice to see tips on preserving tomatoes in jars etc.

Plus I know about many types of cheeses but there is still a lot I don't know as there are so many kinds. Would be nice to have a cheese chart with the names of cheese and it uses. That 's all I can think of right now . Best of luck !

Answer 5

Interesting idea, and I wish you well in it. I even have a suggestion for you. When you say "The Basics" I hope you mean that you are going to film how to shop for and maintain the basic equipment, and how to shop for quality ingredients. I have always thought that there should be a show called:

"Really? You don't know how to cook at all? Come on, I'll show you how"

Good luck with your project.

Answer 6

That is a good idea to have the video right in the kitchen via portable dvd player, etc. I would definately buy that! I think you should do it!

Answer 7

I think a DVD format is what I would be most likely to purchase, but would probably only get it if I had a specific need for it, like a dinner party.

Answer 8

I think it would be neat to have, or to purchase as a gift for someone else, but I would not buy such a product for myself.

It sounds great - I hope it's a successful venture for you.

Answer 9

I don't have health insurance, I'm gonna get fined out the *** for it too. Health insurance doesn't heal anyhow, not a good comparison.

Answer 10

Yes and let me know when it is published.