Is anyone watching the PBS series, "I'll have what Phil's having"?

I just happened to see the Italy segment last night and I LOVED it - makes me want to go back to Italy and enjoy that delicious food. I'm going to be looking for other segments of his shows - very entertaining..

Frances, we had the same experience. Just happened on it last night and really enjoyed it. It also made us want to return to that part of Italy! Looking forward to Paris.

I get Phil's over-the-top vibrancy, and I think he really means it, even though he has now said--in Tokyo & Florence--that everything he's consumed is 'the best he's ever eaten'. That doesn't leave a heckuva lot of room for Paris or his upcoming destinations. He reminds me of that sweater-wearing guy many years ago on the infomercial for some magical cooking apparatus. Everything is the pinnacle, the tops.

But it was nice seeing his wife Monica, who played Robert's wife Amy on Everybody Loves Raymond, a fine actress in her own right, introduced into the episode, . And their kids seem nice & well-adjusted as well.

But...having been to Florence twice and having seen numerous food/travel shows on the venue, at least three of his food stops--the lampredotto sandwich, the gelato place, and of course Dario the butcher--have already been showcased on Bourdain's or Zimmern's shows previously. With the depth of great restaurants and food emporiums in Florence, one would think they wouldn't have repeated that many. And the weekly parental Skype segment will become tiresome eventually, although it is cute.

Still, the show was shot beautifully, and bathed Florence, Tuscany & Umbria in a wonderful light. I was remarking to my wife this morning that I want to go back...like now!

This has been a real treat to watch. The Tokyo segment was so much more than a food show. What a nice change to have a modest host who is really enjoying himself rather than the false tension of a contrived contest or a host trying to prove to an audience how macho he is.

Gail,

Thanks for posting. I hadn't heard of the show but will watch for it. Any show about food in Italy is definitely of interest to me!

It's on PBS, Ken. Can you get that where you are? Friends without TV said it was on-line, too.

Bets,

Yes, there are a couple of PBS stations available here, including KCTS. I've been travelling for the last month, so wasn't aware of this show being on.

We watched it last night as well, very enjoyable. I liked his comment 'The problem with the world is it's not Italy'.

Rosenthal made a documentary about taking his "Everybody Loves" show to Russia and "overseeing" production of a Russian version of the show, pretty funny.

Here is a link to PBS - you can watch the shows online
I'll have what Phil's having

Frances - grazie mille for the link!! I searched my UNC-TV program mag and was about to email them about reruns when I saw your post. I've never heard of Phil (maybe something I should start watching?) but this Italy episode sounds great - grazie ancora!!

"What a nice change to have a modest host who is really enjoying himself rather than the false tension of a contrived contest or a host trying to prove to an audience how macho he is."

Exactly right Bets! Missed the Tokyo show but watched the Florence show last night and loved it from beginning to end. It was so good. Seeing his wife was fun.. took me a little while to realize who she was. Phil's sense of humor is my favorite and that made it all the better for me. I laughed out loud many times. So fun to watch a top quality show like this one.

When I saw the preview for next week's show... Paris... I was so excited. Can't wait.

I also love the "The Great British Baking Show" on PBS... anyone else watching it?

Thank you for posting the link! What a pleasure it was to watch!

Susan, I love "The Great British Baking Show" on PBS! I have been watching every episode! And here are some of the recipes:
http://www.pbs.org/food/features/great-british-baking-show-recipes/

Saw my first episode of "I'll Have What Phil's Having" a couple of nights ago. The Florence episode. Loved the rooftop garden that supplies the restaurant with herbs and peppers! What a view of Florence from the rooftop! Here's the DVD set of the show: http://www.shoppbs.org/product/index.jsp?productId=69428376&cp=13133725.2883349&utm_source=PBS&utm_campaign=pbs_content_pbsfood_shopmodule_20OffAllCulinary_RR&utm_medium=Link&parentPage=family

Turns out that Phil Rosenthal was the creator of "Everybody Loves Raymond".

All of you who started with the Italy show, be sure to see the Tokyo show, too. Not to be missed.

Rebecca, thanks so much!

Susan, you are welcome! That is not all of the Great British Baking Show recipes, but my guess is they will come out with a cookbook with all the recipes, sooner or later. I will be watching that shopPBS.org site to see.

Really enjoyed it, I plan to watch it again and take notes for my next Italy trip.
Lorie

I just watched the Italy episode of "Phil" and had a glass of wine while watching. What fun. thanks.

Just watched this episode last night. What a treat. I found myself smiling the whole time I was watching. Love to watch anything that brings me back to Italy. Has anyone experienced being in the town of Panicale? It looks so charming. Might have to take a day trip when we go back in 2017.

Next week is Barcelona! I can't wait.

I just started watching the British Baking Show and I love that one, too.