I can say that my favorite thing on TV for a long time is cooking-themed reality competitions. One of the things that are appealing to me in this type of program is how people react under pressure. Usually, they have little time to cook, and not just cook, they have to create recipes and present beautiful plates. Sometimes, they even don't know - never taste or cook - the ingredients. Even so, they can produce good things. The programs with professional cookers usually have better results and great recipes, that ones with just amateurs usually are more fun and tenser, since sometimes people present nonsense recipes or don't organize themselves enough to cook in time and finish the plates in the last second.

Before I start to cook myself, my favorite cooking-themed reality was that with just amateurs. I watched just for entertainment, I liked how the judges interact with the participants, sometimes making fun of them or giving anger too. Sometimes the judges say for some participants that their food is the worst thing they have ever taste, but also there are episodes where the participants can produce restaurant-level food. The interesting thing is that usually is not the same participant that produces good things, it depends on how they are feeling in the day. The good entertainment comes from the fact that we can't predict the plates' results and judges' reactions.

After I did a cooking course, I prefer to watch the programs with professional cookers. I like to see the different ingredient combinations and techniques they apply. It is incredible how the professionals are organized, even with a little time to cook the majority have a cleaned and organized countertop. Also, when something on the recipe goes wrong, they are really creative to solve the problem. I also like how they mix the flavors, for example, when one ingredient is too blend, they mix with another flavor to improve the taste, for example with sweet or fat. The finished plates also seem like art.

Finally, another thing that really catches me on this program is how some plates can produce emotions. It is not rare to see a judge crying after taste a plate, sometimes they cry because the plate makes them remember their childhood, family, and country. Other times make them remember themselves at the beginning of their career. After so many years of watching this type of program, I think they changed the way I see food and make me pay more attention while I eating.