AllMovie

The Frugal Gourmet, with chef Jeff Smith, is an amazingly thorough video collection with over 80 episodes that include food recipes from around the world. In each episode, Smith demonstrates several simple but important recipes. Appetizers -- First Courses and Wine includes recipes for Zucchini Fritters and Olive Paste. Smith makes Spinach Crepes, some stuffed with vegetables and some served with salmon. And he makes a delicious dish of Scallops with Cheese Sauce. Smith not only cooks, he also discusses the theological and anthropological histories of the dishes he prepares. He brings humor and wide-ranging knowledge into the kitchen.