Around the World--Healthy Snacks & Easy Meals: North Africa--Crossroads of the Mediterranean

In a rather lame framing device, a stilted duet (Chef Jonathan Locke and Susan Rasmussen) don Middle Eastern style clothing (and accents) to share Mediterranean recipes, a history of North Africa (with maps and slides), a lesson in food safety (warning about raw poultry and food-borne illnesses), a "Mediterranean Diet Pyramid" (depicted with a clear glass pyramid-shaped display case shelved with recommended daily food groups), tips on using a knife, and a rather long segment on washing one's hands correctly. While the production qualities are good (the producers smartly use a two camera set-up for close-up food preparation), the whole program seems forced and self-conscious (a 536 A.D. skit involving the Health Department and bacteria was pretty awful, and both Locke and Rasmussen look like they'd rather be cooking anywhere else). Too, while I appreciated the bounteous information on regional history, the program, which tried to incorporate too many subjects, ultimately felt unfocused as it segued between such disparate topics as the creation of Mediterranean dishes such as Couscous Caravan, Tabouli Salad and Pyramid Pancakes (all without on-screen recipe cards), and a plug for choosing the food industry as a rewarding professional career. Still, even though it's not necessarily well-balanced, this inexpensive entree is worth considering. The other titles in the set are The Jalapeno Bowl: A Wrap-up of Mexican Food, Italy: Pasta, Pizza & Panache and Chopsticks: An Introduction to Chinese Cooking, all available individually, or as a boxed set (which includes study sheets and written recipes for each of the prepared dishes) for $49.95. Aud: J, H, P. (N. Plympton)