Have you been jonesing for some new Emeril?  I know I have.  You see, all of that “Bam!” stuff aside, Legasse is one of the all time best at TV cooking.  That’s why I was excited to see that he was returning to the cooking show format with his new daily offering Emeril’s Table on the Hallmark Channel (aka the Martha Stewart Network).

Here’s the gist from Hallmark:

Emeril invites viewers to join a group of five special diners at the chef’s table for an intimate shared experience that includes a cooking lesson and recipes geared toward their interests. Whether they are newlyweds, moms-to-be, fire fighters or vegetarians, the guests and viewers at home will benefit from breaking bread with the renowned chef each day. As Emeril inspires and engages them, even answering some of their most burning culinary questions and food dilemmas, he’ll also share fresh, fun ideas, recipes, tips and techniques.

The show has elements of many traditional stand-and-stirs throughout the years which gives it a familiar, even comfortable feel.  It seems to meld facets of Food Network flash with PBS minimalism.  The set (located at Chelsea Market) is huge with an open kitchen and lots of modern appliances.  Along the right side of the cooking counter is a large food bar full of guests ala Molto Mario (FN style).  The opening credits feature an animated collage of images from the show with a score of pleasant but uninspired jazz (PBS style).

Emeril’s Table is easily the best food offering on the upstart network which also airs Everyday Food starring Sarah Carey, Mad Hungry with Lucinda Scala Quinn and five (I counted) shows starring Martha.  While none of the other shows are bad they aren’t especially memorable either.  In fact, other than the host the rest of the line-up is fairly interchangeable.  They are very Martha-esque.

The most important thing is that this show has Emeril.  Not the charecature Emeril from the last few years of Emeril Live but the warm, friendly Emeril that made Live a hit in the early days of Food Network.  There’s no bamming or notch up-kicking just a warm, polished host and his legendary ability to make you hungry even if you just ate.

Emeril’s Table airs Monday through Friday on the Hallmark Channel at 11, 10 CT.  Tuesday through Friday you can find a second helping to make an entire Emeril-hour.