A trio of tasty TV treats to tide you over this viewing season

With the end of the year approaching, many of our regular shows are going on break and while that's all well and good, there are only so many holiday specials and reruns that one can take during prime time.

So, if you're looking for fresh new shows and are all binged out otherwise, cooking competition series might be your best bet for entertainment here. I know of at least three that have already begun yet you can easily catch up with  them either online or On Demand and all of them are fine fare to relax with during this drought period of TV:


THE GREAT AMERICAN BAKING SHOW: This is the second time that a US version of England's Great British Baking Show has hit our airwaves and I think they've got it right this time, going to ABC instead of back to CBS.

Famed GBBS judge Mary Berry(who is no longer on the UK series) teams up with celebrity pastry chef Johnnie Iuzzini, along with hosts Nia Vadalos and Ian Gomez, to test home chefs on their skills with cookies, cakes and pies.

 The format is much more like the British original than the previous one and the overall atmosphere is as pleasantly enticing as the scent of homemade sweets coming from your grandmother's kitchen:

HOLIDAY BAKING CHAMPIONSHIP: Food Network's seasonal baking shows are always fun but the first is the best.

 This is the third season of this series, which started just before Thanksgiving, and so far, we've seen autumn themed pies, ugly Christmas sweater inspired treats and new takes on the classic Yule long cake.

Judges Duff Goldman(the Ace of Cakes himself),Lorraine Pascale and Nancy Fuller have a nice vibe that reminds me of the old school American Idol panel, with Duff being the Paula Abdul of the bunch. This is a sweet show worth catching up, preferably with a plate of cookies by your side:

TOP CHEF: Believe or not, it's season 14 of Bravo's culinary competition and this time out, we have eight new contenders going up against eight former cheftestants to battle it out, hopefully with a bowl of batter.

The setting here is Charleston, SC and the special guest judge for the season is Graham Elliot(who has done similar duty on the American version of Masterchef). Like most Bravo series, there will be some drama but as always, it's the food that we're here for and this ought to be an entertaining feast for the eyes at the very least:

There are other cooking shows out there, of course, but these three are on my viewing menu for sure and hopefully, we can all actually learn a few cooking tips that might help us out for our holiday meal making. On the other hand, it is nice to have a special dinner that you don't have to clean up after and food shows during this season do give you that gift in abundance: