Food speaks the universal language. It is food that connects us all together, be it a company picnic, a holiday meal with family or a quiet get together with friends.

Food, like people comes in all shapes and sizes, and satisfies each of us in different ways. If you have a sweet tooth, then ice cream speaks to you with its different flavors. If you love something hot off the grill, then the rich taste of authentic barbecue is probably more to your liking. If you like Italian, or Mexican or Indian food, then having this food at your disposal is likely to be a high priority.

Food has become so big that it has its own network. Food aficionados like Rachel Ray have parleyed their success in the kitchen to affiliate programs across the globe. So successful have the marketing campaigns of stars like Ray and entrepreneur Martha Stewart been, their success is now measured in audience viewership rather than quality of food.

Within the Food Network are several food shows that have taken the culinary world by storm. The Iron Chef is a television show on the Food Network that has a visiting chef battle one of the Iron Chef’s, like Bobby Flay. The two chefs square off in Kitchen Stadium, using a special ingredient to meld their food together. Competition is fierce on the Food Network’s, battle to find who the next Food Network star will be. Amateur food experts show their wares in front of esteemed food critics, being judged on appearance of food, taste and the presentation in which they describe their food.

So while food is the great provider, it has transcended from something we eat to survive, to something that is competitive and viewed by millions via the television, internet and other electronic media.