Lagasse first appeared on television on the show "Great Chefs" where he was featured on ten episodes, including Great Chefs, the Louisiana New Garde, New Orleans Jazz Brunch and Great Chefs — Great Cities. From 1993-1995 he was the original host of Food Network's "How to Boil Water". After several appearances on several other Food Network programs, Lagasse hosted his own show, "Essence of Emeril". "Essence" in the title refers to Emeril's Essence, the name of a spice blend of his own concoction that he frequently uses in his cooking, and which is commercially available in several flavors. He also often suggested that viewers of his show create their own spice blends that reflect their personal tastes and be unafraid to use them to customize the dishes he would teach.