Saturday Kitchen

[Gillthepainter Profile Website]

Always was painful watching the Sat Kit guests, so I'm pleased they've adios'd that section, me.

[spotteddick Profile Website]

I couldn't agree more, I never did see the point in them, the just sat there like spare parts. Yes they will not be missed by me! there are a couple of other things that could be changed for the better but that is for another day.

Cheers

Dick

[Tatihou Profile]

I didn't see the value of them either - particularly as usually, they appeared to be JM fans who would just sit there and stutter at him if he tried to ask them any questions. So as they had no value (unless the squillions of JM fans applying by phone generated income for Cactus) I think they are better gone.

But the show needs a revamp generally. I'm sure they're repeating some of the repeated programs - Rick Stein, SlebMasterchef etc. And that bleddy omelette challenge...

I usually tape the show in case of a good recipe or two (and the James Martin MasterClass on Meringues was good recently ) but find the bits I actually want to watch are all of about 20 minutes in total.

[LaConchita Profile]

First, how fab to be here. Sakkarin you are a legend!

Anyway re SK the revamp requirement has been long overdue. Tats you are right about the repeated repeats. İ think many have been repeated several times over.

İ wasn't sure the guests had gone for ever as İ thought İ had seen JM still giving out info on how to apply.

İ only watch now if there is a particular guest chef appearing. The last straw for me was when they had a celeb guest drop out and rather than come clean drafted in someone else who pretended, rather badly, that the heaven and hell were her choices. Terribly naive of the producers.

[Frillz Profile]

My interest has definitely been on the wane for a long time. It's usually on in the kitchen and we're doing other things while it chugs along in the background.

The particularly odd thing I find is that when they had the extra studio guests there was only ever one plate of food to sample, but now they don't have them, they prepare two plates

Since the BBC dropped Something for the Weekend, as well as all the repeats on a loop during Saturday's SK, there's also a Sunday programme of its 'best bits' - I've never put that on and I can't see me being likely to watch it either.

Don't even start me on the omelette challenge.

[Bibsinspain Profile Website]

I could not agree more with the show no longer having guests.

But, they need to make more changes. It's becoming boring and should be freshened up.

Firstly, eliminate the 'egg challenge' it's sooooooooo boring now.

Secondly, I'm fed up with watching Keith Floyd. That man never could cook up a decent meal. He'd get nowhere as a chef today

[Gillthepainter Profile Website]

I'll be watching out for the 2 plates today, Frillz. I hadn't noticed that.

And spare us the omelette challenge. It's soooooo tedious now.

How come James can wear a jumper without breaking out into a sweat? I'd be pouring if it were me.

[Dena Profile]

All we need now is the "martinis" and my sense of deja vu will be complete. Isn't this great, I will even watch Saturday Kitchen again now so I can comment on it.

Ain't life grand?

[Frillz Profile]

Dena, yes, the fun of it is commenting with friends.
Especially when all one has planned is lounging infront of the TV on a Saturday morning.
It's coffee for me , saving the cocktails for later

[Frillz Profile]

I'll be watching out for the 2 plates today, Frillz. I hadn't noticed that.

And spare us the omelette challenge. It's soooooo tedious now.

How come James can wear a jumper without breaking out into a sweat? I'd be pouring if it were me.

It was obviously a 'lapse' he's back to his usual manners Gill, just one plate today, which didn't go down well with the Two Greedy Italians. Why not serve the food he's cooked?

The omelette challenge has been tedious for years. Boring and utterly pointless. I've never heard or seen anyone appreciate it except for the time that one of the Hairy Bikers swapped his competitor's eggs with a hard boiled one and when (I think) Raymond Blanc (or was it Michel Roux? we're split on that one here) took a truffle in and refused to be hurried, making a perfect omelette.

After all, it's not as though making an omelette is a lengthy process is it

James's choice of clothing always gets our goat here too, particularly when he wears a jacket. Who cooks wearing a jacket?

[Gillthepainter Profile Website]

Raymondo took an age making his omelette, affecting the scheduling of the remainder of the show.

I'm also sick to the back teeth of reruns of the same Masterchef. I've seen that cleb version a hundred times already.

[hungryhousewife Profile]

Give poor old James Martin a break!
He is doing his best, and his in the only show I know of that gets the best, current cooks - who aren't telly celeb chefs - doing proper cooking. Often they show us ground breaking techniques and good suggestions for plating up, little tips for making better sauces etc.

I agree, it can get a bit samey, but in our house it is a bit of an institution - reading the papers, proper full English breakfast and SK on the telly - proper relaxing and often informative.

Poor James - what does it matter what he wears? He is there to do a cooking show - not a fashion show. He's lovely IMO, and I love his sense of humour. He could turn up in his pyjamas for all I care.

Very glad he binned the extra guests, as I always thought it seemed a bit desperate on their behalves.
HH

[Frillz Profile]

Give poor old James Martin a break!
He is doing his best
...
Poor James - what does it matter what he wears? He is there to do a cooking show - not a fashion show. He's lovely IMO, and I love his sense of humour. He could turn up in his pyjamas for all I care.

Oh dear. Going to have to agree to disagree on James, HH.

The criticism of his clothes is nothing to do with fashion, it's just an opinion that he looks stiff and awkward. I don't find a suit jacket appropriate for the situation that's all.

Personally I find him very awkward and that's why I don't like him presenting. He's not, in my opinion anyway, able to listen and react to conversation, particularly with women and I do find his 'jokes' grate on me, especially the 'in your restaurant that'll be thirty quid' and 'hurry up or the football will be on' comments that he trots out so often.

When Matt Tebbut stood in for him I preferred the programme.


I still watch though, because you're right, the variety of chefs who appear is excellent. I'd just like the programme to refresh and get rid of all the repetition and same old stuff for something new.

[hungryhousewife Profile]

I know what you mean about his presenting style, but I personally think it very refreshing that he is just being himself, and not trying to be a 'TV Personality', which drives me nuts! I think he is accidentally really funny in a dry Yorkshire sort of way.

When he's being asked 101 daft questions by various 'celebs' who are usually not even vaguely interested in food, while he is doing abut 15 intricate procedures, its hardly surprising he sounds a bit brusque. I wouldn't be half as polite as he is

Anyway - vive la difference! Who is your fave presenter on the box then and what sort of show should they present to keep us all rivitted?
HH

[Frillz Profile]

...
Anyway - vive la difference! Who is your fave presenter on the box then and what sort of show should they present to keep us all rivitted?
HH

Yes HH, no one's ever going to suit everyone.

My other half gets infuriated by seemingly inane questions on cookery shows and I keep on at him that it's not necessarily because the questioner doesn't know the answer, it's a mechanism to educate the viewers who might not know, unless I'm giving too many the benefit of the doubt

It's always going to be a danger, when a programme has so many guests, it's difficult to know who's interested and who's just looking for publicity for a new show or book.
Like I said elsewhere, a shorter series has an easier job than a show that just rolls on and on.
It must be hard to keep finding people who make great guests.

Hard to say who'd be my ideal presenter, not sure I have one these days but I always have very fond memories of Paul Merrett going back to when he co-presented The Best but also for the series Ever Wondered About Food? which I really enjoyed.
Since he bought The Victoria at East Sheen (co-owns and runs) I don't think he's done as much TV work as he once did?
http://www.thevictoria.net/about-the-victoria-sheen.htm

[Frillz Profile]

Incidentally for people who do like James Martin did you know that in addition to his restaurant at a Casino up north, he's opening another one

Celebrity chef James Martin is to launch a restaurant at the Talbot hotel in his home town of Malton, North Yorkshire.

Owned by the Fitzwilliam Estate for more than 200 years, the Talbot is currently closed while it undergoes a £4m restoration. It will reopen in the spring with 26 bedrooms, a 70-seat restaurant, a lounge bar, a public bar and a private function room. The hotel was previously managed by English Rose Hotels, but last year was brought back under the management of the Fitzwilliam Estate.

Martin, the presenter of BBC TV's Saturday Kitchen, is pleased to be returning to his roots. "North Yorkshire is in my blood and I've watched the town of Malton successfully build a reputation as a foodie destination, with its popular food festival and the abundance of growers and producers in the area," he said.

"I'm really looking forward to working with the team behind the new-look hotel and the first step is to plan the kitchen. I shall be looking at sourcing local suppliers and guests can look forward to finding all my favourite Yorkshire produce on the menu from Wakefield rhubarb to Whitby crab."

I thought he lived in Hampshire?
I don't know if the article means he's putting his name and planning to the restaurant like he has the Leeds Kitchen at the Alea Casino, or if he's actually going to be more actively involved on a day to day basis?


He's certainly been busy because he also has a range of in-flight meals launching for Thomas Cook holidays tomorrow, that must be to replace his Ocean Village cruise liner gig that ended a couple of years ago?


*quoted from catersearch

[mum-at-the-oven Profile]

I too never liked the two "guests" who weren't treated like guests at all.

I am glad that I am not the only one who wasn't impressed by Keith Floyd either. Always hated him prodding every ingredient as he did a piece to camera. I know someone who used to work for him and it wasn't an easy job!

[hungryhousewife Profile]

HHmm! Very interesting Frillz. I thought he lived down the road from here - Berks/Wilts/Hants border - but then who knows! He's obviously been rather busy behind the scenes - perhaps he knows something about SK that we don't??

I've never heard of 'Catersearch' - is it a magazine?
HH

[Frillz Profile]

Evening HH, sorry I mis-typed - caterer search, it's the website for Hotel & Caterer magazine.

Personally I suspect that JM still lives wherever in Hants and is again lending his name/doing consultancy for the new restaurant, rather than actually cooking in and running it. I took it that 'home town' refers to where he was raised rather than where he lives, because I think that's how he works - but I confess I thought if I said it as baldly as that it might offend you. I couldn't single him out on that score though as plenty of big name chefs do the same and the cookware ranges, ready meals etc. etc.

I'm just being mindful of how much JM polarises opinion - I think he's typically 'Marmite' but that's OK it'd be dull if we all had the same tastes all the time.

[hungryhousewife Profile]

Hi Frillz! I had no idea he caused so much controversy!
I promise I would never get offended by you having your own opinions - in fact quite the opposite - I like a good debate - I was just sticking up for him - I actually don't find him offensive - I just think it is him being a Yorkshire born and bread type of bloke - but I find other people infuriating (the Hairy Bikers, Rachel Khoo - etc etc!) even though other people adore them.

Good to chat to you, and get to know you a bit!
HH