Jamie Oliver- the naked chef bares all

[Badger's Mate Profile]

Don't you think that the Chinese takeaways were the architects of their misfortune?

Cheap and cheerful Chinese takeaways appear to be doing fine, no matter how bad they are. It's the decent sit down restaurants that have closed.

I can think of several Chinese takeaways that have got into trouble with the local hygiene inspectors, all still trading, albeit with temporary closures and remedial work.

[jeral Profile]

...[clip]...
i remember several better UK food shows before Jamie, and food was better then Jamie's.

Which programmes or chefs are you thinking of wargarden that you preferred? Our TV had cooking progs almost wall to wall at one time so hard to remember them all.

I've never had a problem with JO's food. What's not to like? Sometimes he used many more ingredients than households would have, or could afford to go out and buy for a "pinch of" or a whole "handful of" - but that's a different issue.

Re signs of the times, the Chinese sit-down retaurant here became and is a takeaway; others (Greek and Turkish?) closed to be replaced by pizza places (current fad?) which do get the essential bums on seats.

[Badger's Mate Profile]

Turkish restaurants are springing up like mushrooms around here, as indeed are Turkish barbers. Whether this is a Turkish Cypriot diaspora from further down the valley or responding to demand from others who have moved up I couldn't say.

I don't think there's a sit down pizza place in either town (again plenty of takeaway outlets), but there are still several Italian restaurants where pizzas may be eaten.

[Sakkarin Profile]

This is about to open in Watford. I laughed at "à la carte", seems a bit posh for what looks like glorified nachos.

https://www.iguanas.co.uk/menu/a-la-carte

[Pampy Profile]

There a couple of Turkish restaurants opened around where I live too and there's a new barber's. Don't know why as I'm not aware of a Turkish population and we have a very high Indian sub-continent diaspora and "Indian" restaurants are coming out of our ears!

[Joanbunting Profile]

That menu is completely mind boggling. What in the heck is a shredded duck nacho??

[Stokey Sue Profile]

I've never been to a Las Iguanas - they are quite a big chain
However, a fairly foodie colleague said she didn't mind taking her (young and not very foodie) team there, they liked it, the service was good, and she could always find enjoyable things to eat and drink

We don't have any classic Chinese restaurants round here any more but we have a couple of pan-Asian noodle bars, including my neighbours, who are Mandarin speaking via Vietnam; and a newish Shanghai dumpling place that specialises in saké and cocktails - yes I know saké doesn't strike one as immediately Chinese, but apparently saké bars are A Big Thing in Shanghai, the most hip city in mainland China (allegedly, I've not been)

We have also a very good Vietnamese noodle place, I go with a friend who is gluten/wheat intolerant and the cuisine is so firmly rice based she is fine there - I think they use cornstarch a bit, but the proprietors understand the issues.

[Pepper Pig Profile]

At the moment anything that opens round here is either Lebanese or Vegan. Very high Indian population so the curry houses are still going strong. We also have a couple of quality Chinese. The only independent pizza restaurant has closed as have the aforementioned Asks and Prezzos. The French-style brasserie pubs are doing well but they are under the auspices of Raymond Blanc and we are the Home Counties here!

Another Jamie recipe I do a lot, for parties, is this:

https://www.jamieoliver.com/recipes/pas ... sta-salad/

I use orzo. It doesn’t sound particularly special but everyone always compliments me on it and there is usually a fight to take any leftovers home.

[wargarden Profile]

That menu is completely mind boggling. What in the heck is a ??

Joanbunting this is what pulled duck nachos are
https://iamafoodblog.com/newcastle-brown-ale-pulled-duck-nachos/
basically posh Tex -Mex fusion cuisine .

[karadekoolaid Profile]

Blimey, Sakks - that´s a menu and threequarters!

The Mexicans might be a bit upset, because the menu is a slightly up-market version of Taco Bell. Same old tacos, burritas, enchiladas; no cochinito pibil, no mole - and that ubiquitous chile con carne - which is Tex-Mex.

The Peruvians might be even more upset, because a "Cheesy Peru Fondue" looks to me like a bastardized version of Papas a la Huancaina. Anticuchos are usually made with beef heart; a "truffle Mac n Cheese" - no comment and surprisingly, there´s no sign of ceviche!

Never mind - there are dishes for all sorts!

[Amyw Profile]

I've never been to a Las Iguanas - they are quite a big chain
However, a fairly foodie colleague said she didn't mind taking her (young and not very foodie) team there, they liked it, the service was good, and she could always find enjoyable things to eat and drink

We don't have any classic Chinese restaurants round here any more but we have a couple of pan-Asian noodle bars, including my neighbours, who are Mandarin speaking via Vietnam; and a newish Shanghai dumpling place that specialises in saké and cocktails - yes I know saké doesn't strike one as immediately Chinese, but apparently saké bars are A Big Thing in Shanghai, the most hip city in mainland China (allegedly, I've not been)

We have also a very good Vietnamese noodle place, I go with a friend who is gluten/wheat intolerant and the cuisine is so firmly rice based she is fine there - I think they use cornstarch a bit, but the proprietors understand the issues.

I really recommend las Iguanas. They do decent cocktails , but one get one free every afternoon I think and the foods not bad at all. We usually get the tapas, very good https://www.iguanas.co.uk/restaurants/exeter/menus

[Joanbunting Profile]

If they do good cocktails they are fine by me!!

[Renee Profile]

I do like Las Iguana's menu. I've seen the restaurants, but never thought to look at the menu.

It's good to get recommendations.

[mark111757 Profile]

I enjoyed all 3 naked chef series as well as Olivers twist. The five part Xmas show was good too I thought.

What killed it for me was the politics. I can take the organic eggs but any more it seems like it has moved away from food. Please present the food and move on. I think you would find more than a few folks here in the states that feel the same way.

[mark111757 Profile]

I have not seen anything in my limited travels on bares all. Did it air on CH.4? If it did what were thoughts on it? It has not made it to my fav download site so I was wondering.

[Amyw Profile]

I enjoyed all 3 naked chef series as well as Olivers twist. The five part Xmas show was good too I thought.

What killed it for me was the politics. I can take the organic eggs but any more it seems like it has moved away from food. Please present the food and move on. I think you would find more than a few folks here in the states that feel the same way.

Surely caring about where your food comes from and your children not being raised on junk food is part of a wider love of food in general . I think genuinely (broad generalisation here) but most keen cooks and food lovers like good quality food and in their own way ,try and buy good quality foods, whether that’s organic, sustainable , healthy etc .

[karadekoolaid Profile]

Spot on, Amy!
I think you´ve hit the nail on the head there.

[jeral Profile]

mark111757. The Ch.4 prog was aired. I recorded it and just checked it was that which was recorded and it was. I've yet to watch it so all for now.

[Amyw Profile]

Thanks karadekoolaid

[jeral Profile]

Amyw: I think it's having messages rammed down one's throat in every sentence which mark111757 finds particularly irritating and patronising as they're not as easily available in the US. The differential in price there is huge, or was when we did a price comparison a year or so ago.

Restaurant owner chefs are the worst, e.g. Raymond Blanc who spends ages explaining that you need the very best produce. That's easy if someone else will be paying of course, but it's who he is. Conversely JO is supposedly for everyone hence it can jar.