I'll admit there is one thing about all the cooking shows that brings out the cynic in me, and that's all the product marketing that inevitably follows. Cook books, yes, I get it. I'd even buy a Hairy Bikers cookbook. Maybe. But what on earth is Jamie Oliver's face doing on a tomato plant at Hombase, and just how much input does Nigella have in the designing of those whisks besides the pastel colours?
I wish Delia was on more these days. One things I despise when you watch a cookery programme, is when the chef says 'so here's my twist on this' and 'my mix up of the classic...' I understand having one's own recipe, but insisting on ruining an adequate basic recipe is so annoying! It's made worse by measly portions, garnishing, square plates, '15 minute meals' which take twice as long; never mind washing up of liquidisers and processors, and then there's Heston Blumenthal.
My pet-hate about cookery shows is the mockney slobber-jockey and his weird habit of serving food up on old railway sleepers whilst talking like a 5 year old.
I don't like cookery programmes at all. The main reason is the cooks. Most of them are so pretentious. They act like what they are doing is high art rather than just cooking a meal. Even just the act of putting salt in a dish they have to do it with attitude. It's so arrogant.
Cooking is not good TV. Or even TV at all. What sort of air heads would be interested in it, anyway? You do it to stay alive - nothing more to say about it. I find the fetishising of food and cookery/baking to be one of the creepiest developments in TV. All that whining about people being fat - then all that food pR0n. Make your minds up. Make food out to be boring, idiotic, not worth discussing - and interest people in the amazing and interesting stuff in the world (pretty well everything BUT cooking). It's just a silly middle class hobby for daft people who don't know the drudgery and reality of the sort of cooking those of us with little money, and large families, have to face constantly.
I don't like cookery programmes at all. The main reason is the cooks. Most of them are so pretentious. They act like what they are doing is high art rather than just cooking a meal. Even just the act of putting salt in a dish they have to do it with attitude. It's so arrogant.
I wouldnt say high art, but certainly I find Heston Blumenthal quite artistic in his cooking and what he puts on a plate.
Cooking is not good TV. Or even TV at all. What sort of air heads would be interested in it, anyway? You do it to stay alive - nothing more to say about it. I find the fetishising of food and cookery/baking to be one of the creepiest developments in TV. All that whining about people being fat - then all that food pR0n. Make your minds up. Make food out to be boring, idiotic, not worth discussing - and interest people in the amazing and interesting stuff in the world (pretty well everything BUT cooking). It's just a silly middle class hobby for daft people who don't know the drudgery and reality of the sort of cooking those of us with little money, and large families, have to face constantly.
I spose the bottom line is - it is cheap TV.
Is this trolling, albeit fairly mild, or do you really think this? As others have said, it's just one genre of TV show, and not one to really get worked up over either way. I greatly enjoy many - but by no means all - cooking and food based shows because I cook a lot and I enjoy new eating experiences. As you say, we all have to eat to stay alive, so if I have no choice in the matter, I'm going to damn well make it as interesting and enjoyable as I can, rather than simply submit to the mass produced, flavourless crap that passes for food in most supermarkets these days. I choose to live to eat, rather than eat to live.
I'm sure that Jamie in his fake kitchen with his fake herb garden is relatively cheap to make. However I swould suspect that there are cheaper alternatives to filming Rick Stein as he travels around Spain, or filming the Hairy Bikers at a Safari Lodge in Africa.
Comments
But I digress...
My favourite programme - so many different types of places, chefs and food from so many different US states.
Not keen on Nigella or the Barefoot Contessa.
I always enjoy Masterchef and even some episodes of CDWM.
No just a comment on food shows and why i am none too keen on that one as entertainment .;)
deleted
I spose the bottom line is - it is cheap TV.
I wouldnt say high art, but certainly I find Heston Blumenthal quite artistic in his cooking and what he puts on a plate.
I'm sure that Jamie in his fake kitchen with his fake herb garden is relatively cheap to make. However I swould suspect that there are cheaper alternatives to filming Rick Stein as he travels around Spain, or filming the Hairy Bikers at a Safari Lodge in Africa.