[Molly Hunt]

This week's has started off as a contender for worst week -overtaking last week's 'worst week'.

The dishes were all very strange and if it wasn't for the lovely Richard Corrigan I'd be giving up on it now!

Pig sweetbreads? shotgun cartridges? it's not pushing the boundaries, it's taking the p*ss.

[halloweenbabe]

Originally Posted by Molly Hunt

This week's has started off as a contender for worst week -overtaking last week's 'worst week'.

The dishes were all very strange and if it wasn't for the lovely Richard Corrigan I'd be giving up on it now!

Pig sweetbreads? shotgun cartridges? it's not pushing the boundaries, it's taking the p*ss.

Au contraire mes amie

Thought the rabbit dish would do well at the banquet. I think it's the kind of dish that would be just the Friday judges cup of tea. *HB hangs head in shame*

I do LOVE Niall... I remember his lavender dessert and that fine sugar tube... yeah I know it prolly had some cheffy name

[marianna01]

I don't think any of the chefs have worked out what the 'brief' actually is ..... in fact I haven't a clue.

Are they supposed to be feeding the guests at the banquet some good healthy food suitable for athletes in training or feeding all the ex-Olympic winners some so-called fine dining type food. If it's the latter, then most of the offerings so far are pretty awful (in my opinion).

[TheAuburnEnigma]

I think that's the problem actually, that the brief is so vague.

The last 2 years have been quite specific - local produce and street party (ie sharing).

I reckon that's why a lot of the dishes have been sub-par as such, because no-one seems to get what the actual brief is.

Chris F seems to be quite theatrical and quirky, which stood him in good stead last year but I'm not sure he'll be able to repeat it this year.

I really liked the look of Chris B's rabbit dish (I noticed he's dyed his hair as well) and I'm interested to see what else he can come up with.

Niall really struggled last year (after getting to the banquet the year before) and I just don't know about him.

I think last week was the worst week, and the Central week was the best (not just because it's my region and that I love Glyn, but I thought the standard of dishes produced by Daniel and even Paul was brilliant).

This week I think will be more interesting than the Scot week (which they normally show towards the end of the series so I'm surprised it was first) so 2nd overall for me.

[mindyann]

To be fair, last year the brief was a bit vague as well ... seem to remember speculation that it had been changed at short notice.

Why are pigs sweetbreads more disgusting than other sweetbreads?

[regandron]

There's an inherent problem in the programme, in that the biggest fans (eg those of us on here??) will get bored by week 4 of the endless repetition. By the time Richard Corrigan starts parroting "is this pushing the boundaries, taking it to another level, good enough for an olympian ?" etc, we all realise he's just reading from the same script that Nigel used last week, etc etc

For what it is worth, I thought tonight's group were no better or no worse than last week's, but it was interesting that one chef had tried to inject a bit of an olympic theme (clay pigeon shooting) into the presentation of the dish. He's on the same track as Steph, who was told she misunderstood the brief. But we know that Oliver and Matthew voted for Alan Murchison's Union Jack cushion in week 1.

Are the Monday to Thursday judges singing from the same hymnsheet as the Friday judges ? Oliver, Prue and Matthew, seemed unimpressed with most of what was served up last Friday - maybe they'd have liked Steph's themed efforts more , and it was Nigel who'd got the brief wrong?

[oulandy]

I went to tune in for the start of this week's programmes at 7 30 pm, only to find that it had been on at 6 30 instead. Was fuming to have missed it.

[Jimmy_McNulty]

Originally Posted by mindyann

Why are pigs sweetbreads more disgusting than other sweetbreads?

I have no idea.

[newbaby]

Originally Posted by oulandy

I went to tune in for the start of this week's programmes at 7 30 pm, only to find that it had been on at 6 30 instead. Was fuming to have missed it.

Ditto. But doesn't sound as if much was missed??

[degsyhufc]

Chris F is punching above his weight. It must be a perk of being a chef. His missus must like a good stuffing.

[fern3]

Originally Posted by regandron

There's an inherent problem in the programme, in that the biggest fans (eg those of us on here??) will get bored by week 4 of the endless repetition.

I now find I can whizz through a Mon-Thur episode in about 5 minutes, and then get on with my evening.

[halloweenbabe]

Originally Posted by degsyhufc

Chris F is punching above his weight. It must be a perk of being a chef. His missus must like a good stuffing.

I thought so too... but not in those terms... just that she's pretty...

Originally Posted by mindyann

To be fair, last year the brief was a bit vague as well ... seem to remember speculation that it had been changed at short notice.

Why are pigs sweetbreads more disgusting than other sweetbreads?

So this year we seem to have an overwhelming selection of (awful-for-some) offal don't we. Wondering why Maybe my theory posted way back has something to do with it (that they all have to buy something at a specialist food shop... ) or maybe the brief specifically mentioned offal, or unusual proteins or something because it really does seeem more than co-incidence - or foodie fashion - to me

[fern3]

According to the Olympic organisers, the most common food for olympians to eat during previous games was MacDonalds. So they're not known for being foodies.

[Starpuss]

Offal is a mistake. I am happy to try unusual foods if I am in the mood. Sweetbreads being an example. Have given them a go and am not keen. If I was going to a banquet however I would want food that isn't too freaky presented in a unique way. I don't want pig's head etc.

[degsyhufc]

Not surprising to see turbot pop up several times given it's reputation but not so common to see snails and skate/ray make multiple appearances.

[degsyhufc]

Can't believe Niall has just made the comment of "Is it groundbreaking?" about Chris B's turbot dish. His is nothing special at all and would be seen in any half decent restaurant.

Pretty much shows that the producers are feeding them lines even when they are not appropriate.

[nvella]

Blimey - they need to have the Samaritans standing by - they are all so depressed!

[degsyhufc]

Originally Posted by fern3

According to the Olympic organisers, the most common food for olympians to eat during previous games was MacDonalds. So they're not known for being foodies.

After seeing the dishes in this series I think my menu for the banquet would be
Grilled chicken & bacon salad
Fillet O Fish
Big Mac meal
McFlurry

[Starpuss]

Ugh! Snails. Why? I have a real aversion to them. It would actually stop me eating the whole course

[scorpiogran]

I'm sticking with it but still havn't seen much that appeals to me. It seems to me that the chefs are trying to prepare food (groundbreaking) and they don't really know what the brief is all about.

[halloweenbabe]

Originally Posted by scorpiogran

I'm sticking with it but still havn't seen much that appeals to me. It seems to me that the chefs are trying to prepare food (groundbreaking) and they don't really know what the brief is all about.

I did notice that at some point today - maybe Niall was talking - there was something about ingredients and something that we'd not heard mention before. Basically, the narration, editing, all that padding, etc is just crappy and incoherent... prolly a bit like the brief they've received.

I shall just continue to watch it for the food, to see the chefs I have grown to love over the years and to see the Friday judges commenting which is always good for a laff.

[halloweenbabe]

Originally Posted by scorpiogran

I'm sticking with it but still havn't seen much that appeals to me. It seems to me that the chefs are trying to prepare food (groundbreaking) and they don't really know what the brief is all about.

Getting annoyed with Chris Bell... he wants to make groundbreaking classic dishes.... ermm isn't that an oxymoron... If it is 'classic' how can it be 'groundbreaking' I can understand wanting to reinvent a classic e.g. all that deconstructed stuff we get sometimes (you know when they make something look as though it's been scraped off the floor)...

So I've just been watching New Zealand MasterChef and there's something new out there... wonder if it will make it's way over here... keep it under your (cheffy) hats ppl.... the groundbreaking garnish is.... air.... yep I kid you not... they had to do a dish that had 'lime air'... Just the kinda thing that Aunty Prue loathes with a passion along with smearage, spoonage, and foams...

[Jimmy_McNulty]

Chris B's dark eyed stare creeps me out alittle.

[Cookmeparsnips]

IS Richard Corrigan THE MOST IRRITATING JUDGE for all this OVEREMPHASISING and PAUSING in pieces to camera?

I'm not sure.. *lowers eyebrows and frowns*

Bet the producers love him for the fake drama tho!!

[mindyann]

Originally Posted by scorpiogran

I'm sticking with it but still havn't seen much that appeals to me. It seems to me that the chefs are trying to prepare food (groundbreaking) and they don't really know what the brief is all about.

I think it's just so open to interpretation. The buzz word seems to be innovation but what does that mean.

Last week gave us a chef that thought sous vide was boundary pushing because he had never done it before - although on GBM it's fairly ho-hum now.

Last night, Richard thought that dehydrated rose petals with fish wasn't ground breaking enough.

I still think the Friday judges are picking out the course they see working best for the final meal and going with that rather than the entire menu for who wins.