I'm feeling a little concerned for Jason. He's looking a little tired and underweight than previously. He needs to eat copious amounts of his gorgeous food!
I can't speak for the OP, obviously, but I find that Jason comes across as a bit of a cold fish on TV, though he might well be a very nice chap in real life. He seems somewhat dour and humourless.
I find Jason very impressive. I can see the humourless comments as being fair but he seems very focussed and I'd far rather eat his food some of the other more jolly characters. I guess maybe he's just not quite right for the brief.
That being said I think the brief is fairly ridiculous. The stuff with the comics in the judging room is so forced and painful the watch. I wish they weren't there.
Briefly travelling back in time to the start of the week - the chef's who represent each region should have their restaurant in that region so for instance Charlie should have been in the South East heat or not at all.
I have a decent sense of humour but the look of Charlie's starter was unsuitable for any meal let alone a banquet and it didn't sound too appetising either.
Anyway on to the fish courses. Although I would enjoy the flavours of the cracker and mussels in Colin's dish, just going by the look the salmon chunk looked rather boring amongst the exciting additions. I'm sure it tasted more exceptional than it looked.
I liked Steph's pie. Very tricky to get the wasabi content of the faux peas correct. Seems she was unlikely to win as far as the flavour of those was concerned and was destined to be criticised either for underusing or overusing the wasabi flavour. I though she came closest to meeting the brief and the mark seemed lower than I expected although I could see what Jason meant by lacking the wow factor.
As for mad Charlie I didn't really get his idea of using cheap cuts despite the charitable angle of this year's theme but it didn't bother me particularly. I thought it looked a pretty good dish although there's always a question raised when meat is used as part of the fish course in this programme. I'd like to try the dish though. Then again I'd like to try all of the fish courses this week.
Without tasting the dishes the marking for Steph and Charlie seemed a bit stingy but I think Colin's course was so up Jason's street that he was always going to give him at least two more points than the others. Colin does seem the most sophisticated chef of the three or at least is taking a more classic approach to the week.
He seems certain to get through to the judges and I'm fairly sure to the final too. A close call between the other two as neither of their styles is Jason's cup of tea.
I'm assuming Colin will go through and then I'm torn between wanting Steph to go through verus seeing the Judges reactions when the "turd" is placed in front of them!
I'm assuming Colin will go through and then I'm torn between wanting Steph to go through verus seeing the Judges reactions when the "turd" is placed in front of them!
I'm assuming Colin will go through and then I'm torn between wanting Steph to go through verus seeing the Judges reactions when the "turd" is placed in front of them!
If he does get through he better not pussy out and change the presentation of the dog log.
Unless.....and representing the North East this would be both comic and geographically apt....he goes for a Viz themed plate.
Perhaps the duck moulded into Buster Gonad's Unfeasibly Large Testicles? Or Tina's Tits?
As for mad Charlie I didn't really get his idea of using cheap cuts despite the charitable angle of this year's theme but it didn't bother me particularly. I thought it looked a pretty good dish although there's always a question raised when meat is used as part of the fish course in this programme. I'd like to try the dish though. Then again I'd like to try all of the fish courses this week.
Not sure if there always is. In the first series Bryn won with turbot and oxtail.
I think as long as the fish is the star then it's ok to go surf n turf.
At least Charlie's kebab tried to fit the brief. I can understand the ones that did a 'serious' goat dish in reference to the Africa link in previous weeks but Colin just doesn't seem to even try...yet still scores well.
At least Charlie's kebab tried to fit the brief. I can understand the ones that did a 'serious' goat dish in reference to the Africa link in previous weeks but Colin just doesn't seem to even try...yet still scores well.
I agree. Charlie´s kebab could be a good idea, it´s being funny by being politically incorrect, it´s provokative and makes you smile as in "how dare you". However, if he is going to do something like that, his cooking has to be absolutely perfect and it has to the best kebab ever tasted alongside some innovative aspect to it.
What Charlie served there is probably worse tan what I can get in my local kebab shop.
I don´t understand Collin´s rationale here, he is completely desrigarding the brief and he even ackonwledges that, yet he is still aiming to be at the banquet . He strikes to me as an intelligent guy, and having been on the program last year I´m buffled at how he is ignoring the brief.
I don´t understand Collin´s rationale here, he is completely desrigarding the brief and he even ackonwledges that, yet he is still aiming to be at the banquet . He strikes to me as an intelligent guy, and having been on the program last year I´m buffled at how he is ignoring the brief.
I think it's very clear that the chefs now know they can completely disregard the brief and not be penalised, so the smart thing to do is cook something the judge will like and to hell with anything else.
Colin's marks summed it up perfectly. Basically, he overcooked the duck breast and failed to get one of the key elements onto the plate. He scored 7, which is what I'd expect for a relatively simple dish with those mistakes.The fact that he didn't even attempt to meet the brief didn't seem to matter in the slightest.
The irritating part is that it takes more skill and creativity to cook a dish to a specific brief, but there's absolutely no incentive to try!
The irony with this series is that the whole "theme" thing has become a joke in itself. :rolleyes:
I thought the kebab was a great idea but not for this event, assuming it's a traditional banquet.
If it was a combined street party and comic relief brief with a more casual atmosphere then possibly more food on this theme could work, like the season and shake chicken a few years back.
And obviously cooked better.
I wonder how the judges will vote on the comedy value part of the brief.
Comments
What is unpleasant about Jason Atherton?
I can't speak for the OP, obviously, but I find that Jason comes across as a bit of a cold fish on TV, though he might well be a very nice chap in real life. He seems somewhat dour and humourless.
That being said I think the brief is fairly ridiculous. The stuff with the comics in the judging room is so forced and painful the watch. I wish they weren't there.
I have a decent sense of humour but the look of Charlie's starter was unsuitable for any meal let alone a banquet and it didn't sound too appetising either.
Anyway on to the fish courses. Although I would enjoy the flavours of the cracker and mussels in Colin's dish, just going by the look the salmon chunk looked rather boring amongst the exciting additions. I'm sure it tasted more exceptional than it looked.
I liked Steph's pie. Very tricky to get the wasabi content of the faux peas correct. Seems she was unlikely to win as far as the flavour of those was concerned and was destined to be criticised either for underusing or overusing the wasabi flavour. I though she came closest to meeting the brief and the mark seemed lower than I expected although I could see what Jason meant by lacking the wow factor.
As for mad Charlie I didn't really get his idea of using cheap cuts despite the charitable angle of this year's theme but it didn't bother me particularly. I thought it looked a pretty good dish although there's always a question raised when meat is used as part of the fish course in this programme. I'd like to try the dish though. Then again I'd like to try all of the fish courses this week.
Without tasting the dishes the marking for Steph and Charlie seemed a bit stingy but I think Colin's course was so up Jason's street that he was always going to give him at least two more points than the others. Colin does seem the most sophisticated chef of the three or at least is taking a more classic approach to the week.
He seems certain to get through to the judges and I'm fairly sure to the final too. A close call between the other two as neither of their styles is Jason's cup of tea.
Plus I don't rate the lassie at all. She inspires zero confidence as a cook.
Yup, exactly the same thoughts here
If he does get through he better not pussy out and change the presentation of the dog log.
Unless.....and representing the North East this would be both comic and geographically apt....he goes for a Viz themed plate.
Perhaps the duck moulded into Buster Gonad's Unfeasibly Large Testicles? Or Tina's Tits?
I think as long as the fish is the star then it's ok to go surf n turf.
Always read this thread but rarely post but ^^ sums up my thoughts on this week exactly
I suppose it's pointless to repeat criticism of the chef who doesn't bother with the brief.
Can't see any of the dishes so far this week getting to the banquet.
not even the bloody and urine smelling kidneys gently tossed in a polystyrene box?!
I agree. Charlie´s kebab could be a good idea, it´s being funny by being politically incorrect, it´s provokative and makes you smile as in "how dare you". However, if he is going to do something like that, his cooking has to be absolutely perfect and it has to the best kebab ever tasted alongside some innovative aspect to it.
What Charlie served there is probably worse tan what I can get in my local kebab shop.
I don´t understand Collin´s rationale here, he is completely desrigarding the brief and he even ackonwledges that, yet he is still aiming to be at the banquet
I think it's very clear that the chefs now know they can completely disregard the brief and not be penalised, so the smart thing to do is cook something the judge will like and to hell with anything else.
Colin's marks summed it up perfectly. Basically, he overcooked the duck breast and failed to get one of the key elements onto the plate. He scored 7, which is what I'd expect for a relatively simple dish with those mistakes.The fact that he didn't even attempt to meet the brief didn't seem to matter in the slightest.
The irritating part is that it takes more skill and creativity to cook a dish to a specific brief, but there's absolutely no incentive to try!
The irony with this series is that the whole "theme" thing has become a joke in itself. :rolleyes:
and the kebab..
I think they would explode.
If it was a combined street party and comic relief brief with a more casual atmosphere then possibly more food on this theme could work, like the season and shake chicken a few years back.
And obviously cooked better.
I wonder how the judges will vote on the comedy value part of the brief.