Great British Menu Official thread.
Great British Menu Official thread.
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Discussion

anonymous-user

Original Poster:

82 months

Saturday 21st April 2012
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Can't find a thread about it, but anybody watching it.

There have been some good flavour combos but the Olympic thing does get a bit tiresome.


21TonyK

13,235 posts

237 months

Saturday 21st April 2012
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I've watched a few so far. Far more entertaining the Masterchef for me. Real cooks pushing themselves. Some great ideas as well. Loved the BBQ mackerel, will be pinching a few bits from that dish for my own.

Big Al.

69,336 posts

286 months

Saturday 21st April 2012
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Nor can I so lets make this one the official thread for the time being. smile

SVX

2,188 posts

239 months

Sunday 22nd April 2012
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I've been watching it too. Agree that it's far better than Masterchef, really enjoyed the main chicken dish for this weeks comp. Glynn Purnell is also a hero of mine.


mattdaniels

7,362 posts

310 months

Sunday 22nd April 2012
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I've only caught bits of it so far, so I'm not sure what the prize is but I assume it's cooking at some sort of banquet as the other series have been. I'm baffled how some of the things I saw could be cooked and served to a large number of people, but then I guess that's why they are professional chefs and I'm not.

That said, I caught masterchef on Saturday kitchen and one of the contestants in the professional kitchen had to grill a bit of asparagus, sit a fried egg on it and grate black truffle over the top. I think even I could manage that, and the restaurant charges 30 quid for the dish. Fair enough black truffle is £1000 per KG but even so that's hardly skillful cooking.

anonymous-user

Original Poster:

82 months

Sunday 22nd April 2012
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mattdaniels said:
I've only caught bits of it so far, so I'm not sure what the prize is but I assume it's cooking at some sort of banquet as the other series have been. I'm baffled how some of the things I saw could be cooked and served to a large number of people, but then I guess that's why they are professional chefs and I'm not.
.
Been going for some tears but the complicated dishes the other chefs join/help out. I like the format as some top chefs have been on it and they give each stick too.

Bill Carr

2,234 posts

262 months

Tuesday 24th April 2012
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Interesting scores for the first-courses last night. I'm supporting Charlie as having been fortunate to eat at his restaurant (The Marquis at Alkham) he really does produce some sensational food.

F i F

48,588 posts

279 months

Wednesday 25th April 2012
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I watch these series and prefer it to masterchef and the faux dilemma scenarios they keep dreaming up.

However this series I'm struggling with.

Must be a heathen, as a lot of the dishes I wouldn't appreciate. I know they have been aske dto push themselves but just seems in many cases a step too far and high falutin, at least for me.

Then a chef puts together a few dishes that I could really go for, Daniel Clifford's efforts looked incredible, especially that chicken dish, and the judges slagged them off.

btw anyone else think that judge Oliver Peyton is a prime candidate for the PH needs smack in the chops thread?

Tanguero

4,535 posts

229 months

Wednesday 25th April 2012
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Top tip: Only watch the Friday episode then you can see the important bit while minimising the contrived, fake rivalry and badly scripted "banter" between the contestants.

Bill Carr

2,234 posts

262 months

Wednesday 25th April 2012
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F i F said:
Daniel Clifford's efforts looked incredible, especially that chicken dish, and the judges slagged them off.
But the judges loved his chicken dish - Pru even saying she could see it going to the banquet. I see what you're saying though, and in a way it makes the show interesting to me - I think dishes that appeal to chefs are not necessarily what food critics like (or indeed what the public like). So the trick is to produce something that appeals to both sets of judges, and this balancing act is what provides the interest as so few pull it off well. There's something perversely amusing to me about a dish that was highly-rated by the chef judge being slaughtered by Payton, Leith and Fort.

Podie

46,649 posts

303 months

Wednesday 25th April 2012
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billybob69 said:
...the Olympic thing does get a bit tiresome.
Cringeworthy.

F i F

48,588 posts

279 months

Wednesday 25th April 2012
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Bill Carr said:
But the judges loved his chicken dish - Pru even saying she could see it going to the banquet. I see what you're saying though, and in a way it makes the show interesting to me - I think dishes that appeal to chefs are not necessarily what food critics like (or indeed what the public like). So the trick is to produce something that appeals to both sets of judges, and this balancing act is what provides the interest as so few pull it off well. There's something perversely amusing to me about a dish that was highly-rated by the chef judge being slaughtered by Payton, Leith and Fort.
Yes, agreed, Pru did say that, but then the other two, or was it just Payton, said it was tasteless.

I too have great difficulty squaring the circle where dishes that Glyn Purnell rated very highly being ripped apart by those three as quote "just not good enough." and "tasteless."

What I find different about this series is that, unusually for me, sometimes can't find a single dish I would order. Not unknown but to get it two days in a row...

Bill Carr

2,234 posts

262 months

Wednesday 25th April 2012
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F i F said:
What I find different about this series is that, unusually for me, sometimes can't find a single dish I would order. Not unknown but to get it two days in a row...
I know what you mean (sea buckthorn anyone?). I do wonder how many of the chefs would serve these menus in their restaurants... actually that brings me back to Charlie from the Marquis, who is serving his GBM dishes in his restaurant.

Possibly the "inventiveness" element has been over-stressed, but it's all a bit of fun at the end of the day.

hairykrishna

14,482 posts

231 months

Wednesday 25th April 2012
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Pretty much every chef in this current series seems to be going for gimmicky style over substance. There's been a distinct lack of stuff that looks like it's astonishingly tasty.

pointedstarman

554 posts

174 months

Wednesday 25th April 2012
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Of this weeks lot only feel inspired to try Charlie Larkins food. Last week was definitely Daniel Clifford; can't believe he's still competing - this guys restaurant is one of the best in the country and he's a 'proper' chef by which I mean he's in his kitchen most days rather than just putting his name above the door like some..

Unlike some others I really like this years theme though I'd wish they'd stop comparing chefs to olympians. At least the stuff they're cooking is different - couldn't stand last years theme ie get top chefs and ask them to do pub grub.

obob

4,193 posts

222 months

Tuesday 1st May 2012
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Richard Corrigan comes across like a nob.

21TonyK

13,235 posts

237 months

Tuesday 1st May 2012
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obob said:
Richard Corrigan comes across like a nob.
It's a shame. He's no actor thats for sure.

Bill Carr

2,234 posts

262 months

Thursday 3rd May 2012
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He's alright I think, certainly forthright in his opinions.

Nothing particularly inspiring this week though IMO.

ExFiF

48,588 posts

279 months

Thursday 3rd May 2012
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Bill Carr said:
He's alright I think, certainly forthright in his opinions.

Nothing particularly inspiring this week though IMO.
He's OK if a bit blunt.

The duck with the cherry Bakewell sounded like a good concept, wouldn't mind trying that tbh once a bit more refined.

Dunclane

1,461 posts

197 months

Tuesday 8th May 2012
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Anybody watch tonight's drama? Not a happy bunny was he?!