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TV, radio, film, Arts

Cookery programmes

(53 Posts)
Beswitched Sun 31-Oct-21 10:13:58

I was watching a very old Delia Smith programme the other day, and it reminded me of why I used to really love cookery programmes.

She took you through every step of the dish, explained the techniques and outlined what could go wrong at each stage. No wonder people learned so much from her.

Nowadays cookery programmes seem to be all about the fancy kitchens, background music, shots of the cook buying ingredients at fancy shops and markets and finishing up with a bunch of attractive looking friends gathered around the table. The cooking barely gets a look in sometimes.

Anyone else wish they'd ditch the fairy lights and designer lifestyle shits and go back to showing people how to actually cook?

Kim19 Sun 31-Oct-21 19:30:17

Sorry. Think it might be McGarry. She does short kitchen stints like 5, 10 & 30 minutes which suits me fine.

Kim19 Sun 31-Oct-21 19:28:47

I don't get excited about time in the kitchen but I have recently taken a shine to Clodagh McCarty

Kate1949 Sun 31-Oct-21 16:17:31

kitty. grin I'm sure he'd be thrilled to know an old lady like me thinks he's gorgeous! My daughter loves him too. Even she's older than him shock We have tickets to see him at Birmingham Symphony Hall next year. Now's my chance! grin

kittylester Sun 31-Oct-21 15:57:47

Kate1949

I watch James Martin because I rather like him blush

I'll fight you!

Lucca Sun 31-Oct-21 15:30:32

growstuff

Lincslass

Remember watching Fanny Craddock, awful woman. Favourites now Hairy Bikers, down to earth, and James Martin, with a bit of Jamie now and again.
Worst thing was getting rid of cookery in schools for boys and girls.

Sorry, don't agree. I didn't do cookery at school. Most male chefs didn't either.

Cookery at school …. I week we scrubbed a table, next time maybe did a baked potato with cheese, ……can’t remember anything else

Lucca Sun 31-Oct-21 15:29:12

designer lifestyle shits. I like that !!

growstuff Sun 31-Oct-21 15:27:43

Lincslass

Remember watching Fanny Craddock, awful woman. Favourites now Hairy Bikers, down to earth, and James Martin, with a bit of Jamie now and again.
Worst thing was getting rid of cookery in schools for boys and girls.

Sorry, don't agree. I didn't do cookery at school. Most male chefs didn't either.

Lincslass Sun 31-Oct-21 15:21:17

Remember watching Fanny Craddock, awful woman. Favourites now Hairy Bikers, down to earth, and James Martin, with a bit of Jamie now and again.
Worst thing was getting rid of cookery in schools for boys and girls.

growstuff Sun 31-Oct-21 15:19:29

Jaxjacky

I’ve still got a couple of Delia’s books on the kitchen shelf.
I quite like the Hairy Bikers and find Nigel Slater soothing. I’d watch Marcus Wareing any time, not what he’s cooking, just him ?

I still have a scrap book with cuttings of some of Delia's recipes from the London Evening Standard. I worked there in the early 70s and used to look forward to the early edition of the paper, so that I could read her daily recipe. The recipes were aimed at London workers who didn't have much time or energy to cook when they got home. Frequently, they were suitable for people eating on their own.

rite Sun 31-Oct-21 15:11:06

Beswitched and MissAdventure Thank you! I laughed so much it cheered me up on a wet and miserable day!!! I like to watch Jamie Oliver and James Martin but very rarely actually cook anything they do! (Like never!)

lindiann Sun 31-Oct-21 14:58:00

My DH bought me How to boil an egg taught me how to cook. Was he trying to tell me something lol!!! Bless him he was always a better cook than me specially Roasts. He was the only one Mum trusted to make the Christmas Dinner.

Jaxjacky Sun 31-Oct-21 14:49:27

I’ve still got a couple of Delia’s books on the kitchen shelf.
I quite like the Hairy Bikers and find Nigel Slater soothing. I’d watch Marcus Wareing any time, not what he’s cooking, just him ?

GrannySomerset Sun 31-Oct-21 13:26:34

My mother would always rather read than cook and mealtimes were very basic refuelling. A wise ex bought me the Good Housekeeping book of basic cookery as a wedding present and my dear MiL taught me a lot. Agree that the Delia Smith complete cookery course is the go to for anything unfamiliar or forgotten and though not a very exciting cook these days nobody has ever refused a meal.

Nonogran Sun 31-Oct-21 13:25:07

I’m a good cook & from time to time can even summons up enthusiasm for cooking! However, I loath cookery programmes except perhaps Hairy Bikers, Nigel Slater & Mary Berry.
What I do absolutely hate are the programmes leading up to Christmas . Likewise the women’s magazines. I feel a subliminal pressure to be in the kitchen conjuring up all those delicious concoctions. Who has the time, money & drive to make all this festive food?

Casdon Sun 31-Oct-21 13:18:53

It depends who it is. I like Rick Stein although I don’t like cooking.

Luckygirl Sun 31-Oct-21 13:11:49

My mother saw no joy in cooking and every meal was served with a huge dollop of resentment.

Gosh .... I thought I was the only one!!!

Sago Sun 31-Oct-21 13:02:50

Delia gave me the confidence and ability to become a good cook.

My mother saw no joy in cooking and every meal was served with a huge dollop of resentment.

Delias complete cookery course was my bible as a 20 year old bride in 1983, her TV programmes also helped me enormously.

I went from being an anorexic who had a poor relationship with food to a competent healthy eating cook thanks to Delia.

mrsHom Sun 31-Oct-21 12:26:09

Many years ago when I saw the first Master Chef, I thought it was a spoof. I still do.

Kate1949 Sun 31-Oct-21 10:59:46

I watch James Martin because I rather like him blush

Lilydrop Sun 31-Oct-21 10:43:57

Ive gone off cookery programs too many and a lot of these t v chefs use very expensive stuff. I love a cookery book though with lots of pictures,nothing worse than a recipe without a picture to go with it.

muse Sun 31-Oct-21 10:24:56

I do like the Hairy Bikers when they cook in their kitchens. The original programmes were excellent. Their very first diet book is my all time favourite but it looks well thumbed through these days.

Nigel Slater is another favourite of mine to watch.

Wish I had a kitchen like theirs. Envy.

Beswitched Sun 31-Oct-21 10:20:24

Yes cooking seems to have become a form of light entertainment nowadays, and not something people actually engage in. You can't even but a simple cookery book nowadays. They're all expensive hardbacks, full of arty photographs and generic recipes.

Germanshepherdsmum Sun 31-Oct-21 10:19:07

Yes definitely. I’m not into the cookery programmes nowadays, much prefer the older ones. That’s one sort of repeat I’d be happy to watch.

Luckygirl Sun 31-Oct-21 10:17:32

I never watch cookery programmes - now and again I catch a fleeting glimpse and they seem to be all about "slebs."

I find it fascinating that the proliferation of cookery programmes seems to coincide with the rise in sales of ready meals.

MissAdventure Sun 31-Oct-21 10:17:03

smile
Some of those meals would give me the..... erm.... shots.