How do your Christmas Dinners shape up? I always struggle with catering for that many people on the big day, any tips would be appreciated!
Anyone else too wet for seed potatoes?
sticky labels on apples - remove before washing!
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SubscribeJohn Torode is well known to us as the Masterchef. We’ve seen him taste, comment, correct and encourage as contestants hang on his every word.
But what does he actually like to cook himself? This is your chance to ask him. The man himself will be coming in to GNHQ on Thurs 10th Sept at 3pm for a webchat to answer your questions and talk about his new book My Kind of Food.
Do post a question in the meantime.
We have signed copies to give away to three lucky posters.
How do your Christmas Dinners shape up? I always struggle with catering for that many people on the big day, any tips would be appreciated!
Hi John, I am pleased to see that your new book is about home cooking and look forward to purchasing a copy.
I have a question about Masterchef. When the participants have been given the ingredients or brief for the invention type rounds, are they given some time to look up recipes before they begin? Apart from the basics, I wouldn't have any idea of quantities, especially for desserts/puddings.
Love watching Masterchef but just wonder how much tuition the entrants especially the celebrities get behind the scenes as they start as complete beginners then suddenly produce restaurant standard food.
By the way I would love to join in with the tasting one day - any chance?
What makes the perfect omelette?
Do you have any amazing marinade ideas for prawns?
What's the most surprising combination of foods that you didn't think would work but you loved?
Hi.
What do you use to make rhubarb crumble extra special? Oats? Ginger? Any help please.
Thanks.
A non-cooking question, John, if you don't mind. I believe Torode is a Guernsey name. Are you from that rock?
John, when you are tasting food on Masterchef, do you ever have a moment when you simply can NOT put the food into your mouth? Something that really invokes a gag reflex, or maybe a day when you aren't feeling well, or one of your nightmare foods? If so, what do you do about it?
Jane
Hi John
Do you ever just have beans on toast for a change instead of all that 'posh' (and what I consider to be uncooked) meat!
Hello John What a great show a delight to watch and see such a great combination of foods and contestants.
This series you seem to be much more "trim" yourself have you altered your diet and if so what have you cut out of your daily menu.
Love your programme
glamma
I have watched the Australian version of Masterchef when I have been over there.
My question is: can you go over and tell them how it should be done please?
The British version with you and Greg is very enjoyable - sometimes a rather cutting remark with a wry look from you, but never nasty.
The Australian version is loud, raucous and can be downright spiteful.
Ps please come back though, you and Greg make a good team!
A warm welcome to the lovely John Torode...
grannyhubbard
Hello John! Big fan of the show.
One food related query:
What's your go-to comfort food dish?
One other question:
Your hair is now grey. But I'm sure it was dark when the series began, yes? What made you decide to embrace the grey? Does being on TV make you more image conscious?
Gidday, my comfort dish or dishes usually start with a roast chicken or spaghetti carbonara. They're both pretty quick and it's the sort of food I've always eaten.
Teetime
I would really like to see you with your own show (without Greg) any chance of that happening?
Well Teetime, just to say, there are a couple of shows out there with just me on Good Food channel you can catch up with John Torode's Australia and I have just come back from a mammoth journey touring Malaysia, which will be aired in January. But any time you want to mention to the BBC that you'd like to see me more often, please do.
Spidergran5
What cheese is best for a sandwich? Tell me how I can make two slices of bread more interesting. Lunches are very dull these days.
I would have thought that any cheese was good in a sandwich. I reckon runny Brie or hard Cheddar or even those plastic slices seem to be OK. But maybe melt it. What about trying a whole week not eating bread and then being a little bit more adventurous with your lunch? If you buy those tortilla things and grate some cheese on them and put them in a frying pan over a bit or heat, they're really tasty. And as to your takeaway question, neither. Soz. Much prefer a proper burger!
whenim64
John, I was fascinated by your trip to South America and the BBQ demonstrations of those big pieces of beef. Have you changed the way you cook any other kinds of meat since that trip?
PS do us all a favour and elbow Gregg! He's way past his use by date
Oh poor Gregg! (But I shall tell him). As to cooking over flame, I have definitely changed the way I now cook big hunks of meat - I do it a lot slower, I use coals and charcoal which is burnt right down, I've bought myself a new big Argentine BBQ, but the sad thing is there's not been enough sun to use it. Maybe this weekend? Glad you like the programme, I love doing it.
sophie56
What is your favourite childhood food memory - mine is my Grandma's shepherd's pie with home gown runner beans followed by apple crumble and custard.
Gidday Sophie, I don't have a single childhood favourite because there were loads of them, however, my nanna used to make this extraordinary pie out of sweet pumpkin and it was called a Grammar. Her pastry was delicious, the filling was full of cinnamon and sugar. As to savoury stuff, her roast chicken was pretty good, but her burnt toast with squashed tomatoes was delicious.
ruthie1thom
Hi John
How was your weekend at Bolton Food & Drinks festival? Did you try any of the food that was for sale? If so what was your favourite?
Ruth
Howdy Ruth, loved Bolton - it's always a good gig and there was loads of great food. I went to Jackie's van and ate her Puri Puffs, which are made from puffed up bread filled with a spicy mixture and pomegranate seeds and chili sauce. And I was given a pizza by somebody for my journey home, which was nice.
lornajk
Will we get to see you in the upcoming new series of Masterchef Australia? :-)
Sadly no, I won't be in Oz until February. But of course you can always watch me on the British version.
peanutmum
What 5 food items would you always have in your fridge ?????
I think your fridge tells a lot about you
Gidday, how are you? I love that you're into fridge psychology. What 5 things would I have... Well, as you will see in my new book My Kind of Food, I love spaghetti carbonara so there's always bacon, there's always eggs and there's always creme fraiche. As to the rest of it, tonic water (always) to go with the gin, and a pot of yoghurt to go on my granola.
nursey71
Australians are famous for creating great fusion food. What is your favourite fusion recipe?
This is an interesting question. I'm more of a purist. Fusion is an interesting word because sometimes it works and sometimes it's confusion. I reckon that the most creative I get is I add lime pickle to my pumpkin curry, which is made from a Thai recipe, so it's Thai with a bit of Indian.
barrypage
Food wise what has been the most inspiring country you've visited...?
I've just been to Malaysia and the food was amazing. Completely different from what I expected, but the best still has to be the street food of Bangkok.
Funkyferret
If you were cooking for vegetarians, what would you serve?
Just to say, I cook them what I want to eat. See the thing is, most vegetarians have more than one bias. They definitely have their favourites and so if they're coming round I'll ask them beforehand what they feel like and then cook them up some food. But my butternut squash and noodle dish is pretty popular.
Gagagran
What do you have to eat when you can't be bothered to cook?
Ridiculous! What do you mean I can't be bothered to cook? I'll always cook. However... I do cheat sometimes. And I might, for instance, buy some Indian takeaway and then roast the chicken and serve all the veggies on the side. Chicken and Indian!
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