Fat Duck chef..

[tarannau]

That's why he gets on my tits!
What's the point of doing a telly programme when no-one's gonna follow the recipe and all they can do is marvel at the technique? That's why I called him a prog chef.

Nah, a prog chef would be something like Antony Worrall Beegeehead circa 1980s and 'nouveau cuisine' food. You know, the same old food, only poncified on the plate to a ridiculous degree - all stacks, unnecessary flourishes and garnish.

I think Blumental goes beyond that, if only because you can sense that taste and experience are pretty much central to everything he does. It's about enhancing and bettering the taste of food through new techniques, not about better presenting the food or making it ironic.

And TBH, I rarely watch a cookery programme for recipes. In fact I don't think I've ever cooked a recipe after watching a show. It's about ideas and entertainment for me, both of which I found in the programme last night. I may have no ambition to take a vacuum cleaner to my food, but it doesn't stop me sniggering at a shaven-headed vaguely-Gazza'ish figure gurning as he applies pressure to a vacuum bag.

 

[trashpony]

If an person uses a computer's processing power to provide a picture, as opposed to a tablet and paint software, I wouldn't call that art in the usual sense of the word. The computer has done the calculations for you so there's no sense of creativity in it so it's paint by numbers. Same goes for him.

His cooking style leaves me cold cos there's no passion in it, it's all done with science and what not. I have no admiration for someone who lacks inspiration. I love lettuce with gravy on and chocolate spread & salt 'n' vinegar crisp sandwiches but I know that cos I've tried it. My foodie instincts told me too not cos the chemical elements of it match.

All in my humble opinion of course but he gets me more puffed up than a cheese souffle.

Have you watched him? He's very passionate about it. He thinks around cooking - he doesn't just slavishly follow the same techniques that have been followed for generations. He's using science to discover new techniques.

 

[chazegee]

If an person uses a computer's processing power to provide a picture, as opposed to a tablet and paint software, I wouldn't call that art in the usual sense of the word..

c'mon,

looks good, tastes good, is good.

 

[citydreams]

What's the point of doing a telly programme when no-one's gonna follow the recipe and all they can do is marvel at the technique?

I learnt loads last night that I will be carrying out. The only scientific elements were the perfect temperature for custard (82deg?) and the reason that chocolate expands in a vacuum. Hardly high-brow, hardly spoddy.

The man loves food. Good on him for raising the bar for other wannabe chefs.

 

[beeboo]

If an person uses a computer's processing power to provide a picture, as opposed to a tablet and paint software, I wouldn't call that art in the usual sense of the word. The computer has done the calculations for you so there's no sense of creativity in it so it's paint by numbers. Same goes for him.

His cooking style leaves me cold cos there's no passion in it, it's all done with science and what not. I have no admiration for someone who lacks inspiration. I love lettuce with gravy on and chocolate spread & salt 'n' vinegar crisp sandwiches but I know that cos I've tried it. My foodie instincts told me too not cos the chemical elements of it match.

All in my humble opinion of course but he gets me more puffed up than a cheese souffle.

I think the exact opposite - he seems to be incredibly passionate and inspired to me. He's just exploring a totally different way of engaging with food, which I think is really interesting.

And I don't subscribe to the idea that you watch a food programme entirely to find something you can cook for tea - it's interesting in itself.

 

[citydreams]

He was quite sweet on Desert Island Discs too

He's a bit young for Sue Lawley isn't he? What did he choose?

I could only google that his luxury item was a set of Japanese knifes

 

[Orang Utan]

I saw the first programme and it exasperated me, so I haven't bothered with the second. He annoys me disproportionately. Even his name and his brutish appearance gets on my tits.

 

[Dubversion]

He's a bit young for Sue Lawley isn't he? What did he choose?

she doesn't do it any more

 

[citydreams]

I saw the first programme and it exasperated me, so I haven't bothered with the second. He annoys me disproportionately. Even his name and his brutish appearance gets on my tits.

That's no excuse to insult the man. You take chemicals you know next to nothing about, this man has a diploma in it. who's the wally?

 

[citydreams]

she doesn't do it any more

ah.. found it
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/factual/desertislanddiscs_20061029.shtml

 

[Orang Utan]

That's no excuse to insult the man. You take chemicals you know next to nothing about, this man has a diploma in it. who's the wally?

Yeah it is! If I can insult Bono for his smarminess, I reckon I can get away with insulting Mr Blumenthal!

 

[tarannau]

Yeah it is! If I can insult Bono for his smarminess, I reckon I can get away with insulting Mr Blumenthal!

You wouldn't in person though would you eh? - he's a head that looks like a squashed action man's bonce and a host of potentially dangerous chemicals in store.

Besides he could use his dessicator on you...

 

[Orang Utan]

Nah, I wouldn't dare - he looks a bit tidy

 

[citydreams]

Yeah it is! If I can insult Bono for his smarminess, I reckon I can get away with insulting Mr Blumenthal!

you're not insulting him though are you.. you're insulting anyone that likes him.

 

[beesonthewhatnow]

Heston is

My uncle worked with him as his scientific adviser a couple of years ago.

 

[Orang Utan]

you're not insulting him though are you.. you're insulting anyone that likes him.

Am I?

 

[Chz]

I actually find him quite interesting, despite the fact that his cooking is the antithesis of my 'bung it and see' robust homecooking approach. I'm never going to cook his recipes and I know that - who the hell would spend hours preparing and injecting potato chips - but I like his spirit of adventure and attempts to rationalise and clarify why certain cooking techniques work. There's occasionally a gem of information about cooking processes and fundamentals that's worth listening to, but I find him an intriguing Wonka like personality generally. He's a good example of a boy geek - kitchen gadgets and experiments set to max - set loose in the kitchen. I can't really begrudge his enthusiasm.

And anyone who attempts to make a desert out of space dust wins me over. He's no dull old cooking-by-rote Delia (thank christ), nor someone who'll probably inspire your quick after-work recipe, but he's a bit of curiousity to me.

Wow, you worded it far better than I could. I wouldn't cook what he's showing. I probably wouldn't even eat it if he cooked it for me. But I love watching him experiment and listening to his explanations of things. Mad genius, for sure.

 

[citydreams]

Am I?

if you want to insult people fine.. i think it's insulting to everyone.

 

[Pie 1]

his brutish appearance gets on my tits.

only because you know there's more than a hint of 'seperated at birth' between the two of you

 

[Orang Utan]

only because you know there's more than a hint of 'seperated at birth' between the two of you

Is there?

 

[trashpony]

Is there?

I think he looks cute - not scary at all

 

[citydreams]

Steak time

Cpatain Rbubish, are you watching this?

 

[Kanda]

I'm buying a blowtorch tomorrow!! Fuck Yeah, cooking with blowtorches!!

 

[moose]

How has he not poisoned someone with that lukewarm old meat?

 

[JTG]

Heston is

My uncle worked with him as his scientific adviser a couple of years ago.

scientific advisors are teh cool

 

[beesonthewhatnow]

How has he not poisoned someone with that lukewarm old meat?

Errrr, coz it's cooked?

 

[aqua]

How has he not poisoned someone with that lukewarm old meat?

cos its yummy

 

[Badgers]

Cpatain Rbubish, are you watching this?

I can confirm that the Cpatain and I were watching and drooling happily last night

 

[fractionMan]

That looked awesome. I want to eat at the fat duck!

 

[beesonthewhatnow]

How has he not poisoned someone with that lukewarm old meat?

Oh, and if you think that's bad, you should see how he cooks lamb - it takes about a week at something like 40 degrees