Hey all, how are you doing? The lovely Nigella made a welcome return to our screens last night and I had eagerly set my Skybox to record in anticipation. That’s another cooking programme I must watch (which is doing my NaNoWriMo no favours, mind), but that’s the way the cookie crumbles.
I loved the 30 minute, compact and easy to watch series. Nigella is so watchable and I love her descriptive commentary laden with innuendo (it’s humorous and I love how she doesn’t take herself too seriously). On Nigella’s menu were: Avocado Toast, Prawn Stir-fry, Sticky Lamb Ribs, Feta, Avocado and Red Onion Salad, Apricot and Almond Cake, and Warm Spiced Cauliflower and Chickpea Salad.
These recipes are all really simple to replicate and Avocado Toast is something I’ve been meaning to try out for the past few months. As I scribbled copious notes whilst watching Nigella do her thang, I realised I’d be in for more multi-tasking (that’s one eye on my note-pad, the other on the TV). Why? Because Christmas is around the corner and I expect to be battered over the head with gorgeous festive guides on “How To Cook THE Perfect Turkey et al”. Food Network has already aired ’12 Chefs of Christmas’ and I made a mental note to go through my Sky Planner to schedule all those scrumptious cookery programmes to record.
Which got me thinking about the revolution of food and how programmes such as Great British Bake Off, Simply Nigella, MasterChef and Barefoot Contessa have invigorated the cooking scene. Now, it’s seen as gorgeously en vogue to spend an evening flexing your creative cooking muscles in the kitchen, in comparison to a night out on the tiles. I know I’d much rather be pottering about my beloved kitchen, peering at the latest cookbook on my shelf (that’ll be Rick Stein’s India). When I caught up with some very special people at the Bolton Food Festival, I put it to them what has caused the seemingly sudden shift in attitude towards cooking.
James Martin said: “The baking revolution is phenomenal. You look at Bake Off as an entertainment show, which of course is hugely popular. By comparison, Saturday Kitchen is very much a cookery show. I’m constantly amazed by the popularity of cooking and the show, which of course is great.”
John Torode commented whilst seated (he was a tired chappie that day): “The baking revolution is absolutely extraordinary. I also think it’s wonderful to see Mary Berry receive praise. About Master Chef, I love that people are watching and enjoying the programme. I’m really pleased to see people having fun in the kitchen and getting creative. Cooking is no longer seen as a chore, which is great for people passionate (like yours truly) about cooking.”
Lisa Faulkner added: “Food network and Master Chef have changed everything. I think Paul Hollywood and Mary Berry are amazing. I just wish there wasn’t such a difference between baking and cooking, and that scares me. I think baking actually intimidates a lot of people too.”
I love Saturday Kitchen. It’s become a weekly routine at home, where we watch our James work his magic in the kitchen and host the best kitchen party ever (well, till the following week anyway, because the series only gets better as it progresses).
What TV cookery do you rate? Did you watch Nigella? (Be nice people, I adore Nigella and won’t have a bad word said against her.)
See you soon,
RAxx
*Nigella image courtesy of Jay Brooks @ BBC*