BBC series: The Chef. Is it worth buying (on sale)?

[shallots]

That wretched marketer of many, many DVD series I don't want is now tempting me with something called The Chef that appeared over three seasons. Set in England, made in England and now for sale here.

Has anyone seen parts of it, remembered bits of it, watched an episode and left uninspired?

Guidance is sought, ,please.

[annabana]

To all the Brits and Brit-o-phils on this thread, may I more than suggest the "Lucia" series of comic novels by E.F.Benson and the "Mapp and Lucia" BBC series. Hilarious take on upper middle and upper class Brits between the world wars. Food ("lobster a la Risholme") and entertaining plays a large role in the lives of these Brit/twits. Lots of catch phrases,"any new?", I promise that, like Noel Coward and Gertrude Lawrence who were two of Lucia's biggest fans, you will be transported.

BTW, when I cook with my sister, who a professional, and she gets her "bossy" on, I always diffuse the situation by hollering out "yes, Chef!" I loved Lenny Henry.

[shallots]

OK, trying to remember a cooking series that was on BBCA:
Competant competitors expected to learn even more as they competed; two intelligent judges.
Putting the contestants in a series of cooking situations.
Cooking for the troops on a field exercise.
Cooking in a great kitchen.
A woman won the series I watched and I wanted to eat her food.

Speaking of comedy, is Hell's Kitchen placed in that catagory and has anyone ever asked it be put on DVD?

[Robert Lauriston]

MasterChef?

[Harters]

Masterchef!

Cooking for troops seems to be a feature - it was also done in the last series. The female winner will have been Thomasina Miers. She now owns London restaurant Wahaca and has done a couple of TV series.

The format has widened and there's now Celebrity Masterchef and Masterchef - the Professionals. The latter being perhaps the most interesting - but, as with these type of programmes, one remain gob-smacked about how shit some of the contestants are.

[Robert Lauriston]

If you sign up for a free Netflix trial, you can watch immediately on your computer and see if you like it.

[FireRev]

My wife and I own that DVD set, and we watch it over and over. It's one of the few sitcoms that we can stand. "30 Rock" is the only current one we truly enjoy (although "Modern Family" is growing on us). "Seinfeld" was our historic favorite. So that gives you an idea of what else we like, and whether "Chef!" is for you. For us, it's a classic that we fell in love with even before we got into food and fine dining. We're also Anglophiles, and we place it 2nd only to "Fawlty Towers" in quality.

It has clever, fast-paced dialogue. Every time we watch an episode, we catch another funny line. The 3rd series showed a dramatic in quality. But series 1 & 2 are filled with lines that we throw around our home all the time...much like we do with "Seinfeld."

As far as the food goes, I don't think it's entirely dated. So much of classic French kitchens are still pertinent. It's more about the kitchen, anyway, rather than cuisine. Overbearing, dictatorial chefs still exist. Poorly paid members of the brigade system are still with us. It gives a pretty entertaining inside view of the kitchen, while parodying the loud-mouthed chef (Gordon Ramsey, anyone?).

[Robert Lauriston]

Fawlty Towers and 30 Rock are among my top 5 sitcoms. Great cast, great writing.

Chef! has a great cast but I thought the writing was kind of pedestrian. But $10.49 for all three seasons ... that's pretty cheap. If you don't have Netflix.

[alkapal]

you thought the writing in season 1 was "pedestrian"? hmmm, i'd compare favorably season one episodes of chef! to fawlty towers.

different strokes, i guess.

[Harters]

As will be seen by this link, Chef "won" the award for programme least likely to raise a laugh amongts we Brits:

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/med...

[alkapal]

i'm crestfallen.

surely, the british have the superior sense of humor.

ok...well, let's be honest, it runs from benny hill to monty python, with a bunch of less-than-stellar programs in between.

[Harters]

"the british have the superior sense of humor"

A perhaps stereotypical view. But as with all stereotypes, perhaps an element of truth (except Benny Hill who was never funny). You'll see that the catch-phrases mentioned in the link article are from some of our most popular and genuinely funny comedy sit-coms (except the Fast Show which was a sketch show). One could easily add "Dad's Army" and "The Good Life" as enduring programmes which still stand repeat showings.

[Glencora]

But what is this British fixation on catchphrases? (Reminds me of "Extras.") Are they ever funny? My son watched "Only Fools and Horses." From what I glimpsed it was only okay. I thought "Chef!" was pretty funny, especially the episode with the lost band-aid.

Speaking of food in British TV shows, my son and I still find ourselves muttering "Lentils" from time to time. ("The Young Ones.)

[Harters]

"But what is this British fixation on catchphrases?

Well off topic for this board but there's a long history of the catchphrase - dating back to musical hall, theatrical farce and pantomime - and probably predating that. Some of our most successful comedy shows are packed with them - 'Allo, 'Allo probably being the best (and funniest) - the show managed to pack in several catchphrases as well as playing to our stereotypical dislike of our European neighbours.

[Robert Lauriston]

Ricky Gervais's "Extras" parodies both catchphrase comedy and panto.

[Lizard]

Harters, do you watch anything apart from UK G.O.L.D.? :)

As for Alkapal's "the british have the superior sense of humor"... huh, I usually have four words to kick start a rebuttal to that claim: "Two Pints of Lager..."

That said, what is nice about some of the humour here (demonstrated on panel shows) is that there is no pressure to be nice or likeable, nor to fawn over one's guests.

[Harters]

I know what you mean about "Two Pints". I liked the first series but thought it had run its course by the end of that. Watched Series 2 and then gave up. At least it's consigned to late night on BBC3, so easy to avoid

[alkapal]

"the british have the superior sense of humor"

~~~~
actually, i was being sardonic. i'll be stereotypical (i'm sure you'll think) when i say that the british just naturally *assume* that they have a *superior* sense of humor. that doesn't mean that it's true (because how does one say one form of humor is "superior"), but i think americans think that the british have a superiority complex. *_*

it would be interesting to see how many british comedy "exports" there are compared with american comedy exports.

i grew up on "monty python's flying circus," and even got my dad to watch it with me (crunchy frog was "our" little inside joke). "benny hill" was just crap. "are you "being served" is funny, and what a little bit of '70s history. "fawlty towers" is funny -- and a little violent (for you brits, i'd say). i liked "abfab", and the "vicar of dibley." would you say "keeping up appearances" is about the middle of the road? it seems many english comedy shows are quite notably class-conscious -- something not really prevalent here in the states.

what u.s. comedy shows do you have broadcast there?

[Harters]

I suspect the mods will soon decide we've drifted too far off-topic and start deleting this interesting conversation.

You're right that many British comedy shows have issues of class, and related pomposity, as a recurring theme. We find it funny - but it probably doesnt travel well to other cultures.

I watch very little TV these days so don't really know which American comedies are currently shown. I used to enjoy "Cheers". We also got "Seinfeld" but I've never seen it. Similarly, I've never seen "Vicar of Dibley" or "Keeping up Appearances". In the drama field, I used to be an avid watcher of "West Wing" and "Sopranos".

In a desperate attempt to keep this roughly on topic, we do not get foreign cooking shows here. Do American producers not consider exporting their programmes or do our programme buyers just think they wouldnt be successful?

[alkapal]

well, to commiserate, we do not get foreign cooking shows here, either.

wait, hold on a second. we have gotten some great bbc cooking shows here, now that i think about it.

years ago, we got the "floyd on ____" series, and ainsley harriot, where he traveled around to different locales, and cooked on site. we adored two fat ladies, but....alas. then there was the galloping gourmet! ah, we loved jamie oliver's various series, too. and, of course, nigella lawson was a great hit!

look at this neat timeline history of bbc cooking shows: http://www.google.com/search?q=bbc+co...

[Harters]

I think what's interesting abou the timeline is it shows a dramatic increase in cooking programmes in recent years - with an almost exact correlation in us cooking less and relying more on takeaway and supermarket ready meals. Of course, the explosion of programmes has been those made by professional chefs rather than home cooks. It's cooking for entertainment not cooking for putting food on your table.

[Caitlin McGrath]

The exact parallel, wrt explosion of popularity and profusion of cooking shows alongside less home cooking. There's a cable channel (Food Network) devoted to food/cooking-as-entertainment shows, and several more full of food-oriented shows. The shows more seriously devoted to home cooking, vs. cooking as entertainment, are shown on public television (PBS), the home of cooking shows for decades.

[Harters]

We love watching Food Network when we visit the States. I know Rachel Ray (sp?) always gets a thrashing on this board but her show is exactly the sort of programme that the UK could do with. Whatever the perceived faults, the programme shows that cooking uncomplicated tasty food for, say, a Tuesday night family dinner can be done - even by busy working parents. You don't have to be a domestic goddess or god.

And, yes, last trip, we bought several of her books and have used them. Of course, quite a number of recipes include ingredients we just don't have here.

There have been a couple of series, including one by Jamie Oliver, that have made attempts to try to deal with more "basic" cooking but, frankly, I feel they just end up patronising poor people. It's not what's needed.

[Caitlin McGrath]

Just out of curiosity, what sort of ingredients are called for that are unavailable to you? (I'm not very familiar with her recipes.)

[Harters]

Tends to be branded products rather than fresh (I can always guess a substitute onion). So, for example, I'm looking at a recipe of hers for chili and it calls for :

"grill seasoning, such as McCormack's Montreal Steak Seasoning" - I have no idea what that is or what it tastes like so can't imagine a substitute.

"canned chipotle peppers in adobo" - not a clue what that is - apart from I presume it means hot chilli peppers.

"smoked Gouda" - although I live only 300 miles from Holland, smoked Gouda is not sold here (although ordinary Gouda is, of course).

But what I like about her recipes are that there's a general use of straightforward ingredients that are going to be available in most supermarkets in America. You're not going to have to seek out specialist shops in the city.

[shallots]

Harters,
Can you get fresh Jalapeno peppers? If so, smoke them and find Adobo seasoning through the internet.
A substitute would be smoky paprika from eastern Europe. Mixed with some milder peppers.

Not a HOT chili, but a pepper with smoky overtones and depth of flavor.

[Harters]

We don't have the variety of peppers that you have, but the idea of using smoked paprika is helpful - pimenton is always in the cupboard.

[cinnamon girl]

Yes - Michael Pollan had a piece in the NY Times this summer saying the same thing as you regarding the increase of food programs and the decrease in people cooking daily. If I can find it I'll post the link.

[MMRuth]

I think the Vicar of Dibley is terrific, and most of my American family members love it as well. And, to keep it food related, she's a huge fan of all sorts of chocolate. We also enjoyed the first seasons of Monarch of the Glen. And, well, Hyacinth - I think she is a wonderful actress, and her views on throwing dinner parties are pretty damn funny.

[Robert Lauriston]

I'm not sure which seasons the episodes I watched were from.

[blackoak]

I don't mean to hijack the thread, but if you are looking for a British comedy about food, about the funniest I've seen is a series called 'Posh Nosh' with Arabella Weir and Richard E. Grant. I don't know if it is available to purchase in North America, but you can watch some episodes on Youtube (each episode runs about ten minutes).

[alkapal]

or about booze, "absolutely fabulous." ;-). http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6r_JnGUexsw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U1YoKbjsJHc&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CaiOpv8lOrs&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZDMex...

someone here on chowhound has patsy as an avatar.

[chris2269]

Blackoak thanks so much for mentioning Posh Nosh. I watched the first episode and loved it. I'll watch the rest for sure.

[Harters]

I thought the series was great at the time - really funny. It captured a strand of pretentious cooking that was prevalent here in the late 1980s/early1990s. I suspect it would seem quite dated now. British cooking has moved - as, indeed, has Henry, most recently playing Othello to some critical acclaim.

Apart from that side of the humour, it was a fairly pedestrian sit.com. with much of the storyline being a "relationship thing" with his wife.

The restaurant was supposedly modelled on Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons and Henry supposedly modelled himself on John Burton Race, then chef at L'Ortolan who gave him some training in cheffy techniques.

Burton Race was recently described by my favourite restaurant critic thus:

" I don't like him. I would rather eat my own feet than have anything to do with him, and my feet are really horrible. I detest him because he and I once spent a night in a Manchester bar, during which I had to listen to his views on women, how to raise children, and what growing up in Africa was like, opinions which were not likely to win him friends any day soon. All I need say is that the average Observer reader would probably not have enjoyed the experience any more than I did."

[MMRuth]

I have to say, I found it pretty amusing and tend to watch it again when it is shown here on a PBS (Public Broadcast System, I think) station.

[cinnamon girl]

Who is your favourite food critic Harters? Someone from the Guardian/Observer I take it? I know I've read that piece somewhere . . . maybe it was this year when he was losing he restaurant? Anyway, I always enjoy your posts so am sure I would like this writer too.

I liked the series, but as another poster mentions, the first season seemed funniest to me; then it started to feel a little old, too shrill and predictable.

[Harters]

You're right about the Guardian/Observer. My congratulions on being able to spot a liberal lefty at such a distance :-0

Favourite critic is Jay Rayner (Observer). I like his writing style and he contributes now & again to the UK board of egullet, where I spend a reasonable amount of time.

Not living in London, I don't get chance to eat where he reviews too often - as with most "national" critics, he doesnt stray too much from the capital and, when he does, he generally doesnt like what he eats, Great fun.

[cinnamon girl]

Ha! It takes one to know one, in this case anyway. Thanks. I like Jay Rayner too when I read him (online). Was just wondering if your favourite food writer was someone I wasn't familiar with, (b/c I'd want to be). I didn't realize he was a contributer to egullet. I notice Dan Lepard chimes in with pretty good bread making advice quite often.

Did you see: this weekend Jay Raynor left London - and liked the food. He must have read your comment [joke].

[Harters]

Many months back, we slagged him off on the Chowhound UK board after he'd been to Manchester (my metropolitian centre) for only ever liking one place in the city. He spotted the comment and responded - basically saying the city's food was crap except for the one place. It's good to see him getting out and about :-)

[cinnamon girl]

Groan . . . So during his whirlwind, weekend (probably) tour he was able to conclusively determine that every single place in town, but one, was crap. He's got super powers!

[PhilD]

John, I note that you don't refute his comment. I understood that for a city the size of Manchester it does punch significantly below its weight. Have you tried "Sweet Mandarin" yet ;-)

[Harters]

Phil

I didnt want to take the thread too far off topic but, since his original article, he's been back to the city - and liked Abode. Manc has a number of good middling sort of places but whether I'd put Red Chilli in a spot above them, as he does, is another matter. Speaking of punching below weight, we're just back from dinner in Liverpool (there'll be a post in "another place" shortly).

I'm going to be having some solitary lunches in the city over the coming weeks (probably well into February) and will try "Sweet Mandarin" then.

J

[Robert Lauriston]

I watched some episodes of Chef! on BBC America. It was amusing but I wouldn't buy it.

It's on Netflix which also has it streaming ("play instantly").

[alkapal]

"Chef!" with Lenny Henry (season 1 is best) is hilarious; he's a perfectionist, narcissistic chef with a sarcastic, brilliant way with words, running with an iron whisk his kitchen of variously-talented cooks at "chateau anglais" -- renowned destination dining in the english countryside.

what's your link for the dvd sale? i'd be interested.

[shallots]

Here's the link (I snorted when I read your Chateau Anglais)

http://www.amazon.com/Chef-Complete-C...

[alkapal]

that's what's going to be a mr. alka christmas gift! thanks.

[Withnail42]

Agree season one was great after it was still good but not as sharp as the first go round.

[PhilD]

Is that the Lenny Henry comedy series?

If so it simply uses a restaurant kitchen as the main stage in a pretty average situation comedy. It would be like buying the US series "Home Improvement" if you wanted to renovate your house.