Jamie Oliver

Call me cynical but I feel that his school dinners campaign has more to do with improving his popularity rather that the health of the nations children.

If you look at his "adult" recipes, they're far from heathly.

Discuss.

Can't stand his mockney accent which is the most afffected one since Robin Cook's counterfeit attempt at being middle class! That said, I don't doubt his passion for good food and motives to improve children's school meals. If he makes a few quid in the meantime then good luck to him.

Originally Posted by tricky

Call me cynical but I feel that his school dinners campaign has more to do with improving his popularity rather that the health of the nations children.

If you look at his "adult" recipes, they're far from heathly.

Discuss.

That depends, some of his recipes give basic building blocks and some use them all together to build the occasional feast. He seems to have the approach of teaching people how to cook, rather than teaching people how to build one extravagant dish after another but they can only cook that one thing.

Example, in one of his books he has a pasta tomato sauce recipe, takes between 5 and 20mins depending on how well you can control a teaspoon.

Now, why would you buy a pasta sauce many of you are thinking, its 38pence at my local supermarket?

It’s because this is real basic good food, 4 ingredients, tomatoes (even tinned
ones!), basil (or oregano, or both), some garlic (if you like) and a chili (just stabbed, not even chopped). After the first time you make it you realize you don’t need to put everything in, you can adjust things, because it is so simple.

There is NO monounsodiumglucomate17E4 in there, no modified starch, just basic things which are all good for you.

The reason the country is obese, is because people are lazy. Why spend even 10 minutes cooking a pasta sauce when you can buy one and nuke it for 2?

I like the back to basics attitude he has, use good ingredients, keep it simple and easy and you can make a good meal.

Compare that to "Gorgon “****ing” Ramsey", now I’m sure Jamie can cook equally as well and extravagantly (remember, he has worked in places such as the river café), hell we all do occasionally, if we put our minds it it.

Whist this is not overly extravagant, it’s an example of good food, simple and not overly expensive, but nice in a once in a while way…

While on the way home the other night I thought I’ll cook something really nice tonight, we can have tiger prawns in garlic and chili with some ciabatta to start with. Then some pan fried chicken, rubbed with garlic in a tomato and basil sauce. Went to Sainsbury’s, purchased everything I need, it didn’t cost very much, I would guess around a tenna for four of us. Good food, and to be honest even if it was a fiver all in for each person (including the stuff we had in the cupboards already) for a good meal, come on you would pay more for a pizza!

The woman in front of me, had 2 packet meals, 2 packets of microchips and 2 tubs of ice cream, cost 12quid. And they wonder why the country is becoming obese and poor?!?

Anyway, I’m just rambling on about bad food, and turkey twizzlers again, so I hope you enjoyed the rant.

Dan

Originally Posted by tricky

Call me cynical but I feel that his school dinners campaign has more to do with improving his popularity rather that the health of the nations children.

If you look at his "adult" recipes, they're far from heathly.

Discuss.

CYNICAL

Well said, Dan.
I know that I eat some bloody awful food, but I never pretend to myself that it's ok.
(I can and do cook for myself, btw)

[Kylie]

Yep, you're being cynical.

I'm with Sudoxe, Oliver's stuff *should* be healthier because cook like that and you know exactly what you're getting.

Long time since I've been in a school but the state of school dinners was always terrible, good that someone draws attention to that. You've got to have a bit of celebrity in you if you want to do that effectively, so fair play to him.

Having said all of that I prefer Ramsey on the TV, Oliver's books are good but Ramsey is a better showman!

i honestly think he is trying to make things better(i think he is a tw*t) he does care about schooldinners, & is trying to make them better
& we all know that all the extra publicity is doing him no harm

& i agree with kylie, ramsey is great to watch

I only eat burgers and they've done me no harm

well i think he is a legend i really do he is a normal every day guy and is stumping up the money for this out his own pocket i think he's great

*waits to be pelted with olives*

[Viney]

Originally Posted by Sudoxe

The woman in front of me, had 2 packet meals, 2 packets of microchips and 2 tubs of ice cream, cost 12quid. And they wonder why the country is becoming obese and poor?!? Dan

You dissing my mum? I enjoyed that meal thank you but well said anyway Dan old bean.

I thank what Jamie Oliver is doing is fantastic. So hes high profile, and it might bump him up the ladder, but lets face it, id rather be known for changing the way our kids eat at school, than swearing like Mr Ramsey!

As for him accent well, who cares huh?