Favourite Celebrity Chef?

Quality

Who would you like to kidnap and chain up in your kitchen to cook for you every night??

Please feel free to add in the thread if your favourite is not included....

Huggles

Gordan!

Latchy

Gordon , he sorts out the wheat from the cheef in so called ''restaraunts '' i am watching him now on C 4

Quality

This Thread does not endorse the kidnapping or chaining up of celebrity chefs!!

Mr Magnolia

Rick Stein for me.

I can watch any of his episodes several times and never tire of them. He may not be my favourite as regards cuisine, though I do love several of the dishes he's cooked.

I like Keith Floyd too, mainly because he told Tom Doorley that he "knew nothing about food". He was on the money there imo.

Faith

Wow, well done on the poll, OP. It's really comprehensive.

Just to be difficult, I'll pick Rachel Ray*, who's not on it...

*She may not actually be my favourite.

Mr Magnolia

latchyco wrote: »

Gordon , he sorts out the wheat from the cheef in so called ''restaraunts '' i am watching him now on C 4

Watching it now on Channel 4+1. What a pair of nutters!

Pigletlover

Definitely Gordon, love him, but I like Nigella Lawson too.

olaola

I'm a fan of Rachel Allen - her recipes work out great, the ingredients are easy to find and she explains how to do them very well on her tv series.

Alun

Well for the food it'd have to be Gordon, but the prospect of having Nigella chained up in my kitchen is giving me lots of impure thoughts that have nothing to with cooking

The Real B-man

Gordon, says it how it is

The Hill Billy

While I'd quite like to chain up Rachel Allen for some fun & frolics - for a discussion about food & drink it would have to be Keith Floyd's company I'd be looking for.

Corega

Bah! Can't believe that Gordon is winning...or should that be whinging? A guy who has a face like a testicle on a crisp December morning and whose only claim to fame is being able to swear more times in half an hour than that episode of South Park. Complete muppet. Rick Stein gets my vote.

The Hill Billy

Corega wrote:

A guy ... whose only claim to fame is being able to swear more times in half an hour than that episode of South Park. Complete muppet.

I think that a lorry-load of Michelin stars & an ego to match contributes to his fame.

Corega wrote:

Complete muppet.

No way. The guy (while not being my fave chef by any stretch of the imagination) is a culinary genius & a great showman.

edwardh55

I'm a big fan of Gordon Ramsey
But...My favorite has to be Heston Blumenthal, ok he puts way too much effort into cooking for the average person ever to follow but the way he takes a scientific approach to tastes and smells is just amazing and he has to be one of the most innovative chefs out there
Some people complain about him but i think watching him is similar to Top gear, looking at cars most people will never drive and imagining what they sound, smell and perform is similar to the way i think about food, its good tv in my eyes!

Anybody else like him?

CombatCow

Rachel Allen because she's a super fox! But ah Gordon is great too for the shouting/cursing/madness


CC

Minder

edwardh55 wrote: »

I'm a big fan of Gordon Ramsey
But...My favorite has to be Heston Blumenthal, ok he puts way too much effort into cooking for the average person ever to follow but the way he takes a scientific approach to tastes and smells is just amazing and he has to be one of the most innovative chefs out there
Some people complain about him but i think watching him is similar to Top gear, looking at cars most people will never drive and imagining what they sound, smell and perform is similar to the way i think about food, its good tv in my eyes!

Anybody else like him?

I watched Hestons Christmas special last night and was very envious of the diners. I am not the biggest fan of the whole molecular gastronomy but Heston is compulsive viewing.

What I find strange is that many people are in awe of the process, the combination of tastes, smells etc. The Fast food industry have been doing that for decades. Okay, it is not a dry ice fountain in the middle of the table, but the fast food industry caught on to the use of perfumes in food years ago - brought about by the need for healthier cooking methods, french fries are perfumed to make them taste like they were cooked in beef dripping.

I am irritated by chefs who present recipes that have not been tried in a domestic setting. Heston was guilty of this with a mushroom ketchup recipe that I tried. Enough salt to choke a donkey. Nevertheless, I do admire his approach and watch to pick up tips, for example his method of clarifying stock that contain gelatine is pure genius.

bruce wayne

Gordon for me as well, watching the US version of his kitchen nightmares at the mo....very funny stuff

unionman

It has to be Heston. That Christmas spread was unbelievable. Mind you, between Reindeer milk from Siberia and Frankinsense from Oman, the meal had an enormous carbon footprint. Still, a work of genius.

Laslo

My God. What is wrong with this planet? Gordon Ramsay is one of the most disgusting, putrid individuals I have ever seen. He's arrogant and foul-mouthed. He's a bully and an intolerable a$$hole. Anyone who can't see this has very poor judgement in people. He may be a great chef but I think this reality TV phenomenon has made people expect those on top of their game should be deplorable individuals. You can be good at what you do without being a complete pr1ck you know?

Lloyd Grossman FTW

aidan24326

Voted for Richard Corrigan. I like his style of simple hearty food. Ramsey is a top class chef though I'd imagine a difficult guy to get on with.

Anyone ever watched Anthony Bourdain's 'No Reservations' show? He's good too. An American chef who travels to different countries to explore the local cuisine.

enner43

Has to be Gordon Ramsey for me. Love watchin US Hells Kitchen. The americans just dont know what to make of him.

dazzlemoo

I love Jamie Oliver.

I was given Jamie's 30 Minute Meals last Christmas and it's the only cookbook I've ever had where I've actually been able to create good home-made meals.
The problem I have with a lot of celebrity chefs is that they either require you to source some ingredient not readily available or it's all too fancy.
I like good, home-cooked food that tastes great and doesn't require you to stand over a stove all day long.

Jamie Oliver's recipes are fantastic for the everyday cook who's looking to incorporate some fresh ideas into their daily meals.
I absolutely adore his meatball and pasta recipe, and his Jalfrezi. Both of these go down a storm every time I make them.

Jamie's the one for me!

Deise Musashi

Glynn Purnell, Prue Leith and Paul Flynn.

Can't stick Corrigan since he switched from advocating €20 chickens to beef shins and offal once the recession bit. Chancer!

Mrs Fox

Not a chef chef but I do adore Ina Garten of Barefoot Contessa. I love her homely style of cooking where everything is non-complicated & so doable.

cofy

It's definitely Neven Magiure for me. He makes thing so easy, that even I can follow, both in is programmes and his books.

Mrs Fox

Laslo wrote: »

My God. What is wrong with this planet? Gordon Ramsay is one of the most disgusting, putrid individuals I have ever seen. He's arrogant and foul-mouthed. He's a bully and an intolerable a$$hole. Anyone who can't see this has very poor judgement in people. He may be a great chef but I think this reality TV phenomenon has made people expect those on top of their game should be deplorable individuals. You can be good at what you do without being a complete pr1ck you know?

He is a bit of a pr*ck but his recipes are usually spot on. I do enjoy cooking them and they always turn out as they should. But I would never invest in any of his books or establishments.

hussey

Mrs Fox wrote: »

He is a bit of a pr*ck but his recipes are usually spot on. I do enjoy cooking them and they always turn out as they should. But I would never invest in any of his books or establishments.

he is, he's is very arrogant and pure TV chef, but saying that he was one of the most talented chefs around for years, just have a look at how many star chefs he has trained (marcus wearing, jason atheron, angela harnett)

Little Alex

I like all of them, I have to say!

James Martin, The Hairy Bikers and Simon Hopkinson are great, too.

alfalad

While I like watching a number of them, for a number of reasons, If I was to do a lesson with any of them it would be Darina Allen, don't think any of the others have her overall knowledge, especially of older dishes and techniques. Granted Heston knows the science etc.

Melendez

This post has been deleted.

jacko

Big fan of Raymond Blanc too, he really does show his passion for food.

Also a fan of Marco Pierre White, who doesn't rate Ramsay too highly after their very public fallout. Cant say that I'm a fan of Ramsay myself either, I just find him to be an arrogant loudmouth.

Favorite chef would be Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall

Sergeant

jacko wrote: »

Also a fan of Marco Pierre White, who doesn't rate Ramsay too highly after their very public fallout. Cant say that I'm a fan of Ramsay myself either, I just find him to be an arrogant loudmouth.

Pierre White calling Ramsey 'arrogant', 'unwilling to listen', and 'pretentious' is almost an irony overdose.

emeraldstar

Melendez wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

I'm really enjoying this too, but it makes me want to go to France more and more each time I see it. I love Raymond's enthusiasm and he seems like he'd actually be nice to work for, as head chefs go.

am i bovvered

cofy wrote: »

It's definitely Neven Magiure for me. He makes thing so easy, that even I can follow, both in is programmes and his books.

IMO his restaurant is the best in the country.

Mrs Fox

am i bovvered wrote: »

IMO his restaurant is the best in the country.

+1.
It's immaculate

cofy

am i bovvered wrote: »

IMO his restaurant is the best in the country.

My hubby was going to take me there for my 40th but unfortunately things went against us.:(

WilcoOut

cant believe how badly jamie oliver is polling

hes the man!

nice1franko

Poll needs Nigel Slater!

The Hill Billy

The poll is 5 years old & probably not very relevant anymore.

nice1franko

be the hokey... so it is. carry on.

nc6000

I can't believe Gordon "Family Man" Ramsey is leading this poll !

What about Nigel Slater, Heston and Neven?

snooperella

Can anyone recommend which Ina Garten cookbook to buy for a novice?

Seaneh

I quite like Mr. Oliver if only because his recipes are extremely easy to follow, he makes sure all the ingredients are easy for the average plebs to source and they are, generally, pretty damned good. I also like the educational work he does and his 15 project. I just all in all feel like he's a top bloke and having eaten in two of his restaurants and 15 in London I rally respect him as a chef.

After him it's Nigella, not the worlds best cook by any means but dear lord, for a woman 25 years older than me, she's bloody gorgeous.

Dermighty

Who the f*ck picked Rachel Allen?!?!?!?!?

donmeister

Dermighty wrote: »

Who the f*ck picked Rachel Allen?!?!?!?!?

Probably Rachel Allen herself tbh...

mitosis

Marco Pierre White.

Jamie is OK, Ramsey spends too much time with his hands in my food. Everything has to be cold by the time it gets served.

Radharc na Sleibhte

Ah how is Ramsay still winning this?
Im enjoying a bit of Ina Garten and Guy (Fieri) Big Bite lately.

Mainly cos Food Network ram them down your throat but still.
Love Ina's "just add butter" approach

Actually, has anyway ever her seen her measure everything exactly?
"half a tea spoon of kosher salt" and she takes out her fecking measuring spoons. Is that an american thing or what? You wouldnt mind for the baking, but measuring a bit of salt to sear a roast

Faith

The thread started, and mainly ran, in 2007 so the results will reflect that.

I can't stand Ina Garten myself. She's just too American.

Guy Fieri is hilariously ridiculous.

hawkwind23

gordon ramsey?

hardCopy

Hugh Fearnley Wittingstal would be my favorite. Just for his whole attitude and enthusiasm for food, even if I don't like fish.