Masterchef: The Professionals 2012

Mr E

For people who aren't reading the Irish Masterchef thread, you may not know that Masterchef: The Professionals is back tonight on BBC2 at 8:30pm.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00mx9xb

This is the series with Gregg Wallace, Monica Galetti and Michel Roux Jr.

LizT

Looking forward to getting into this, I've never watched a full series of it.

ebbsy

Watched it last night, tonight they have to do that small test for Monica which I think is very tough.

stargazer 68

I watched it - love all the Masterchefs!! Would be afraid of that Monica though!! :0

youcancallmeal

ebbsy wrote: »

Watched it last night, tonight they have to do that small test for Monica which I think is very tough.

I reckon this is the best part. Monica's face is hilarious as the chefs make mistakes. I remember one year they had them open scallop shells and the first guy comes out and proceeds to seriously lacerate himself. They didn't let anyone else attempt it because they never considered that some people wouldn't actually have a clue and make dangerous attempts at it. They had to fill the rest of the show with some other hastily prepared challenge!

ibarelycare

I love this show. Even though Monica is a bit scary, she's very encouraging and supportive, as is Michel. It's a breath of fresh air compared to the Irish show.

Dotcomdolly

ibarelycare wrote: »

I love this show. Even though Monica is a bit scary, she's very encouraging and supportive, as is Michel. It's a breath of fresh air compared to the Irish show.

Michel is great, always finds something positive to say.
Carl seems to be streets ahead tonight.

Merkin

Mr E wrote: »

For people who aren't reading the Irish Masterchef thread, you may not know that Masterchef: The Professionals is back tonight on BBC2 at 8:30pm.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00mx9xb

This is the series with Gregg Wallace, Monica Galetti and Michel Roux Jr.

Thanks a million for reminder! Do you know how often/when it's on?

fifi234ie

Merkin wrote: »

Do you know how often/when it's on?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00mx9xb/broadcasts/upcoming

stargazer 68

Some of this first 10 are pretty good. Although a couple couldn't fillet a fish last night! I know nerves got to the better of them but they are supposed to be 'professionals'

HeidiHeidi

Anyone watching tonight? Is the first bit not the same thing as they had to do in the last round? i.e. cook a meal of their own choosing/design? (I'm half an hour behind, watching on record)

I'm well impressed with them all!

youcancallmeal

HeidiHeidi wrote: »

Anyone watching tonight? Is the first bit not the same thing as they had to do in the last round? i.e. cook a meal of their own choosing/design? (I'm half an hour behind, watching on record)

Well they didn't get to bring their own ingredients tonight, instead they had to choose from a well stocked larder. Not a whole lot different but probably just an excuse to whittle down the group a bit more.

Independent12

Anyone know if these shows are repeated the next day or anything? Have checked listings but can't find it? Missed the one last night and am raging, had it set to record and everything but it didn't work!!
Thanks!!

ebbsy

W'ont spoil it for anyone but the two who got through last night will take some stopping. Charles Campion the critic is so pompous I love it !!!!

stargazer 68

ebbsy wrote: »

W'ont spoil it for anyone but the two who got through last night will take some stopping. Charles Campion the critic is so pompous I love it !!!!

Yeah have to agree - they are pretty good. Looking forward to next weeks batch!

Independent12

Anyone know about repeats? Thanks

fifi234ie

The First Master Chef: Michel Roux on Escoffier
Tonight BBC4 9pm
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p00ypy02

Could be interesting.

ebbsy

Last night was very tough - ten minutes to do the lobster was not a lot - followed by that desert !

youcancallmeal

ebbsy wrote: »

Last night was very tough - ten minutes to do the lobster was not a lot - followed by that desert !

I actually thought that compared to last weeks two challenges and classics that they were fairly easy last night, especially the classics.

Looking forward to tonight, they seem to have put all the young chefs together!

Infoanon

Antons carrot cake served in a flower pot with choclate gravel must be the most unusual dessert ever served to the critics !

The standard of cooking and presentation is incredible - roll on week 3

HeidiHeidi

That has to be Barry McGuigan's long-lost twin on tonight!

Mr E

You know the way Monica pulls weird faces when the chefs f*** up?
Funniest set tonight for a long time.

Lingua Franca

The preview of tomorrow's Monica faces suggests the best is yet to come.

HeidiHeidi

Ah here, yesterday's skills test was to make a pancake and a souffle - hardly rocket science to any self-respecting chef.

But sea urchin? Seriously??? That's hardly a level playing pitch :cool:

ebbsy

Phew the semis are very tough are'nt they ? Marcus Waring certainly dragged them through the nettles.

P. Breathnach

ebbsy wrote: »

Phew the semis are very tough are'nt they ? Marcus Waring certainly dragged them through the nettles.

Being dragged through the nettles would hardly be a problem for James: he would be picking as he goes.

I find his approach very interesting.

youcancallmeal

Wasn't a big fan of James and didn't think his food looked nice. Was surprised to see him go through. The other fella did make a mess of his dessert though. Seems like using any kind of unusual ingredient combinations (Strawberry/Scallops, Peppercorn Cheesecake) is a death sentence. Its funny though the chefs are always so adamant about what they are doing but it just never seems to work!

Dotcomdolly

Did they divide them into pairs like this, prev years?

youcancallmeal

Dotcomdolly wrote: »

Did they divide them into pairs like this, prev years?

Yes but last year the pairs didn't go to the same restaurants and they also went to Michelin starred places outside of the UK. I vaguely remember them going to fancy places in New York, Paris, Madrid etc

Utopia Parkway

youcancallmeal wrote: »

Wasn't a big fan of James and didn't think his food looked nice. Was surprised to see him go through. The other fella did make a mess of his dessert though. Seems like using any kind of unusual ingredient combinations (Strawberry/Scallops, Peppercorn Cheesecake) is a death sentence. Its funny though the chefs are always so adamant about what they are doing but it just never seems to work!

Is James the forager with the glasses?

Something about him rubs me up the wrong way.

ebbsy

Very close semi tonight. Its going to be some final next week........

Infoanon

ebbsy wrote: »

Very close semi tonight. Its going to be some final next week........

Incredibly high standard - faultless cooking - looking forward to the finals next week

Lingua Franca

Utopia Parkway wrote: »

Is James the forager with the glasses?

Something about him rubs me up the wrong way.

Me too, and watching last night's show again just now I can tell you what it is.

He wears his glasses ever-so-slightly askew.

Utopia Parkway

Doesn't the chef they visited tonight with the 2 Michelin star pub come across as a really nice fella? Tom Kerridge I think.

Shows you don't have to be a complete egomaniac to be a top chef I guess.

Dotcomdolly

Utopia Parkway wrote: »

Doesn't the chef they visited tonight with the 2 Michelin star pub come across as a really nice fella? Tom Kerridge I think.

Shows you don't have to be a complete egomaniac to be a top chef I guess.

Yes, especially compared to Marcus Waring! A real gentle giant
He's a regular on The Great British Menu and has got through his dish more than once asfair.

Lingua Franca

He does seem really sweet and nice, which is pretty out of character for a chef. I wouldn't mind getting to his restaurant either, I was sorely tempted to lick the TV at that beef bouillion/scallop/truffle creation.

ibarelycare

Utopia Parkway wrote: »

Doesn't the chef they visited tonight with the 2 Michelin star pub come across as a really nice fella? Tom Kerridge I think.

Shows you don't have to be a complete egomaniac to be a top chef I guess.

Just after catching up, what a great episode. That chef was lovely, dying to go to his restaurant. I was delighted that both chefs got through. Just goes to show that the show cares more about talent and giving people a fair opportunity, than creating drama. I remember them doing it on the series a few years ago too.

Zymurgist

Chef comes across a nice guy alright, but there is a thread on the food and drink forum about him balling some guy out of it on Twitter and calling him all sorts of names

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=81756898

Agreed it was a great episode though and the food does seem amazing. Can't wait for the finals this week

youcancallmeal

Zymurgist wrote: »

Chef comes across a nice guy alright, but there is a thread on the food and drink forum about him balling some guy out of it on Twitter and calling him all sorts of names

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=81756898

A lot of articles I have read mention the awarding of the 2nd Michelin Star to Kerridge as having been controversial but annoyingly none of them every say why!?

Glad to see James go last night. Thought some of his food looked nice but was struggling to be classed as 'fine dining'.

Dotcomdolly

youcancallmeal wrote: »

A lot of articles I have read mention the awarding of the 2nd Michelin Star to Kerridge as having been controversial but annoyingly none of them every say why!?

Becasue it is a gastro(very!) pub, not a fine dining establishment.

stargazer 68

Dotcomdolly wrote: »

Yes, especially compared to Marcus Waring! A real gentle giant
He's a regular on The Great British Menu and has got through his dish more than once asfair.

Hes a regular on Saturday Kitchen too. I like him. He has put on an awful lot of weight over the last year or so though.

P. Breathnach

youcancallmeal wrote: »

...
Glad to see James go last night. Thought some of his food looked nice but was struggling to be classed as 'fine dining'.

I agree that James probably did not deserve to make the last three on his performance on the day. But I still consider much of his food interesting, and would happily try a restaurant if I knew he was cooking his recipes there.

His presentation was sometimes criticised, but I don't think that was always fair. Certain dishes should be presented as hearty honest food rather than as pictures on a plate. I'm becoming progressively less enthused by "fine dining" as the idea is shaped by Michelin inspectors. In particular, I think there seems to be a canon regarding presentation of food that ordains that everything be fussily artistic.

youcancallmeal

Missed the start of tonight's episode, did they create the dishes themselves?

ibarelycare

youcancallmeal wrote: »

Missed the start of tonight's episode, did they create the dishes themselves?

Yeah. They all did amazingly. I hope Olly wins!

ibarelycare

Oooh they're going to be in the Fat Duck!

Lingua Franca

Can't wait, this is gonna be great!

Alessandra

Wow I really thought it would be between Anton and Oli tonight but it looks like Keri is back in contention!

Stheno

Yeah Keri did really well tonight!

ebbsy

youcancallmeal wrote: »

A lot of articles I have read mention the awarding of the 2nd Michelin Star to Kerridge as having been controversial but annoyingly none of them every say why!?

Glad to see James go last night. Thought some of his food looked nice but was struggling to be classed as 'fine dining'.

Yeah his food was interesting throughtout the series but he definitely lost the plot with those dishes. Some of the guys I thought would win it have flopped so Ive given up making predictions.

HeidiHeidi

ebbsy wrote: »

Yeah his food was interesting throughtout the series but he definitely lost the plot with those dishes. Some of the guys I thought would win it have flopped so Ive given up making predictions.

I'm rooting for Keri or the other fella that made the carrot cake dessert - that was genius!

Stupid UPC box doesn't like recording MC on a Monday for some reason, so I missed the show where James went out - what did he cook? Last few plates of his I saw were right messes - he had zero presentation skills, although I'd say his food eaten with a blindfold on would have been sublime....

ebbsy

HeidiHeidi wrote: »

I'm rooting for Keri or the other fella that made the carrot cake dessert - that was genius!

Stupid UPC box doesn't like recording MC on a Monday for some reason, so I missed the show where James went out - what did he cook? Last few plates of his I saw were right messes - he had zero presentation skills, although I'd say his food eaten with a blindfold on would have been sublime....

They had no meat to choose from. What what I can remember he did a poppadom and veg dish - the judges gave it a drubbing.