Heston Blumental

Stheno

Just watching masterchef with the OH and he has no idea who Heston Blumenthal is

Is he an ignoramus?

brevity

Ah Heston's alright.

Skid X

Fair play to him, life is not about being able to name the thousands of celebrity chefs that pollute the airwaves.

Nodin

Stheno wrote: »

Just watching masterchef with the OH and he has no idea who Heston Blumenthal is

Is he an ignoramus?

Nope. Some people have no interest in that kind of thing. You should be writing a thread about being grateful to your OH for watching shite with you you he normally wouldn't bother with.

Agricola

Not knowing who he is displays a touch a class imo!

Osborne

Wish I was as lucky as your OH.

TheBegotten

Am I the only one who thought this was a Breaking Bad spin-off?

Radharc na Sleibhte

Stheno wrote: »

Just watching masterchef with the OH and he has no idea who Heston Blumenthal is

Is he an ignoramus?

Heston, yes.
Big bald head in him.

keano2012

Stheno wrote: »

Is he an ignoramus?

yes

My name is URL

I basically only know him from this

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IgxUeD2-kJc

desertcircus

Skid X wrote: »

Fair play to him, life is not about being able to name the thousands of celebrity chefs that pollute the airwaves.

There's celebrity chefs and then there's the proprietor and head chef at one of the three best restaurants on earth...

Miss Behaviour

Wasn't Heston caught sticking his icing piper into a bun that wasn't his wife's?

Lapin

Stheno wrote: »

Just watching masterchef with the OH and he has no idea who Heston Blumenthal is

What channel is he on?

NuckingFacker

desertcircus wrote: »

There's celebrity chefs and then there's the proprietor and head chef at one of the three best restaurants on earth...

gonna need a few more clues I'm afraid..errr..Derry Clarke?

MadsL

Stheno wrote: »

Just watching masterchef with the OH and he has no idea who Heston Blumenthal is

Is he an ignoramus?

Only if he professes to know anything about modernist cuisine. Otherwise, meh.

Heston is a god.

Of course next people will be saying they don't know who Ferran Adria, Thomas Keller or Grant Achatz are, then where will we be...

Artful_Badger

Nah it doesnt make him an ignoramus. Its not like it was Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall...

4zn76tysfajdxp

desertcircus wrote: »

There's celebrity chefs and then there's the proprietor and head chef at one of the three best restaurants on earth...

Darina Allen?

Stheno

desertcircus wrote: »

There's celebrity chefs and then there's the proprietor and head chef at one of the three best restaurants on earth...

Exactly, one of my must do holidays is visiting the fat duck

Miss Behaviour wrote: »

Wasn't Heston caught sticking his icing piper into a bun that wasn't his wife's?

Yes, but that's all blown over and he's seperated from his wife.

Muise...

he's only an ignoramus if he isn't paying attention and asks you who Heston Blumenthal is the next time ye see him on tv. Or if he confuses Blumenthal with Jamie Oliver. That'd be funny ignorant though.

Skid X

desertcircus wrote: »

There's celebrity chefs and then there's the proprietor and head chef at one of the three best restaurants on earth...

Right, exactly how many of the top 1000 chefs in the World should we be able to name to avoid being described as an 'ignoramus' :rolleyes:

Stheno

MadsL wrote: »

Only if he professes to know anything about modernist cuisine. Otherwise, meh.

Heston is a god.

Of course next people will be saying they don't know who Ferran Adria, Thomas Keller or Grant Achatz are, then where will we be...

He's excused so. I took him to a Michelin starred restaurant for our anniversary, and his only comment was that the portions were small :eek:

NuckingFacker

MadsL wrote: »

Only if he professes to know anything about modernist cuisine. Otherwise, meh.

Heston is a god.

Of course next people will be saying they don't know who Ferran Adria, Thomas Keller or Grant Achatz are, then where will we be...

El Bulli. That one I do know. Closed now though I think. Was booked out anyway and had shyte opening hours..

Stheno

Muise... wrote: »

he's only an ignoramus if he isn't paying attention and asks you who Heston Blumenthal is the next time ye see him on tv. Or if he confuses Blumenthal with Jamie Oliver. That'd be funny ignorant though.

He was wondering if Heston was a new judge (we watch Masterchef six days a week)

grindle

Skid X wrote: »

Right, exactly how many of the top 1000 chefs in the World should we be able to name to avoid being described as an 'ignoramus' :rolleyes:

Not what desertcircus was getting at, not sure how you'd read it that way.
People are talking about one of the top chefs in the world as if he's an Ainsley Harriot-alike, just another celeb chef.

The OP's fella isn't an ignoramus any more than he's an ignoramus for not knowing any other critically-acclaimed artist. He might be missing out, he might not give a crap. He might have an encyclopaedic knowledge of some other culture or activity that interests him.

Sir Osis of Liver.

Stheno wrote: »

Just watching masterchef with the OH and he has no idea who Heston Blumenthal is

Is he an ignoramus?

He was great in Planet of the Apes and Ben Hur.

C.K Dexter Haven

Stheno wrote: »

He's excused so. I took him to a Michelin starred restaurant for our anniversary, and his only comment was that the portions were small :eek:

I'm available for 7 course tasting menus with wine- I don't complain after:P

Lapin

I'd love to try the Mad Hatters Tea Party and the Whisk(e)y Wine Gums on the Tasting Menu.

Not sure about the Snail Porridge though.

Howard Juneau

Lapin wrote: »

I'd love to try the Mad Hatters Tea Party and the Whisk(e)y Wine Gums on the Tasting Menu.

Not sure about the Snail Porridge though.

At 195 quid a pop, I'd want a happy ending for that & fck all snail porridge tyvm!

Howard Juneau

desertcircus wrote: »

There's celebrity chefs and then there's the proprietor and head chef at one of the three best restaurants on earth...

Conrad Gallagher?

Lapin

Howard Juneau wrote: »

At 195 quid a pop, I'd want a happy ending for that & fck all snail porridge tyvm!

For a cheaper taste of Blumental's style of cooking without the need for a reservation, the Hinds Head pub just across the road from The Fat Duck in Bray is also owned by him and the menu there has all the Heston touches.

Hownowcow

Stheno wrote: »

Exactly, one of my must do holidays is visiting the fat duck

I visited him on the canal today. He wouldn't be that fat if people stopped giving him bread.

Stheno

Stheno wrote: »

He was wondering if Heston was a new judge (we watch Masterchef six days a week)

Watch it every day too. Masterchef Aus beats all the others by miles.

Have you ordered your dry ice yet? I must find out how expensive it is.

C.K Dexter Haven

Hownowcow wrote: »

I visited him on the canal today. He wouldn't be that fat if people stopped giving him bread.

Boom boom!

Savoir.Faire

I had the absolute pleasure of eating in Dinner by Heston Blumental during a recent visit to London. It was an extraordinary meal, with every morsel of food a memory. It is difficult to pick a highlight, but the Roast Marrowbone with snails, parsley and anchovy was especially fantastic. My dining companion thought one of the cheeses for her dessert hadn't be given enough time to breathe, but this was a minor quibble.

Very talented man.

C.K Dexter Haven

Savoir.Faire wrote: »

I had the absolute pleasure of eating in Dinner by Heston Blumental during a recent visit to London. It was an extraordinary meal, with every morsel of food a memory. It is difficult to pick a highlight, but the Roast Marrowbone with snails, parsley and anchovy was especially fantastic. My dining companion thought one of the cheeses for her dessert hadn't be given enough time to breathe, but this was a minor quibble.

Very talented man.

We're the portions small?:pac:

r3nu4l

MadsL wrote: »

Of course next people will be saying they don't know who Ferran Adria, Thomas Keller or Grant Achatz are, then where will we be...

I had the privilege of being at a major European Cardiology Congress in Barcelona a few years ago where Ferran Adria gave a speech about the impact of food on cardiovascular disease. His major contribution was 'carbohydrate is too cheap', something every man and his dog already knows. He may be great at boiling a few oul spuds but I can tell you, Ferran Adria knows **** all about cardiology!

MadsL

r3nu4l wrote: »

I had the privilege of being at a major European Cardiology Congress in Barcelona a few years ago where Ferran Adria gave a speech about the impact of food on cardiovascular disease. His major contribution was 'carbohydrate is too cheap', something every man and his dog already knows. He may be great at boiling a few oul spuds but I can tell you, Ferran Adria knows **** all about cardiology!

Why the feck did they invite him to speak then?

He was probably one of the most creative individuals on the planet for about 10 years, he wasn't reading up on cardiology ffs.

biko

Stheno wrote: »

Just watching masterchef with the OH and he has no idea who Heston Blumenthal is

Is he an ignoramus?

I think you make the mistake of thinking that people like the same shows as you
(I don't know this Blumentahl fella either)

Fox_In_Socks

desertcircus wrote: »

There's celebrity chefs and then there's the proprietor and head chef at one of the three best restaurants on earth...

Still no warmer.

It's just food, people. Nutrition to dump inside you to keep operating, nothing important.

I think Heston is a very creative man.


But I wouldn't touch snail porridge with a barge pole.

Fox_In_Socks

Candie wrote: »

I think Heston is a very creative man.


But I wouldn't touch snail porridge with a barge pole.

But the barge pole is the garnish!!!

You philistine!

r3nu4l

MadsL wrote: »

Why the feck did they invite him to speak then?

He was probably one of the most creative individuals on the planet for about 10 years, he wasn't reading up on cardiology ffs.

The point I'm making is that just because he's great with a pot and pan doesn't mean he's all that. If you're a foodie, he's a God, a bit like Blumenthal. If you're not a foodie then he's just a very, very good cook.

I'm not a foodie. At that time I personally knew all of the top cardiologists in the world and to me, they were absolute genii at what they did and were extremely creative in pushing the boundaries of medicine and saving patients who might otherwise die, whereas Adria was just a guy who did some great stuff with food, hardly inspiring (to me).

He was there for PR only as a favour to a friend of his who happens to be a top cardiologist.

toastedpickles

Its masterchef related so I'll just drop this here

MadsL

Candie wrote: »

I think Heston is a very creative man.


But I wouldn't touch snail porridge with a barge pole.

How would you know how it tastes then? Closed minded much?

r3nu4l wrote: »

The point I'm making is that just because he's great with a pot and pan doesn't mean he's all that. If you're a foodie, he's a God, a bit like Blumenthal. If you're not a foodie then he's just a very, very good cook.

He's more than a cook, What Adria produces is fine art. And yes, as far as I am concerned he's the indisputable god of modernist cuisine, with due respect to Hervé This as the Father of the techniques.

http://www.ashkeling.com/07spainmor/bulli1/2/original/bulli4018.jpg
http://blogs.miaminewtimes.com/shortorder/sphericalolive.jpg
http://www.luxury-insider.com/uploads/features/2010/12/el-bulli-1-5-custom.jpg?width=630
http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01941/el-bulli-1_1941510i.jpg
http://i.telegraph.co.uk/multimedia/archive/01941/el-bulli-9_1941499i.jpg

KungPao

" So I've just about finished preparing this ham sandwich, all we need now is a touch of liquid nitrogen"

- Heston Blumental

MadsL

MadsL wrote: »

How would you know how it tastes then? Closed minded much?

I've never liked escargot. From those previous experiences I can reasonably extrapolate that I won't enjoy snail porridge.

My mind is fine Madsl, perhaps you should try to restrain yourself from making leaps of judgement though, it reflects badly.

MadsL

Candie wrote: »

I've never liked escargot. From those previous experiences I can reasonably extrapolate that I won't enjoy snail porridge.

My mind is fine Madsl, perhaps you should try to restrain yourself from making leaps of judgement though, it reflects badly.

Perhaps the problem is the preparation.

Frankly I'd would be quite judgemental at someone who sat down at a absolute master's table and then started with the picky eater crap...

Like going to a opera and standing up in the middle asking for not too many high notes, thanks..

r3nu4l

MadsL wrote: »

He's more than a cook, What Adria produces is fine art. And yes, as far as I am concerned he's the indisputable god of modernist cuisine[/url]

And? So what? He's a fine cook/chef, whatever. It's art on a plate dahling, a gastronomic sensation. If that's what floats your boat then go for it but don't expect that just because you think it's the greatest thing on Earth that everyone should automatically follow. Some of the most fantastic medical advances I've seen excite me and make me marvel but I'm sure you wouldn't care about them too much...until the time came that you needed them. I don't think you'd care too much about Ferran Adria or anyone else at that moment.

All he does is cook food. That's it. It might be tasty and it might be art but it's just food, nothing more. I appreciate fine food when I have it and have gone out of my way to have it but it's just food at the end of the day, I'm no snob about it. It comes out the other end exactly the same as a McDonalds.
You're entitled to your opinion and I'm entitled to mine. No matter how much you enthuse, no matter how much fanboi about it. you won't convince me otherwise.

MadsL

r3nu4l wrote: »

And? So what? He's a fine cook/chef, whatever. It's art on a plate dahling, a gastronomic sensation. If that's what floats your boat then go for it but don't expect that just because you think it's the greatest thing on Earth that everyone should automatically follow. Some of the most fantastic medical advances I've seen excite me and make me marvel but I'm sure you wouldn't care about them too much...until the time came that you needed them. I don't think you'd care too much about Ferran Adria or anyone else at that moment.

All he does is cook food. That's it. It might be tasty and it might be art but it's just food, nothing more. I appreciate fine food when I have it and have gone out of my way to have it but it's just food at the end of the day, I'm no snob about it. It comes out the other end exactly the same as a McDonalds.
You're entitled to your opinion and I'm entitled to mine. No matter how much you enthuse, no matter how much fanboi about it. you won't convince me otherwise.

Have you never considered the ripple effect of fine art, fine food or fine thinking. That applies as much to science as it does to art. We should celebrate those that push boundaries in all disciplines, it is how we stopped having to bang rocks together. Otherwise, to quote Tom Waits, we are just monkeys with money and guns.

r3nu4l

MadsL wrote: »

Have you never considered the ripple effect of fine art, fine food or fine thinking. That applies as much to science as it does to art. We should celebrate those that push boundaries in all disciplines, it is how we stopped having to bang rocks together. Otherwise, to quote Tom Waits, we are just monkeys with money and guns.

Of course I have and as I said I appreciate fine food when I have it but I just don't appreciate it in the same way for example as I appreciate how Picasso or Gaudi experimented with art and architecture. Picasso was about far more than cubism and his works excite me no end while others get nothing from it. I'm okay with that, I don't consider them Philistines as a result.

A friend of mine loves well designed, tight, computer code that isn't bloated and is as clean as possible. He appreciates the art that it took the programmer to make it that clean because he knows that a simpler option would have been to bolt together other pieces of previously written code and just call those routines when needed. He appreciates the time it took to put together the sleeker code and the art of slimming it down while retaining all the intended features.

Have you never considered that it's okay for you to fall all over yourself, smack your lips and wet your pants with sheer excitement when you eat something one of these guys has produced but that it's okay for me to do those things over something else entirely and not get as excited about arty nutrition? If we all got equally excited about the same things then our world would be oh so bland.

To put it another way and take your banging rocks together analogy, have you considered that I get more excited about monkeys banging other rocks together than the rocks you get excited about?

Dravokivich

I'm not too into this whole food is an art thing. But I've always found Heston's enthusiasm to be fascinating whenever he's on the TV. He tends to try to look at food from multiple perspectives which is rather interesting. He can be a bit caught up in his gimmicks, but I think it's more so because it's what people have come to expect of him.