Favourite Chef?

mikeywills

Everyone seems to diss Delia, but her recipes do take cooking back to its basics, she will take the ingredients and try as many different ways to use them until she finds the best and simplest way.

I disagree with furrychimp, she is not school teacherish at all, and at times cooking does need to be an exact science. I have said earlier on this thread that her basic white sauce is genius, and absolutely fool proof.

1 oz butter
1 ox plain flour
14fl oz milk

Put all in a pan and stir constantly while on full heat, I have never ever had a lump with this method its completely idiot proof. Try it for yourselves.

HappyIdiotTalk

I like watching Gordon, I think he's unquestionably passionate about his food. I especially enjoyed the series he did helping badly performing restaurants. He was hard, but very fair and definately trying very hard to put some passion into the people he was working with. I dont mind the swearing at all either. He does it with panache and character which is ok in my book. Its only when people are being nasty or trying to hurt when swearing becomes unacceptable.


I like Hugh also. I've got his family cook book and that is great, its given me bags of confidence in the kitchen. It might be a bit simple for seasoned cooks, but for someone like me with no cooking background its been a great little ice-breaker!

I'm not a great fan of Delia ether, she seems a bit bland personality-wise (sorry if your reading this Delia). That said the recipes of hers that I've used were spot on. Although my tomato sauces are better !

thriftlady_2

The thing with Delia is that she is first and foremost a teacher. She is most definitely not an entertainer. I think you can be both though.

FZwanab

Nigella Lawson

When I was a kid outside making mud pies etc. I used to say out loud " and now I am going to add a handful of grass to this pie" I thought the way you were supposed to make food was the way celebrities did it on tv. I don't talk to myself while adding ingredients half as much any more.

seraphina

My Kenwood chef:)

lil_me

James Martin can cook in my kitchen any day!

meanmarie

Rick Stein, Giorgio Locatelli, Mary Berry, Nigella Lawson and James Martin in that order to cook for me please

Marie

MRSMCAWBER

hmmmm

Not a celebrity -but my mum nearly all my recipes come from her when i was wee -and i still pick her brains now:T One of the best cooks ever and a master of making things stretch when we were little

Bill grainger and his lovely smiley face and sparkly teeth
Hairy bikers
Gordon Ramsey
james martin
hugh of course
oh and i like Jamies book about growing veg and cooking -can't remember the name -but i got it for xmas and its great :T

Can't watch Delia or Nigella -but would probably like there recipes
Same with Rick Stein -don't like to watch him but like some of his recipes

Having said that -I wouldn't say no to any cook book -i have an obsession:o

charlies_mum

Gordon Ramsey

Gordon Ramsay is fabulous - his cooking isn't bad either

krispyg76

Delia does a great job - her recipe for Kedgeree is the best I have ever tried

Jamie Oliver I like cos he comes accross as the sort of person that wants to show you that cooking is easy enough to do so come on and have a go at it

Nigel Slater is also very good - simple wholesome and tasty food

Gordon Ramsey (who I have met before and is a really nice pleasant bloke) - is mad about what he does and takes great pride in his work. I have read a few of his books before but i do not find them that accessible.

Nigella is good but i find her tv programmes so fake - like she is not really going to be rushing around London trying to cook for her and her kids etc. And as I try and control what I eat and make it healthy whereever possible, I find her recipes go against that.

Ainsley Harriot I have a lot of time for - love his recipe for Jerk Chicken where you make the Jerk seasoning yourself - so tasty and yet so spicy.

I also like John Burton Race and I really like the recipes of Paul Merrett who I have recently discovered.

For those of you who like home cooking but want to see what you are making first, don't forget BBC Food now has a selection of video recipes and also Video Jug shows you how to make countless starters, meals and desserts and guides you throw what you need and how to do it.