Jamie Oliver

Gigervamp

Hear, hear Ditsy! :T

catkins

I really like Jamie Oliver and think he genuinely does want to help people cook reasonably cheap healthy meals.

I agree, that for most posters on here, he is not telling us anything new or cheaper than we already know BUT there are lots and lots of people who don't cook from scratch, who throw perfectly good food away etc and if it changes just a few it has to be worth it.

I posted on another thread that I have friends who have very little money - 2 children and they both only earn minimum wage (neither work full time). She has actually asked me for advice about food - they buy literally everything ready made, pizzas, shepherds pie, bolognaise, pasta sauces etc. I have made some suggestions but she comes up with an excuse every time. I suggested making things like pasta sauces or a mince mix which could be used for shepherds pie, bolognaise, chilli etc in bulk and freezing some. She said they didn't have any containers. I know they get Chinese takeaway at least once a week so said use the containers that comes in (I use them - think they are great). Her answer? She can't be bothered to wash them out!

Butterfly_Brain

Brisket is not cheap any more, most people on a budget don't buy beef unless it is mince and that is getting expensive, he would have been better doing a rubber chicken or gammon joint and stretch it into a couple of meals. The fish pie was laughable and would cost way over most people's budget on benefits or low wages £1.80 per person equates to £7.20 for a family of 4, £9 for a family of 5 and a wopping £10.80 for a family of 6 :eek: for only one meal. That is not budget cooking

spacey2012

This man probably spends more on his lunch than most MSE'ers have for a weeks food.
What advice could someone so out of touch with reality offer to someone scraping the pennies.
His new book even recommends spending a hundred quid on his own overpriced utensils.

The man is a greedy fool.

catkins

Gigervamp wrote: »

£30 per meal? Where did you get that number?

I'd like to know where that amount came from. He is talking about pizza costing less than £2 so where on earth does £30 come into it?

catkins

Butterfly_Brain wrote: »

Brisket is not cheap any more, most people on a budget don't buy beef unless it is mince and that is getting expensive, he would have been better doing a rubber chicken or gammon joint and stretch it into a couple of meals. The fish pie was laughable and would cost way over most people's budget on benefits or low wages £1.80 per person equates to £7.20 for a family of 4, £9 for a family of 5 and a wopping £10.80 for a family of 6 :eek: for only one meal. That is not budget cooking

It is budget cooking for a lot of people.

I hate all the Jamie bashing

liney

I think he's getting bad press. The vast majority of people it seems can't cook/won't cook, so he's trying to improve the diet of the masses, not the eat for 50p bunch on here.

Also, if he took the bare minimal approach, as many of us do from time to time, would it really attract Waitrose Mums to give it a go? It would be too much of a shock to the system to be an attractive prospect.

There is such a thing as too frugal, especially when you are not preaching to the converted.

spacey2012

liney wrote: »

so he's trying to improve the diet of the masses, .

No he is not, he is hijacking a genuine concern by making himself filthy rich selling his book.
He is worth 155 million and counting.
If he was that genuinely concerned his book would be free like is most other information on cooking on a budget.
Now he thinks he invented the Pizza !

He cares for nobody but his bank balance, he thinks British people are too lazy to work for him as they wont do 80-100 hours for little pay.
The man is as transparent as a glass of spring water.

AnnieO1234

Frozen fish pie mix, all responsibly sourced, salmon, pollock and smoked haddock £2 in sainsbugs. I use it sometimes in pastas as you can see what the different fish are and there are some good size pieces in there.

Jamie makes the claim that this is for anyone on every budget!

To the PP, fennel seeds and other spices work on cheap if you add one a week to your shop from the ethnic foods aisle. A lot of jack Monroe's recipes feature spices bought in this way. They make the difference.

IMHO all he's doing is attempting another crusade but along the lines of "you too can eat this truffle linguine with gold flakes, at just £1.60 per portion... Makes 2,500 portions"

It's a joke. The average family is two adults, one and a bit kids. It really is time there was a show that helped then out. I wouldn't have minded do much if with the fish pie he'd made individual portions with a view to freezing what you don't want.

The concept of the series is needed, but it really is not going to be delivered by Jamie. If the chef himself has to have a team to work out costing, well it's not the best example is it?

X

ditsykitchen

Butterfly_Brain wrote: »

Brisket is not cheap any more, most people on a budget don't buy beef unless it is mince and that is getting expensive, he would have been better doing a rubber chicken or gammon joint and stretch it into a couple of meals. The fish pie was laughable and would cost way over most people's budget on benefits or low wages £1.80 per person equates to £7.20 for a family of 4, £9 for a family of 5 and a wopping £10.80 for a family of 6 :eek: for only one meal. That is not budget cooking

Budget means sticking to a pre-planned amount for you weekly shopping. What that budget is will depend entirely on the person. If it doesn't fit your budget, don't buy it. It's not meant to be for people on benefits or on the dole. It's for people who, for example, want to eat less 20 quid takeaways.