The Great British Vote…
Posted on Friday, 29th May 2009
I have been following the TV programme ‘Great British Menu‘ avidly. I absolutely adore how the judges often disagree with each other – nothing like a bit of controversy and some infighting! And Oliver Peyton – how great is he?! Kind of like the Simon Powell of the food world. Now wouldn’t it be great to be a judge? Could there possibly be a better job than tasting all that fabulous food?
But my biggest beef (and I just felt like a rant, seeing as tonight is the last night of the programme) is the fact that public votes make up 50% of the final score. Huh? How can you judge food unless you taste it? It’s not like the BBC need the money…
May 29th, 2009 at 12:43 pm
Preach, sister! You are so right – it’s just a tiny bit ridiculous to have people voting on food they’ve never tasted. I suppose all of these things are popularity contests in the end and not really to do with the food.
May 29th, 2009 at 12:49 pm
Yes indeed! Like how Jason Atheton, who came second in the starter course last year, ended up going on to win the starter course based on the public vote. Travesty!
May 29th, 2009 at 3:02 pm
I agree… it’s strange to call for viewers’ votes when we can’t taste the food 🙁 But maybe it’s an opportunity for the chefs to drum up regional sentiments as part of their entertainment. Which makes me think they should do this Europe-wide ala Eurovision – how awesome will it be to see, say, a Spanish chef up against a French one?
Anyway… I think the judges has voted for a stunning British Menu! A chicken broth type starter, curried seafood, Lancashire hotpot, treacle tart. Although I’m torn between the hotpot and Kitchin’s Beef Wellington – it looked stunning although I think the portion needs to be bigger. I would have gone for Millar’s Rib of Beef if his accompaniments were brighter & more colourful.
May 29th, 2009 at 9:21 pm
I hate Peyton’s character simply for his blinkered approach to food. Sample of his famous quotes include ‘bleurgh’ ‘yuck’ ‘meh’. I found this seasons GBM to be very disappointing – the judges bordering on condescending. There was more than one occasion where they would go ‘this is a great dish, but I am not sure if the servicemen would get this dish’. I’m sorry but what is there to get? If the food is good, then its good. Given that servicemen do form the bottom 10% of the nation’s IQ, it doesn’t take a brain surgeon to recognize good food. Nothing irked me more than Tristan’s Ice cream cone… how is that celebratory? Celebration of this country’s dismal cuisine perhaps?
May 30th, 2009 at 11:29 am
Yes some of the comments were a little silly. You’re right, Peyton wasn’t very nice, but it sure made for good entertainment.
You’re right about the ice cream. I cannot understand how it could rank second. When I tried it at Launceston Place it was very nice, but it is just ice cream. What were the judges thinking?