Jamie Oliver - good guy or prick?
Jamie Oliver - good guy or prick?
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Discussion

airbrakes

Original Poster:

10,712 posts

189 months

Wednesday 28th August 2013
quotequote all
Someone just linked me this:
http://johnnyvoid.wordpress.com/2013/08/27/has-the...

I've never seen such a bilious tirade, but it did get me thinking. Is this now how the majority of people view JO? Has he crossed the line from helpful to patronising? Or is this just another piece of rich-person-bashing from the militant left?

Gargamel

16,335 posts

290 months

Wednesday 28th August 2013
quotequote all
I'd say good guy.

That fifteen thing with the people he hired and trained was well done, his campaigns have been generally well done and I think he has passion for his subject.

Of course people will always question did he do it for fame, or has he used his fame for a worthwhile cause. I tend toward the latter. He was already famous before he started campaigns.

Plus he put. Porsche engine in a VW van, and that I think was the work of a decent chap having some fun.

rb5er

11,657 posts

201 months

Wednesday 28th August 2013
quotequote all
He`s a tard. His public airing of stupid un-thought out views could well end up costing him money. He probably has plenty of "wonga" anyway though.

Wheat

505 posts

159 months

Wednesday 28th August 2013
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Yer I think he means well and who cares if he's making money/ fame on the way, good on him. I really like the bloke (from what I see on tv) and his recipes you find on the net are spot on. Always my first port of call when I'm cooking.

ch108

1,127 posts

162 months

Wednesday 28th August 2013
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Personally can't stand him and his patronising manner. He's just a TV chef, who gives him the authority to tell anyone how to live their life? And its not just him, there are plenty of other TV chefs who seem to think they are some sort of authority on peoples lifestyles when in reality their job is really just to cook folks dinner.

calibrax

4,788 posts

240 months

Wednesday 28th August 2013
quotequote all
He's somewhere inbetween.

Yes, he's loud and opinionated, but usually his opinions hit the nail on the head. Like in this article...

http://news.sky.com/story/1133696/jamie-oliver-poo...

22s

6,524 posts

245 months

Wednesday 28th August 2013
quotequote all
I like him.

He's hardly a toff telling people what to do. At least he is attempting to get people to eat healthily on a budget.

The author of that article's bitter prose and swearing takes away from his 'argument' (whining) in my opinion.

cheddar

4,637 posts

203 months

Wednesday 28th August 2013
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Good guy.

Quoted out of context, sensationalised by the media.

He shows heart, passion, promotes healthier standards and, most of all, he inspires me to cook.


Gargamel

16,335 posts

290 months

Wednesday 28th August 2013
quotequote all
rb5er said:
He`s a tard. His public airing of stupid un-thought out views could well end up costing him money. He probably has plenty of "wonga" anyway though.
For example? What would you consider an un thought a view ?

That Obesity is an issue?

That food should be cooked better?

Or was his style of getting people of the younger generation interested in food which you found to be "stupid"

Hackney

7,423 posts

237 months

Wednesday 28th August 2013
quotequote all
ch108 said:
Personally can't stand him and his patronising manner. He's just a TV chef, who gives him the authority to tell anyone how to live their life? And its not just him, there are plenty of other TV chefs who seem to think they are some sort of authority on peoples lifestyles when in reality their job is really just to cook folks dinner.
I think the fact that he is a TV chef qualifies him to tell people.
The Sky article is a good example. Good food can be cooked for very little but we choose not to.

rb5er

11,657 posts

201 months

Wednesday 28th August 2013
quotequote all
Gargamel said:
For example? What would you consider an un thought a view ?

That Obesity is an issue?

That food should be cooked better?

Or was his style of getting people of the younger generation interested in food which you found to be "stupid"
His spectaculary ill thought out generalisation that British workers are lazy and foreigners are much better. In his experience maybe, but there are differing factors and loads of horror stories about foreign workers too.

To be fair until he came out with that crap I didn`t think he was that much of a tosser.

Gargamel

16,335 posts

290 months

Wednesday 28th August 2013
quotequote all
rb5er said:
His spectaculary ill thought out generalisation that British workers are lazy and foreigners are much better. In his experience maybe, but there are differing factors and loads of horror stories about foreign workers too.

To be fair until he came out with that crap I didn`t think he was that much of a tosser.
Nothing wrong with British workers I agree. It's the non workers that are the problem. To be fair he has plenty more experience of training young people with no skills or qualifications for his resturants, so I reckon he is entitled to his opinion.

anonymous-user

83 months

Wednesday 28th August 2013
quotequote all
rb5er said:
His spectacularly ill thought out generalisation that British workers are lazy and foreigners are much better. In his experience maybe, but there are differing factors and loads of horror stories about foreign workers too.
What is he supposed to base these things on, if not his own experience? confused

Hackney

7,423 posts

237 months

Wednesday 28th August 2013
quotequote all
airbrakes said:
Someone just linked me this:
http://johnnyvoid.wordpress.com/2013/08/27/has-the...

I've never seen such a bilious tirade, but it did get me thinking. Is this now how the majority of people view JO? Has he crossed the line from helpful to patronising? Or is this just another piece of rich-person-bashing from the militant left?
What a ridiculous blog. And the comments.....jeez

kiteless

12,550 posts

233 months

Wednesday 28th August 2013
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I've always liked the guy's approach to cooking: no nonsense, no waste, and all about the flavours. A bit like Rick Stein, Hugh F-W, and Si & Dave.

However, I do think that J.O. and his ilk need to remember they are cooks. Very good cooks, but cooks nonetheless and should not confuse their opinions with either national policy or fact.

I'm not implying, BTW, that this country's policy makers are any better with either policies or facts nono




Woolly

643 posts

248 months

Wednesday 28th August 2013
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He won me over from the latter to the former after seeing Jamie's Kitchen and his other reality shows, e.g. the one in the US and the one talking to useless government ministers trying to improve school dinners. Now I think he's a top bloke. He's worked his way up, knows his stuff, is very driven and passionate about his work yet shows compassion for those less well off (including tough love where necessary). He's also well travelled and met many people at different levels in his industry (both suppliers and consumers). So more entitled to an opinion than most.

If he's made himself rich in the process, very good luck to him. And yes he has inspired me to have a go at cooking (not very successful).

A good rant about those he gave a chance to here:

http://boards.fool.co.uk/look-in-here-its-the-gift...


irocfan

48,815 posts

219 months

Wednesday 28th August 2013
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personally I like him... he seems to make cooking fun and isn't stuffy and up-himself like others on the idiot box

NoNeed

15,137 posts

229 months

Wednesday 28th August 2013
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Why is this in food and drink? The thread is about the bloke as a person MOT as a chef.

Mobile Chicane

21,977 posts

241 months

Wednesday 28th August 2013
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JO is a very well-advised marketing machine.

Whoever does his PR, they're rather good.

5potTurbo

13,653 posts

197 months

Thursday 29th August 2013
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NoNeed said:
Why is this in food and drink? The thread is about the bloke as a person MOT as a chef.
Did he pass or fail his MOT?



I like JOliver. He's made even average home cooks have the ability to create some good food with easy to follow books.
Like him or hate him, he's certainly doing what he can - which is probably more than the elected majority.