Rick Stein Road to Mexico.
Discussion
I have watched a few of his programmes down the years. He has always had a bit of a prickly demeanour, alongside his enthusiasm. I quite like this.
In his latest series this seems to be turned up to eleven. Looks, most of the time, like he just does not want to be there.
In addition, one scene he had the worst case of the shakes I have seen since I used to visit my alcoholic grandfather.
Another was the scene he was making some chocolate chicken “thing” where the exchange with the offscreen director / producer was acerbic in the extreme.
Anyone know what is going on? Or have I just invented this, by way of two much red wine?
In his latest series this seems to be turned up to eleven. Looks, most of the time, like he just does not want to be there.
In addition, one scene he had the worst case of the shakes I have seen since I used to visit my alcoholic grandfather.
Another was the scene he was making some chocolate chicken “thing” where the exchange with the offscreen director / producer was acerbic in the extreme.
Anyone know what is going on? Or have I just invented this, by way of two much red wine?
I've always thought he's far from natural on screen and I remember reading somewhere he is incredibly nervous on camera. Not so sure about the shakes, been like it for many years.
As for the off screen exchange, that was with David Pritchard who was his director since the early days until the last series when he died during the making of the last couple of programmes. Pointed exchanges between them are a feature of most of his series and by all accounts they really were the best of friends.
Maybe hes just becoming a bit more of of a grumpy old man.
As for the off screen exchange, that was with David Pritchard who was his director since the early days until the last series when he died during the making of the last couple of programmes. Pointed exchanges between them are a feature of most of his series and by all accounts they really were the best of friends.
Maybe hes just becoming a bit more of of a grumpy old man.
Edited by 21TonyK on Saturday 30th May 08:55
greygoose said:
He is always a bit prickly to be fair, he is an odd person to host such a show as he never really seems interested in meeting new people or hearing what they say! Having said that I do enjoy his shows, though I preferred Keith Floyd back in the day.
Keith Floyd was different gravy to Rick Stein. He really was interested in people and what they did and had a jolly old time along the way. Legend.You'd have thought some of it would have rubbed off on a young Stein who worked alongside Floyd early in his career but he just seems incredibly self indulgent to me.
Interesting that others have observed this too. I find him super awkward in front of the camera and he rarely builds real rapport or truly engages with whoever he is meeting.
I find him very arrogant and like some doddery old alcoholic grandad you’d rather avoid than spend time with...
Keith Floyd was utterly brilliant, different level.
I find him very arrogant and like some doddery old alcoholic grandad you’d rather avoid than spend time with...
Keith Floyd was utterly brilliant, different level.
One thing that strikes me is his total lack of effort with any of the local languages. Admittedly I am terrible at them, but I do at least try.
You would think with the amount of travelling and cuisine he would pick up a few handy phrases.
Maybe he has, but he certainly doesn't use them.
Contrast that to Ramsay who actually makes an effort (saw a programme where he went to a French market)
You would think with the amount of travelling and cuisine he would pick up a few handy phrases.
Maybe he has, but he certainly doesn't use them.
Contrast that to Ramsay who actually makes an effort (saw a programme where he went to a French market)
hungry_hog said:
One thing that strikes me is his total lack of effort with any of the local languages. Admittedly I am terrible at them, but I do at least try.
You would think with the amount of travelling and cuisine he would pick up a few handy phrases.
Maybe he has, but he certainly doesn't use them.
Contrast that to Ramsay who actually makes an effort (saw a programme where he went to a French market)
One of the differences is that Ramsay formally trained as a chef and would be familiar with several French phrases just from that, he also worked in French kitchens (notably Roux) in the UK and in France for several years, also Italy.You would think with the amount of travelling and cuisine he would pick up a few handy phrases.
Maybe he has, but he certainly doesn't use them.
Contrast that to Ramsay who actually makes an effort (saw a programme where he went to a French market)
By comparison Rick Stein is self taught and would not have had that sort of exposure. I really do think his lack of trying is through the typical British fear of embarrassment of getting it wrong.
I know my French improves massively after a couple of bottles of red.
India was a low point for me.
To have the Indian sub-continent's complex cuisine boiled down into 'the search for the perfect curry' is I think insulting in the extreme.
I enjoyed the series overall in terms of the sets, art direction and recipes, but the whiff of casual racism throughout it jarred.
To have the Indian sub-continent's complex cuisine boiled down into 'the search for the perfect curry' is I think insulting in the extreme.
I enjoyed the series overall in terms of the sets, art direction and recipes, but the whiff of casual racism throughout it jarred.
Mobile Chicane said:
India was a low point for me.
To have the Indian sub-continent's complex cuisine boiled down into 'the search for the perfect curry' is I think insulting in the extreme.
I enjoyed the series overall in terms of the sets, art direction and recipes, but the whiff of casual racism throughout it jarred.
I agree, i think it is EFH189’s comment - that he is not comfortable.To have the Indian sub-continent's complex cuisine boiled down into 'the search for the perfect curry' is I think insulting in the extreme.
I enjoyed the series overall in terms of the sets, art direction and recipes, but the whiff of casual racism throughout it jarred.
Floyd alway travelled with a drunken joy for people and places.
Stein does not seem to share the pleasure of people, despite the fact that he has travelled well, pretty much his whole life.
Strange...
I think everyone agrees Stein is far from comfortable in front of a camera.
I suspect he is far more affable in person with a few bottles of wine, as we all are!
As for poor old Keith. I have met several of his on screen acquaintances and I know a couple of his (now elderly) staff who managed his pub which is very local to me. I remember "seeing" him on more than once occasion, difficult to meet and unconscious person!
He and Bourdain are kindred spirits.
He is a legend and one of the ground breaking TV personalities of the 70/80's
Personable alcoholic yes, cook and chef, most definitely.
RIP
I suspect he is far more affable in person with a few bottles of wine, as we all are!
As for poor old Keith. I have met several of his on screen acquaintances and I know a couple of his (now elderly) staff who managed his pub which is very local to me. I remember "seeing" him on more than once occasion, difficult to meet and unconscious person!
He and Bourdain are kindred spirits.
He is a legend and one of the ground breaking TV personalities of the 70/80's
Personable alcoholic yes, cook and chef, most definitely.
RIP
Actually, I don’t agree at all with some of the earlier criticism of Stein. Floyd on the other hand (admittedly with the benefit of hindsight) comes across as a very self indulgent wino. He could be entertaining, but more often comes over as a bit patronising and arrogant.
I have been enjoying Rick Stein’s Road to Mexico, as well as his Secret France, throughout this lockdown. I just don’t see the problems you mention. I find his comments interesting as well as the many people he meets. I find him lacking in pretension, and honest, rather than prickly. He also usually takes the trouble to get himself a decent car, a Mustang for the Mexico trip.
I’m not a foodie, but you have to watch something other than just repeats of Hart to Hart. Jamie Oliver is always entertaining, while Matt Tebbutt comes over as a loudmouthed tit. Nick Nairn needs to get a grip of himself. I just don’t get Gordon Ramsay at all. I don’t think he is a genius, just a short tempered bully. I do like a high end restaurant, but to me the secret of a first class restaurant is a first class Head Waiter, or Maitre d’. He runs the place, not the chef. All this focus on star chefs is completely misplaced. When you get someone seriously arrogant, he can’t stand being challenged by anyone else so the HW is a nonentity, and the restaurant is usually a shambles as a result. That’s what went wrong with Nick Nairn’s restaurant in Glasgow all those years ago. Nick was better before he became a celeb. He’s not the only one either.
I have been enjoying Rick Stein’s Road to Mexico, as well as his Secret France, throughout this lockdown. I just don’t see the problems you mention. I find his comments interesting as well as the many people he meets. I find him lacking in pretension, and honest, rather than prickly. He also usually takes the trouble to get himself a decent car, a Mustang for the Mexico trip.
I’m not a foodie, but you have to watch something other than just repeats of Hart to Hart. Jamie Oliver is always entertaining, while Matt Tebbutt comes over as a loudmouthed tit. Nick Nairn needs to get a grip of himself. I just don’t get Gordon Ramsay at all. I don’t think he is a genius, just a short tempered bully. I do like a high end restaurant, but to me the secret of a first class restaurant is a first class Head Waiter, or Maitre d’. He runs the place, not the chef. All this focus on star chefs is completely misplaced. When you get someone seriously arrogant, he can’t stand being challenged by anyone else so the HW is a nonentity, and the restaurant is usually a shambles as a result. That’s what went wrong with Nick Nairn’s restaurant in Glasgow all those years ago. Nick was better before he became a celeb. He’s not the only one either.
Edited by cardigankid on Saturday 30th May 20:45
I really like Rick Stein and rather enjoy his slightly uncomfortable relationship with the camera. Unlike most TV chefs he’s a literate and educated man and his historical and literal asides plus the odd reflective rumination are what adds real character to his programmes.
Odd comments on his lack of language, he speaks perfectly good French and what you see is obviously just in the edit. I certainly see no whiff of casual racism, quite the opposite. He’s clearly a sociable introvert who knows who he is.
Odd comments on his lack of language, he speaks perfectly good French and what you see is obviously just in the edit. I certainly see no whiff of casual racism, quite the opposite. He’s clearly a sociable introvert who knows who he is.
ettore said:
I really like Rick Stein and rather enjoy his slightly uncomfortable relationship with the camera. Unlike most TV chefs he’s a literate and educated man and his historical and literal asides plus the odd reflective rumination are what adds real character to his programmes.
Odd comments on his lack of language, he speaks perfectly good French and what you see is obviously just in the edit. I certainly see no whiff of casual racism, quite the opposite. He’s clearly a sociable introvert who knows who he is.
He speaks passable French, not "perfectly good" French. Odd comments on his lack of language, he speaks perfectly good French and what you see is obviously just in the edit. I certainly see no whiff of casual racism, quite the opposite. He’s clearly a sociable introvert who knows who he is.
I don't understand the criticism of him in this thread. To me he seems like a personable chap. He does meet a lot of people on his food / travel filming, too.
RC1807 said:
ettore said:
I really like Rick Stein and rather enjoy his slightly uncomfortable relationship with the camera. Unlike most TV chefs he’s a literate and educated man and his historical and literal asides plus the odd reflective rumination are what adds real character to his programmes.
Odd comments on his lack of language, he speaks perfectly good French and what you see is obviously just in the edit. I certainly see no whiff of casual racism, quite the opposite. He’s clearly a sociable introvert who knows who he is.
He speaks passable French, not "perfectly good" French. Odd comments on his lack of language, he speaks perfectly good French and what you see is obviously just in the edit. I certainly see no whiff of casual racism, quite the opposite. He’s clearly a sociable introvert who knows who he is.
I don't understand the criticism of him in this thread. To me he seems like a personable chap. He does meet a lot of people on his food / travel filming, too.
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