Rise of the Rockstar Chef
Discussion
I heard this was soon to launch and saw it on iPlayer, so in I went!
Tbh, anyone that has had much interest in these three chefs back stories and rise to greatness will already know pretty much everything in the first two and half episodes. It's all filler provided by an extensive range of gobs
te talking heads, leading to the main event... they all sit down together for the first time in over twenty years. No spoilers, but I expect most like me will skip to the reunion in ep 3 after watching about half of ep1.
I'll have to leave it a short while ahead of posting specifics as most people won't have watched it yet. But my initial observations are:
- Two of them are in considerably worse health than the third. One of them shockingly so.
- Two of them are still trying to out alpha the other
- I don't think any of them resolved anything
- That it's bloody impressive the BBC somehow got them all to say yes to this, as bad blood still remains. Some of it justified, some of it apparently pointless.
Anyone else seen it yet and care to share a spoiler free first impression?
Tbh, anyone that has had much interest in these three chefs back stories and rise to greatness will already know pretty much everything in the first two and half episodes. It's all filler provided by an extensive range of gobs
te talking heads, leading to the main event... they all sit down together for the first time in over twenty years. No spoilers, but I expect most like me will skip to the reunion in ep 3 after watching about half of ep1.I'll have to leave it a short while ahead of posting specifics as most people won't have watched it yet. But my initial observations are:
- Two of them are in considerably worse health than the third. One of them shockingly so.
- Two of them are still trying to out alpha the other
- I don't think any of them resolved anything
- That it's bloody impressive the BBC somehow got them all to say yes to this, as bad blood still remains. Some of it justified, some of it apparently pointless.
Anyone else seen it yet and care to share a spoiler free first impression?
I read somewhere that Marco Pierre White refused to be involved if the programme contained Jamie Oliver on the grounds that he, Gordon Ramsay and Heston Blumental were chefs but Jamie Oliver was a glorified pub cook.
As someone who remembers the rockstar chefs making it acceptable for men to be good in the kitchen I was looking to watching it so it's a shame if it isn't very good.
As someone who remembers the rockstar chefs making it acceptable for men to be good in the kitchen I was looking to watching it so it's a shame if it isn't very good.
I've watched the first episode and thought it was terrific. Blokes like them are totally not what I'm about myself but I put that to one side while I watched. I think I can probably guess who are the two and the one that the OP refers to. A shame to see Heston now and then read about his mental health challenges. About 15-20 years ago I saw him riding a butchers-boy bike down Brick Lane as I sat and ate a curry.
Was interesting to hear about the working relationships between them and also the Roux family. Odd to see how old Gordon Ramsay looked even when he was young. After one episode MPW does seem genuinely unlikeable - why on earth was he calling Ramsay's mother to slag him off?
Was interesting to hear about the working relationships between them and also the Roux family. Odd to see how old Gordon Ramsay looked even when he was young. After one episode MPW does seem genuinely unlikeable - why on earth was he calling Ramsay's mother to slag him off?
CoupeKid said:
I read somewhere that Marco Pierre White refused to be involved if the programme contained Jamie Oliver on the grounds that he, Gordon Ramsay and Heston Blumental were chefs but Jamie Oliver was a glorified pub cook.
As someone who remembers the rockstar chefs making it acceptable for men to be good in the kitchen I was looking to watching it so it's a shame if it isn't very good.
It's worth watching when the three of them finally get together - even if it's a little, erm... unproductive as a reunion As someone who remembers the rockstar chefs making it acceptable for men to be good in the kitchen I was looking to watching it so it's a shame if it isn't very good.
The rest of it, for me at least, was no new clips and nothing new said by any of them tbh. They've all given endless talks and recounted the same stories. Although I imagine for viewers that hadn't seen it all before, this show would be mind blowing.
As for Jamie, whatever the reasons Marco gave, it's fair to say that he doesn't belong at this particular dinner table.
Randy Winkman said:
I've watched the first episode and thought it was terrific. Blokes like them are totally not what I'm about myself but I put that to one side while I watched. I think I can probably guess who are the two and the one that the OP refers to. A shame to see Heston now and then read about his mental health challenges. About 15-20 years ago I saw him riding a butchers-boy bike down Brick Lane as I sat and ate a curry.
Was interesting to hear about the working relationships between them and also the Roux family. Odd to see how old Gordon Ramsay looked even when he was young. After one episode MPW does seem genuinely unlikeable - why on earth was he calling Ramsay's mother to slag him off?
Heston is indeed not a well man. But honestly, I think the state of Marco was the biggest shock. He's fine when he's sat down, but crossing a room felt like something he had to contemplate for a few hours and then commit one further hour to actually completing.Was interesting to hear about the working relationships between them and also the Roux family. Odd to see how old Gordon Ramsay looked even when he was young. After one episode MPW does seem genuinely unlikeable - why on earth was he calling Ramsay's mother to slag him off?
The calling the mother thing was quite genuine. He'd slag Gordon off in service endlessly to make him be the best he could be, then call his mother afterwards to explain what Gordon had done wrong and why he'd said the things he had. Gordon has said he's ultimately thankful for it, and his mother understood the intention too apparently. She and Gordon were probably grateful for the situation as the alternative would have been simply getting sacked. Easy to forget how different things were in the eighties! Especially in the ultra competitive restaurants of the time.
castex said:
Like so many of these things I'm getting the impression that the talking heads (one star) have just viewed the clip that they'll show after they've spoken.
That's always the way. The programme is effectively finished other than the talking heads inserts - they'll view as much as they need to, often all of it to ensure they don't say anything contradictory.- cue MPW boning pigs' feet enthusiastically.
The 'one star' would have seen whatever of the show he wanted to, but he hardly needed to. There's not a thing discussed in the entire programme that he didn't live through first hand or at least through Gordon.
The first episode was very much a build-up to the reunion, but interesting nevertheless.
HB really didn't look in great shape. It could be that he's exhibiting some physical side effects of medications being used to treat his mental health issues?
Also, I think MPW needs to get an even bigger house, so there's extra wall space to display a few more massive photographs of himself!
HB really didn't look in great shape. It could be that he's exhibiting some physical side effects of medications being used to treat his mental health issues?
Also, I think MPW needs to get an even bigger house, so there's extra wall space to display a few more massive photographs of himself!
C69 said:
The first episode was very much a build-up to the reunion, but interesting nevertheless.
HB really didn't look in great shape. It could be that he's exhibiting some physical side effects of medications being used to treat his mental health issues?
Also, I think MPW needs to get an even bigger house, so there's extra wall space to display a few more massive photographs of himself!
I did wonder where all those photos actually were. As I say, I've only seen the first episode and I'm not sure they explained - or perhaps it was obvious? If they were on the walls in his own house? Dear oh dear. I know he was rather photogenic but who would do that? HB really didn't look in great shape. It could be that he's exhibiting some physical side effects of medications being used to treat his mental health issues?
Also, I think MPW needs to get an even bigger house, so there's extra wall space to display a few more massive photographs of himself!
C69 said:
The first episode was very much a build-up to the reunion, but interesting nevertheless.
HB really didn't look in great shape. It could be that he's exhibiting some physical side effects of medications being used to treat his mental health issues?
Also, I think MPW needs to get an even bigger house, so there's extra wall space to display a few more massive photographs of himself!
You can stay at his house if you want - it's a guesthouse! He lives there himself and rarely leaves so you can chat with him if you see him. You just have to be sure to agree with everything he says, obviously.HB really didn't look in great shape. It could be that he's exhibiting some physical side effects of medications being used to treat his mental health issues?
Also, I think MPW needs to get an even bigger house, so there's extra wall space to display a few more massive photographs of himself!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4AqP59IXI-o - here's a tour.
The Gauge said:
I wonder if you have to be a bit socially disfunctional to survive in their environment?
Read Kitchen Confidential.https://www.amazon.co.uk/Kitchen-Confidential-Anth...
TheDeuce said:
You can stay at his house if you want - it's a guesthouse! He lives there himself and rarely leaves so you can chat with him if you see him. You just have to be sure to agree with everything he says, obviously.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4AqP59IXI-o - here's a tour.
I gets very mixed reviews on Tripadvisor, averaging 3.4 out of 5. Apparently the decor is rather eclectic - as well as numerous photos of the great man, there's quite a lot of taxidermy on display (animals, not failed commis chefs).https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4AqP59IXI-o - here's a tour.
C69 said:
TheDeuce said:
You can stay at his house if you want - it's a guesthouse! He lives there himself and rarely leaves so you can chat with him if you see him. You just have to be sure to agree with everything he says, obviously.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4AqP59IXI-o - here's a tour.
I gets very mixed reviews on Tripadvisor, averaging 3.4 out of 5. Apparently the decor is rather eclectic - as well as numerous photos of the great man, there's quite a lot of taxidermy on display (animals, not failed commis chefs).https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4AqP59IXI-o - here's a tour.
I enjoyed the first one - didn't know it was on... Ended up watching eps 2 and 3 on iPlayer straight after!
Couldn't get over how Heston appeared, I remember watching him on TV years ago and he was very animated and energetic. Never knew he was diagnosed bipolar nor that he was sectioned - I only found that out on Wikipedia after seeing him on the show.
Not a fan of MPW, Gordon's story about him shagging some diner's girlfriend in the toilet of his restaurant then jumping out of the window to get back to the kitchen seemed a bit far fetched but then, watching further was eminently believable. Seemed like it was his way or the highway, even in the recording of the show.
Gordon's revelation about who was actually responsible for the diary theft at the aubergine was quite funny, if in a twisted sort of way.
Couldn't get over how Heston appeared, I remember watching him on TV years ago and he was very animated and energetic. Never knew he was diagnosed bipolar nor that he was sectioned - I only found that out on Wikipedia after seeing him on the show.
Not a fan of MPW, Gordon's story about him shagging some diner's girlfriend in the toilet of his restaurant then jumping out of the window to get back to the kitchen seemed a bit far fetched but then, watching further was eminently believable. Seemed like it was his way or the highway, even in the recording of the show.
Gordon's revelation about who was actually responsible for the diary theft at the aubergine was quite funny, if in a twisted sort of way.
TheDeuce said:
CoupeKid said:
I read somewhere that Marco Pierre White refused to be involved if the programme contained Jamie Oliver on the grounds that he, Gordon Ramsay and Heston Blumental were chefs but Jamie Oliver was a glorified pub cook.
As someone who remembers the rockstar chefs making it acceptable for men to be good in the kitchen I was looking to watching it so it's a shame if it isn't very good.
It's worth watching when the three of them finally get together - even if it's a little, erm... unproductive as a reunion As someone who remembers the rockstar chefs making it acceptable for men to be good in the kitchen I was looking to watching it so it's a shame if it isn't very good.
The rest of it, for me at least, was no new clips and nothing new said by any of them tbh. They've all given endless talks and recounted the same stories. Although I imagine for viewers that hadn't seen it all before, this show would be mind blowing.
As for Jamie, whatever the reasons Marco gave, it's fair to say that he doesn't belong at this particular dinner table.
I watched the first two episodes last night and thoroughly enjoyed it although as others have said, I'm shocked at the condition of two of the stars. I used to know a lady who was bipolar like HB and when she was on lithium it really slowed her down and made her seem really odd. As for MPW, I would have thought that he'd have more pride in himself.
RustyMX5 said:
I watched the first two episodes last night and thoroughly enjoyed it although as others have said, I'm shocked at the condition of two of the stars. I used to know a lady who was bipolar like HB and when she was on lithium it really slowed her down and made her seem really odd. As for MPW, I would have thought that he'd have more pride in himself.
I think MPW put 90% of all his lifes effort, and all the calories he will ever burn, into his career between the age of 16-30.Then he though "f
k it, hit the goal" and just stopped. But sadly, it appears he didn't stop glugging butter and pork fat three times a day Chunky bugger.
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