Jamie Oliver

[alfaman]

At least Jamie’s is better than Little Chef.

Once went in for breakfast and wanted fried eggs.

LC :“We can serve you scrambled eggs, not fried”

Me :“Can you not just fry them rather than scramble?”

LC: (looking embarrassed) - “the eggs are pre scrambled in a bag”

Little Chef were dire...no idea how they lasted so long .. key locations I guess.

and how the fk does a breakfast cafe run out of eggs

Edited by alfaman on Thursday 22 August 15:13

[captain_cynic]

alfaman said:

At least Jamie’s is better than Little Chef.

Once went in for breakfast and wanted fried eggs.

LC :“We can serve you scrambled eggs, not fried”

Me :“Can you not just fry them rather than scramble?”

LC: (looking embarrassed) - “the eggs are pre scrambled in a bag”

Little Chef were dire...no idea how they lasted so long .. key locations I guess.

and how the fk does a breakfast cafe run out of eggs

Edited by alfaman on Thursday 22 August 15:13

I think a large part of their suvivial and demise was existing in a pre internet age. Everyone knew a little chef was dire but the alternative was not eating as you had a schedule to keep so couldn't spend half an hour hunting for a cafe.

Now that we've got the internet in our pockets we can simply Google "breakfast" and find something that isn't dire.

Jamies Italian was nothing special... There is (was) even one in Perth, WA. You know you've reached peak mediocrity when you've opened there. If it weren't for Jamie Oliver's name being festooned all over it they would have been out of business years ago.

[So]

captain_cynic said:

alfaman said:

At least Jamie’s is better than Little Chef.

Once went in for breakfast and wanted fried eggs.

LC :“We can serve you scrambled eggs, not fried”

Me :“Can you not just fry them rather than scramble?”

LC: (looking embarrassed) - “the eggs are pre scrambled in a bag”

Little Chef were dire...no idea how they lasted so long .. key locations I guess.

and how the fk does a breakfast cafe run out of eggs

Edited by alfaman on Thursday 22 August 15:13

I think a large part of their suvivial and demise was existing in a pre internet age. Everyone knew a little chef was dire but the alternative was not eating as you had a schedule to keep so couldn't spend half an hour hunting for a cafe.

Ah, as a rep I was fuelled by Olympic Breakfasts. Which is why I started in sales with a 32 inch waist and finished at 38.

[chrispmartha]

alfaman said:

At least Jamie’s is better than Little Chef.

Once went in for breakfast and wanted fried eggs.

LC :“We can serve you scrambled eggs, not fried”

Me :“Can you not just fry them rather than scramble?”

LC: (looking embarrassed) - “the eggs are pre scrambled in a bag”

Little Chef were dire...no idea how they lasted so long .. key locations I guess.

and how the fk does a breakfast cafe run out of eggs

Edited by alfaman on Thursday 22 August 15:13

Wasn't that Heston Blumenthal's doing?

I'm sure the reason was Little Chef do not actually employ chefs?

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2008/nov/...

[alfaman]

chrispmartha said:

alfaman said:

At least Jamie’s is better than Little Chef.

Once went in for breakfast and wanted fried eggs.

LC :“We can serve you scrambled eggs, not fried”

Me :“Can you not just fry them rather than scramble?”

LC: (looking embarrassed) - “the eggs are pre scrambled in a bag”

Little Chef were dire...no idea how they lasted so long .. key locations I guess.

and how the fk does a breakfast cafe run out of eggs

Edited by alfaman on Thursday 22 August 15:13

Wasn't that Heston Blumenthal's doing?

I'm sure the reason was Little Chef do not actually employ chefs?

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2008/nov/...

I think my experience was pre Heston - it probably went downhill even further

[pavarotti1980]

Roman Rhodes said:

Did JO use microwaves?

One poster previously did say that they brought in pre-packed sauces and other ingredients that only require a quick heat up

Roman Rhodes said:

Did JO sell as much booze as Wetherspoons?

Erm no. Why would they

Roman Rhodes said:

Does the exchange rate does affect the price of things?

Yes and this would apply equally to all other restaurants as well. Including the ones which arent struggling

Roman Rhodes said:

Has the Brexit vote given people with marginal discretionary spend the jitters?

Clearly not when you see other brands full to the brim

Roman Rhodes said:

Agree the rents are high (as did JO). Don’t know what you mean by him lacking self-awareness.

His lack of self-awareness is the fact he seems to be blaming everything apoart from his own business sense.

[SydneyBridge]

I was a 'chef' in a little chef for a few weeks. Cooking my pictures, to follow the menu. Everything griddled, deep fried or microwaved.
I got paid less than the waiting staff, as did not get a share of tips.

Also worked in little chef in Keele Services on the M6, which was on the bridge over the motorway. Was full prettly much all day, with queues sometimes

Edited by SydneyBridge on Thursday 22 August 17:00

[Pesty]

And here comes the PR push


“Devastated jamie was in tears “

I.e people have seen through my bs and noticed I was talking bks about the eu in my left wing dog whistle rant so let’s get that turned around.

[Johnnytheboy]

alfaman said:

At least Jamie’s is better than Little Chef.

Once went in for breakfast and wanted fried eggs.

LC :“We can serve you scrambled eggs, not fried”

Me :“Can you not just fry them rather than scramble?”

LC: (looking embarrassed) - “the eggs are pre scrambled in a bag”

Little Chef were dire...no idea how they lasted so long .. key locations I guess.

and how the fk does a breakfast cafe run out of eggs

Edited by alfaman on Thursday 22 August 15:13

A friend and I used to choose them while travelling about a lot in the early 90s. Our argument was they may not be great but they were consistent.

But they got quite expensive in the end.

[jakesmith]

Nickgnome said:

I’ve never really understood why chain restaurants have such an attraction. There are a plethora of small restaurants, cafes and independent gastropubs where great meals can be enjoyed.

I generally avoid establishments with massive menus and much prefer limited menus done well.

Now and again you may find one without a licence and very reasonable corkage rates. This can be a real bonus.

With very young kids it is extremely frustrating going somewhere, ordering something, and the kids not touching it. They are too young to tell them to suck it up at the moment
Also as a family of 4 eating out can quickly become expensive so if we're out for 2 days at the weekend, it's great going to Pizza Express with a voucher, the kids have pizzas that they love for £4 each and we can get change out of £40 for 4 of us easily. Compare that to our local pubs where a main is the best part of £18. Pizzex is not such good value at full price though but that's hardly an issue.
Go to Nandos and £35 will do us all. Very few places can you eat out for that little and whilst it isn't going to win any prizes we like the food
They are convenient cheap eats that the kids will eat, we can save something more exotic for when we haven't got a 2 & 4 year old with us

[anonymous-user]

pavarotti1980 said:

Roman Rhodes said:

Did JO use microwaves?

One poster previously did say that they brought in pre-packed sauces and other ingredients that only require a quick heat up

Roman Rhodes said:

Did JO sell as much booze as Wetherspoons?

Erm no. Why would they

Roman Rhodes said:

Does the exchange rate does affect the price of things?

Yes and this would apply equally to all other restaurants as well. Including the ones which arent struggling

Roman Rhodes said:

Has the Brexit vote given people with marginal discretionary spend the jitters?

Clearly not when you see other brands full to the brim

Roman Rhodes said:

Agree the rents are high (as did JO). Don’t know what you mean by him lacking self-awareness.

His lack of self-awareness is the fact he seems to be blaming everything apoart from his own business sense.

"One poster said" Much bks posted on this thread - I wouldn't rely on it.

Mid-market dining is on it's arse - not full to the brim (in this country, on this planet). Which ones aren't struggling?

Wetherspoons booze profits can subsidise food profits.

He did blame himself if you'd watched the TV program.

You may not like him (for whatever reasons) but your analysis doesn't bear scrutiny.

Edited by anonymous-user on Thursday 22 August 18:44

[anonymous-user]

So said:

captain_cynic said:

alfaman said:

At least Jamie’s is better than Little Chef.

Once went in for breakfast and wanted fried eggs.

LC :“We can serve you scrambled eggs, not fried”

Me :“Can you not just fry them rather than scramble?”

LC: (looking embarrassed) - “the eggs are pre scrambled in a bag”

Little Chef were dire...no idea how they lasted so long .. key locations I guess.

and how the fk does a breakfast cafe run out of eggs

Edited by alfaman on Thursday 22 August 15:13

I think a large part of their suvivial and demise was existing in a pre internet age. Everyone knew a little chef was dire but the alternative was not eating as you had a schedule to keep so couldn't spend half an hour hunting for a cafe.

Ah, as a rep I was fuelled by Olympic Breakfasts. Which is why I started in sales with a 32 inch waist and finished at 38.

Little Chef was great in the Trusthouse Forte days! Got neglected after the Granada takeover and rather than key locations, their mistake was not moving when those locations became NOT key. Maccers will swiftly move if they get the location wrong.

[anonymous-user]

SydneyBridge said:

I was a 'chef' in a little chef for a few weeks. Cooking my pictures, to follow the menu. Everything griddled, deep fried or microwaved.
I got paid less than the waiting staff, as did not get a share of tips.

Also worked in little chef in Keele Services on the M6, which was on the bridge over the motorway. Was full prettly much all day, with queues sometimes

Edited by SydneyBridge on Thursday 22 August 17:00

Was it you that burnt it down!

[ambuletz]

i follow his (and gennaro's ) youtube channels for years. noticed after a while they stopped making videos, then when they started making ones again they were all heavily ad sponsered ones, or them just talking about their own dishes at their main (non jamies italian) restaurants.

gennaro used to regularly tour all the jamies italian restaurants cooking dishea live, it really did show how simple the cooking is.

[Tyre Smoke]

Roman Rhodes said:

Tyre Smoke said:

Murph7355 said:

Despise is quite strong for someone you've probably never met

I'm prepared to give him a pass for his fish pie recipe alone.

I know. But really I do.

Why?

His mockney wide boy 'pukka' mouthiness. His entire persona seems false and self promoting. He doesn't come across as genuine. And I cannot relate to or get on with 'false' people.

[mizx]

ambuletz said:

i follow his (and gennaro's ) youtube channels for years. noticed after a while they stopped making videos, then when they started making ones again they were all heavily ad sponsered ones, or them just talking about their own dishes at their main (non jamies italian) restaurants

Brand deals and other revenue streams are pretty much a given on YT these days, not as much money in it now due to low CPMs and all the demonitisation and copyright claiming nonsense.

[Burwood]

Tyre Smoke said:

Roman Rhodes said:

Tyre Smoke said:

Murph7355 said:

Despise is quite strong for someone you've probably never met

I'm prepared to give him a pass for his fish pie recipe alone.

I know. But really I do.

Why?

His mockney wide boy 'pukka' mouthiness. His entire persona seems false and self promoting. He doesn't come across as genuine. And I cannot relate to or get on with 'false' people.

Snap. And there lies his problem. Sanctimonious hypocrite. If you name a chain after your own then try and stay out of controversy. His wife was doing the rounds with the media trying to cash in then did the ‘look at our 15m mansion’. It ruined his image. We all know he made a st tonne of money but his image is, kept it on the down.

The fact is he was told for years about the poor reviews. He did fk all about it. If he was present rather than off doing something else I suspect he’d still be in business. The cheeky chap turned in to a demanding and entitled millionaire. That is the simple truth

[Europa1]

Burwood said:

The fact is he was told for years about the poor reviews. He did fk all about it. If he was present rather than off doing something else I suspect he’d still be in business. The cheeky chap turned in to a demanding and entitled millionaire. That is the simple truth

I don't hate the guy; I enjoy some of his TV stuff, but I do think he overdoes the geezer routine, which deflects attention from or overshadows his message. I do think some of his efforts have been a genuine attempt to wean people off a very unhealthy, ready meal dependent, diet - not only the school meals campaign, but also his 15 minute meals series: trying to show that actually cooking good food is not a dark art.

I don't know whether the poor reviews or lack of reaction to it is a fact; however, one does get the impression that, as is often the case with restaurant chains, expansion was too rapid, leading to a lack of central oversight, with the problems being masked initially by the increased revenues added by the new sites.

[anonymous-user]

Burwood said:

Snap. And there lies his problem. Sanctimonious hypocrite. If you name a chain after your own then try and stay out of controversy. His wife was doing the rounds with the media trying to cash in then did the ‘look at our 15m mansion’. It ruined his image. We all know he made a st tonne of money but his image is, kept it on the down.

The fact is he was told for years about the poor reviews. He did fk all about it. If he was present rather than off doing something else I suspect he’d still be in business. The cheeky chap turned in to a demanding and entitled millionaire. That is the simple truth

Quite a lot subjective assessment of the individual rather than an objective assessment of the business there B.

The business was poorly run and it's well documented how and by whom.

There were a number fo reasons for its failure and arrogance and lack of commitment from JO aren't amongst them albeit his most recent interventions were too late.

To say the business went down because people have the same view of him as you do simply isn't true. It's much more complex than that.

[Burwood]

Various videos of him circulated showing him to be obnoxious to his ‘fans’ young people. Now removed at great cost. If you are going to preach then you don’t want to be a fat yourself. He’s fake as far as I’m concerned. Eat healthy but look I did a deal with shell to serve you nachos and wing dings.