When judging six contestants of which three must go, it’s always the case that two are in two are out almost immediately, then Torode and Wallace often pretend disagreement about the good and bad points of the remaining two, and we don’t find out who’s going until they do the line up and dismiss them. Also, it’s noticeable how the cooking scenes are spliced together to generate tension with either of the two judges declaiming, “Two minutes left!” amidst mad frantic cooking which, though it might be true in some cases, certainly isn’t true all the time with all the contestants. Then there’s the part of the show when the remaining three have to work in a professional kitchen in which it seems they always screw up at the start and always manage to sort themselves out by their last dishes (again, this might be true in many cases, but not all).
However, this is television, and I don’t expect the camera to remain in place as a cook stands by his oven cleaning his fingernails whilst waiting for a joint to roast. And there is real tension, real emotion and hunger to succeed. Torode and Wallace, whilst playing to the camera, tell it like it really is when they try the food, being either harshly critical or full of praise. Both of these guys are likable, brash and appear to be utterly honest in their opinions about what they’re eating. You only have to see a grown man nearly in tears because Torode has said of some dish, “That’s really beautiful” or Wallace has been grunting with pleasure upon munching a mouthful of the puddings he so relishes, to realise that the contestants think so too.
Now the program is into its final stages with the three finalists being really put through the mill, cooking for critics, the high and mighty, large numbers of people (in one recent case those being 600+ steel workers) or out in the field rustling up dishes for hungry soldiers. I’ve been enjoying it immensely and will sad when it’s all over.
7 comments:
It's always on in our house. Who do you think will win? The young lad who has the same look on his face whatever emotion he feels, the guy with the ears or the bald, blubbering bearded gent?
I've a feeling the young guy might win it, but I'd like baldy to win it too. The other guy is very competent, but strikes me as a bit arrogant. However, maybe arrogance is what you need at that level.
this is reality.
I'm watching and enjoying this too. Re the disagreement they always have (Chris or Bob, Bob or Chris, etc.) I've noticed that Torode always seems to win. It is kind of formulaic, but in this case the formula works.
My wife is obsessed with the programme. In fact with the repeats on UK Food or whatever, it feels as though the programme has been on continuously for about the last two years.
After so much constant viewing, for me, it's getting a little stale and a lot of the "So do you think you've done enough to go through?" chat during the cooking rounds seems quite scripted to me.
I also think that they could maybe show a little bit more cooking in it to give us an idea as to how these people (some of whom are pretty talented) do their stuff, possibly by dropping the pro kitchen part until later rounds as lately it seems to have no bearing on the result at all.
Tip for future contestants: Learn to cook scallops well. Almost as a rule, a well cooked scallop with at least get you into the quarters!
Bam! Where is Chef Ramsay when you need him Neal? He'd clean up that lot.
I'd like to see Matt win it (the bearded gent). Top guy, that one. But Chris, the young guy, is a decent bloke and very talented. Only Andy I don't like - he's good, but as you say, a little cocky.
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