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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think now that Jamie Oliver is wonderful, after years of thinking he was a prat?

56 replies

GetOrfMoiLand · 11/02/2011 18:50

I couldn't be arsed with all that 'ooh me and Jools' nonsense in Naked Chef.

Grudgingly admired his campaign for school dinners and 15 but think he was very judgmental and overzealous and naive.

Frankly found his 'what the proles eat in Rotherham' series borderline offensive.

Have a few of his recipe books and they are distinctly bla bla bla.

BUT - 30 minute meals (both book and series) are seriously good.

His presentation is very good - he actually comes across as likeable for the first time.

Perhaps he has grown up a bit.

And the food is very, very good.

Plus he is more attractive now.

OP posts:
cyb · 11/02/2011 18:52

Dont agree with the attractive bit but what won me over was listening to him talk, with no notes and loads of passion ,to a Committee of MPs about how crap schol dinners were for children and what the health implications were

I love his recipes, even the patronising 'oop North ' ones

Original poster
GetOrfMoiLand · 11/02/2011 18:56

I have got the book Ministry of Food - and the recipes are very good indeed, dd cooked from it from a very early age.

I don't like the way it was presented, with pics of northerners holding aloft dishes they had made 'Shelly, single mum, cooks chicken korma' and 'Frank, bricklayer, cooks steak sandwich' or whatever, however the blame could well lie with whoever designed the book.

I have been inspired to cook several things from 30 minute meals, and the ideas are fantastic, and each show I have watched presents the food so well.

I have always been put off by his slightly patronising tone, however he seems to have lost that now.

OP posts:
Hassled · 11/02/2011 18:58

He is NOT more attractive now.

But yes, he's nicer in a more mature sort of way. He just needed to grow up a bit, I think.

cocoachannel · 11/02/2011 18:59

DH and I were talking about this very subject last night. We're a couple of years younger than Jamie, and were wondering whether it's because we've all grown up a bit. I quite liked the Naked Chef but DH hated it. We have both loved his recent programmes though, and agree that is presentation style in the 30 minute series is vastly better than the older stuff.

Original poster
GetOrfMoiLand · 11/02/2011 18:59

Lol at the emphatic 'he is NOT more attractive' from you both Grin

OP posts:
Original poster
GetOrfMoiLand · 11/02/2011 19:01

I am a similar age to Jamie - think he is 24 isn't he?

I thought he was a complete tool on that moped.

But then looking at what he has achieved in his career compared to me - well, who's the tool now Grin

DD has just gone to the shop to buy double cream, bread, smoked salmon, spuds, dill and beetroot to make dinner inspired by Jamie tonight.

OP posts:
Original poster
GetOrfMoiLand · 11/02/2011 19:01

34 I meant.

OP posts:
cyb · 11/02/2011 19:02

I like it when he winds up his Italian friend by putting chilli in his muffins

Catsmamma · 11/02/2011 19:04

I find him smug and twattish tbh, but his style of cooking is brilliant

none of your delia pedantry or nigella's pseudo porn!

MayorNaze · 11/02/2011 19:04

i heart him

30 minute meals is currently the dds favourite programme :)

compo · 11/02/2011 19:05

Yes i think it's because he's grown upa bit and isn't quite so arrogant
I think he's got a real passion for food
he should leave his wife and kids and their daft flowery names out of it

hockeyforjockeys · 11/02/2011 19:06

I think his 30 minute meals are great, as are his older books, of which I have a few. I also think that the work he did on school dinners and 15 was inspiring, even if he did come across as a touch condescending at times (although the one in America was awful).

However my love for him is being slightly marred by the new ad for his 'dream school'. Now I am all for finding new ways of reaching those who are currently failed by our current system as there are far too many, and I can't seeing it improving under the current government. But what I don't like is the tone that the ad seems to take that school is boring and teachers are rubbish, and that some how being a celebrity instantly makes you a fantastic teacher (not sure about David Starkey making a huge impact on some disengaged, socially disadvanted teenager). I shall wait and see, hopefully it will actually be a genuine call for better vocational education, rather than teacher=bad, celebrity=good.

Original poster
GetOrfMoiLand · 11/02/2011 19:06

It is great isn't it.

It exasperates me that there have been x amount of articles saying 'you can't cook this in 30 minutes'. I don't really think that is the point. The point is that the recipes are quick, technique free and easily done within a short time.

And - wonderfully - you can get your kids to do it.

OP posts:
RIZZ0 · 11/02/2011 19:07

Oh he's a fat tonued c**t but I love 'im.
Always use him for good time dinner party food, love what he did for schools.

You could heavily take the piss out of all the sleb chefs with ease, but I love what they're doing re: schools/battery farming/fish stocks etc.

lowra · 11/02/2011 19:10

I must admit he has grown on me too. His recipes are seriosuly good and he seems like a decent guy.

He used to annoy me for some reason but now I find him quite likeable.

VagosaurusRex · 11/02/2011 19:15

I've always like him. He may be annoying to some, but his heart's in the right place, and he's actually doing work for the greater good.

MsKLo · 11/02/2011 19:20

Agree vagosaurus

Jamie has a heart of gold and puts so much time and effort into Sooo many things and people

It's a shame people get so defensive when he talks so much sense about so manta things

Jamie for PM!

WeeBitWobbly · 11/02/2011 19:22

I think he is great, have the new book but not had time to use it!

redoneslast · 11/02/2011 19:23

There were a lot of complaints about his 30 minute meals taking longer than 30 minutes. Do they?

MissRead · 11/02/2011 19:25

I think he's a good cook and the books of his that I've read are great - Ministry of Food especially. But I actually find him more annoying these days and rolled my eyes at the ads for his 'dream school'. It just seems slightly patronising that he thinks his magic touch can right all the wrongs in the country. I guess he's well-intentioned but like so many celebs, just too over-exposed now. And I hate the way his wife and kids get dragged into his TV shows - celebs' family members are even less interesting than the pointless celebs themselves.

Mists · 11/02/2011 19:28

I have the 30 minute meals book but I don't have a kitchen big enough to have all the appliances out on a vast kitchen island all plugged in and ready to use.

So it's Mists' where the fuck is that thing get out of my fucking way before I kill you meals in two hours in our house.

And he was a lot more attractive in The Naked Chef. But I'd not say no (if I were single) now that he is a gazillionaire as long as he kept that tongue far, far away from me.

LadyintheRadiator · 11/02/2011 19:29

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

backwardpossom · 11/02/2011 19:30

I made the chicken pie in 30 mins...

Agree with hockey - that new programme about Dream Schools or whatever it is, is bound to piss me right off. So I'll probably avoid it, or spend the entire time ranting at the TV.

LadyintheRadiator · 11/02/2011 19:30

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Mists · 11/02/2011 19:32

Oh and the "you do have to have all this equipment which I am selling in a department store near you" put me off.

But OP YANBU if you enjoy the recipes and your DD is getting into it. Good on you Smile

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