Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Flip

1 2 3

Original poster

to think loraine pascal is very condisending and everyone can cook

72 replies

sarahighseas · 14/09/2014 11:55

For some silly reason I just watched some food porn, teaching someone that claims no it to be able to cook.

She taught him how to fry peaches and serve with fancy cheese as a salad, fry fish, asparagus and carbs as a main. Then for desert they added pomegranate juice to normal jelly.

Seriously it wasn't hard stuff and the ingredients were hugely expensive. How can no one cook?

OP posts:

ghostisonthecanvas · 15/09/2014 11:23

I like Lorraine. Enjoyed her baking programme s. Bought a couple of her books. Forgot this was on so can't comment on her being condescending. Will watch on catch up. Lots of people can't cook. Its a skill. Needs to be learned. Reheating tinned soup and making homemade are 2 different things. My soup was tasteless for years, then one day I chucked in extra stock it was a revelation. These days I say I can cook. Took me a long time to learn as I am not a natural.

Mrsjayy · 15/09/2014 12:05

I can make soup its just veg or lentil mind but it taste s nice

DrCarolineTodd · 15/09/2014 12:12

I panic when things go wrong because I don't know how to put them right. It's not in the recipe. And when I ask people for help they just say things that make no sense. Recently someone told me to keep something at a good temperature and I wanted to scream: I have no idea what that is.

Mrsjayy · 15/09/2014 12:20

I don't know how to fix things either so I panic and end up binning it

Offler · 15/09/2014 12:24

Rafa you've gone wrong there, you put the soup in a bowl and microwave it, saves on washing up

My mum taught me a lot of the basics, but most things get better with confidence. When I moved out, I'd use jars for spaghetti Bol, and curry etc, but the more confident I got, the less I'd use a jar. I've now reached the 'chuck it all in' stage and know that it will be edible. Haven't used a jar now since I was in my early 20's, and am now nearly 40. I'm not adverse to the odd packet mix for chilli though! (nothing wrong with using jars though if it works for you, I just like experimenting)

My dad never cooked anything except welsh rarebit (otherwise known as Daddy's special cheese'), but when he retired before my mum, pretty much took over the cooking and is a great cook!

A knowledge of the basics, practice, and confidence in your abilities are all most people need to be able to cook.

CambridgeBlue · 15/09/2014 12:34

I usually love Lorraine and use her books a lot but I wasn't that impressed with this show. She was still lovely and it was easy food porn TV but if someone has never cooked before I wouldn't be getting them to make polenta or use barf inducing cream filled cheese ingredients I've never heard of.

On the contrary I'm not a massive Jamie Oliver fan but his Ministry of Food book (and was there a TV show?) is brilliant for total beginners. It explains everything without being patronising and suggests very basic meals which can then be added to as you gain confidence.

I think that if you have genuinely never cooked then you need to understand the techniques, flavours, utensils and so before you start faffing about balancing pan fried (my pet hate - what the bloody hell else would you fry it in?) salmon on a stack of polenta chips and criss crossing chives on the top in a poncey way.

Nomama · 15/09/2014 13:08

There is a real need for 'take out a packet' cookery shows... the Nigella and Delia ones showed that, Lorraine is just doing the latest one.

Total beginners, those brought up on instants, those whose parents didn't cook, they all need to start somewhere.

If the stuff she does sells then there are enough people with that price tag for food who need to learn - they probably wouldn't buy cheaper stuff. So she does have an audience. If it isn't you (and the Delia one wasn't me) switch off!

LonnyVonnyWilsonFrickett · 15/09/2014 13:20

drcaroline there is a food board here and I promise if you have questions about stupid terms like 'a good temperature' someone on there will answer them for you and help you through. Or pm me anytime. I love cooking but learned it all the hard way.

DaughterDilemma · 15/09/2014 13:24

Cambridge I agree about the cheese...

But this was specifically to pander to the needs of those who would never cook just to help out at home, just to impress the friends. So funny cheese and polenta are a good choice.

Plus his wife probably won't want him cooking family meals and cluttering up the kitchen every night a la Jamie so just as well. Teach him to cook spag bol and the relationship is ruined.

bakingaddict · 15/09/2014 13:24

Surely all the programme is doing is giving people ideas. Lorraine might use 4 tubs of Green and Blacks organic ice-cream but there is nothing stopping somebody going and getting a cheaper brand. You don't have to slavishly follow the recipes.

I think food programmes need to excite peoples' imaginations and not show how to cook spag bol or a sheperd's pie because let's face it this would make for boring telly

CambridgeBlue · 15/09/2014 13:28

That's true Daughter but in that case I don't think it should be billed as a show for people who've never cooked, it's a bit misleading. Maybe a show for people who need a failsafe dinner party solution up their sleeve but are happy to eat cheese on toast the rest of the time unless the missus cooks

As I said I do like her books so I'll be interested to see what the one that goes with this show is like.

DaughterDilemma · 15/09/2014 13:34

I think she should do a cooking/counselling combo, could work wonders! I would sign DP up for that.

'Where's the forks?

Why do you ask that?

This plate's dirty

And what might you be able to do about it?

I can't cook

Well what's the worst thing that can happen?

Actually she is kind of doing that with this show...

Imafixerupper · 15/09/2014 13:49

I have Lorraine Pascale's 'Baking Made Easy' and its hilarious! She comes across as one of those smug 'Im a bit mad, me' types.

In the description of her Christmas Cake, she says something like 'you can make this a few weeks in advance, but you will always find me making mine on Christmas Eve with friends drunkenly singing carols in the next room'. Ooooh you kerazy cat Lorraine.....

Also it's obvious from her fabulous figure that she doesn't spend all day scoffing her creations as she keeps going on about in the book!

Mrsjayy · 15/09/2014 13:54

I hate that false oh I am so kooky me I just knock it up the night before just stop no you didnt

squoosh · 15/09/2014 13:58

Ah. I think Lorraine came across really well on the programme she made about her time in foster care. Her life does look perfect but she's had more than her fair share of shitty times.

glidingpig · 15/09/2014 14:20

Well, there's a lot of different stuff going on when you learn to cook. You've got to start with the basic skills like roasting, frying, grilling, which aren't hard to learn if you read about them or have a friendly person to teach you and stop panicking for long enough to focus on what's happening And it can be a boost at that level to make something with a bit of wow factor, even if the technique that's gone into it isn't massively advanced - if you get excited about the process, you want to learn more. Then you can go on to build up the experience that tells you when your pan's not hot enough or your stew is bubbling too fast.

I'm a decentish home cook and I love watching things like Cookery School (if anyone remembers that), where people like me end up making beautiful cheffy things that I've never attempted. So maybe if you're at cheese on toast level, the idea of doing a dinner party menu yourself is inspiring and makes you want to get in the kitchen.

IScreamForIceCream · 15/09/2014 15:10

I really don't get why Lorraine is getting so much hate here. Yes she is very beautiful and telegenic, but there are not many biffers on TV, are there?

She has said that in order to eat and keep as slim as she wants/is, she does have to watch it a bit - and run a lot.

Imafixerupper · 15/09/2014 16:44

Aww no I do quite like her, it's just as mrsjayy said, its that whole 'oh look at me I'm just sooooooo laid back at cooking' thing that irritates a bit!

The guy who wrote the 'My Daddy Cooks' book is the same, its all 'oh look how crazy me and Archie are in the kitchen, don't worry about quantities just chuck it all in and don't forget to be a bit crazy at the same time' vibe.

Again, I like the recipes though, it is a great cookery book!

abigamarone · 15/09/2014 17:27

Some people can pick cooking up quicker and easier than others, some are naturals, and there are those who need the instructions for scrambling an egg EVERY SINGLE time and also need telling to remove the skin from an onion before chopping.

ShadowStar · 15/09/2014 17:39

YABU.

I would agree that everyone can learn how to cook, but there's plenty of people who can't cook and need help in order to learn.

What she did was easy if you already know how to cook, yes. But if someone has no experience, no knowledge of cookery terms, no confidence, and very little spare money (because there's a risk of producing something inedible if you don't know what you're doing), then those recipes probably look pretty daunting.

SistersOfPercy · 15/09/2014 17:51

No, not having you dissing our Lorraine, I'd never considered a brie and prosciutto toastie until she demonstrated it one night. Never had a bacon and cheese toastie since. Divine
It's inspiration.

CambridgeBlue · 15/09/2014 18:45

I think she comes across as really warm and friendly on TV and without any of that slight wackiness that she tends towards in her writing. The fact that she looks lovely comes second to her personality imo.

Flip

1 2 3