Nigella's helpless carrot act

[BaylisAndHardon]

Don't get me wrong, I do like Nigella Lawson and her cookery programs, however:

Has anybody else noticed that she pretends not to have proper knife skills and flails around in a sexy, helpless, becarrotted damsel in distress any time she has to chop something?

It reminds me of secondary school when some of the girls would pretend to be ditzy and thick so boys would like them.

It's 2020 fgs.

AIBU?

I thought the fish finger curry looked bloody amazing.

Nigella is a hard working, creative, resilient, eloquent, gorgeous woman. Her recipes always work out. I admire her a lot (in case you can't tell). I even stopped her once while she was shopping in London to say hello...cringe... and she was very gracious.

Why don't you rip into a Kardashian or a Real Housewife if you feel the need...

@Coronacantcope

Why do women have to have it in for other women all the time. Of all the things you could say about Nigella, this seems really petty. I have watched her for years and have never noticed what you're saying.

Can women only criticise men, then?

I don't remotely "have it in for other women". Nigella irritates me enormously. As does Tony Robinson. I can't watch either of them without wincing. But I'm only allowed to mention the TR gets on my wick, because I have to pretend that all women are perfect?

It's not a case of 'leaving her alone' like she is some poor victim.
she's put herself out there and made another TV prog so it's fine to criticise her for that regardless of her personal life.

I just despair and can't abide her in that programme. I've heard her talk on Radio 4 and she's emotionally astute and obviously bright.

She's not a chef- she's no formal cookery training whatsoever, it's a hobby that has paid off as a result of travelling (and she had a very privileged upbringing.)

But her food porn is just dire.

If she looked like the back of a bus, she wouldn't be presenting the programme at all. It's not about food, it's a fantasy she is creating around her kitchen, her simpering and a lifestyle.

She lost me on one episode when she had been out for drinks with friends and came back to make some bread and butter pudding and made caramel whilst ‘tipsy’ I’d burn the house down

I don't watch Nigella, but what I have noticed is that men often make a big deal of odd things like being able to chop a carrot 30 seconds faster than other people, as if they need something measurable and unusual to set themselves apart from everyone else. Whereas there's really no reason for anyone to learn to chop a carrot in any specific way, unless they're in an environment where they have to be sliced specially, or 30 seconds makes a real difference.

If she looked like the back of a bus, she wouldn't be presenting the programme at all. It's not about food, it's a fantasy she is creating around her kitchen, her simpering and a lifestyle.

Exactly. This is a woman who wrote a book called 'How To Be a Domestic Goddess'. She's peddling a fantasy, and food is just one of the selling points. Most people who watch her shows will never try any of the recipes. Same with so many TV chefs. It's food porn.

I met her once. It was a grey, drizzly afternoon in November at the end of a day spent driving round the M25 touring shopping centres for book signings.

She wasn't in the least glam or diva-ish. Barely made-up, beautiful bone-structure and great posture. Her manners were impeccable.

I think she's a fantastic role model. Feminism is a broad church. Nothing to say we can't flirt with the camera or flutter our eyelashes if we feel like it or have fun making gluttony seductive.

Lighten up, fgs.

I actually rather like her and her show .How many "Macho" male chefs are there to sit through and be expected to Ooh and Ahhh over them? From Gordon Ramsey right to Jamie Oliver ,they all seem to be able to make Pigeons in a Braised Red Wine Jus ,and everyone has to sigh with appreciation .(Bit like when DH cooks or does a BBQ ,Feel 3 cheers is in order!) Yet most of us ladies rustle up night after night of filling suppers and are often unappreciated by fussy DC/DH!

Wtf is a "helpless carrot"

This is why I prefer Delia, all the creeping downstairs (a couple of hours after eating dinner) in her black silk dressing gown to take half a chocolate cake back to bed wore thin by 2010.

She’s beatific, intelligent inoffensive and successful, what a shock loads of people on mumsnet hate her 😂

@maddiemookins16mum

This is why I prefer Delia, all the creeping downstairs (a couple of hours after eating dinner) in her black silk dressing gown to take half a chocolate cake back to bed wore thin by 2010.

That gave me a giggle!

@overnightangel

She’s beatific, intelligent inoffensive and successful, what a shock loads of people on mumsnet hate her 😂

"Beatific"?

And FFS are we 14 year old school kids? Surely you can comment on a public figure without being accused of 'hate'?

She's hideous - totally unwatchable.

I can see the point of view about ' sex sells' and how sad it all is , but it'll always be there and we can either watch or turn it over. There is a choice with a tv programme. I doubt much will change about all that as it works :(
There was a cooking programme on with Ainsley Harriet the other day and that was all straight forwards. Nigella's one is just a different type of format!

Those fairy lights would be super annoying if it was her real kitchen. You’d be rushing to get the big bowl from the top shelf and bring them all crashing down.

She made me laugh a few years ago when she made ‘surprise’ low carb pizza bites for a party. The topping completely concealed the base which wasn’t in fact the usual bread- but was mince. I’m a vegetarian and would kindly request people don’t replace bread with meat as a surprise

I'm a Delia fan 'Let's be 'avin youuuu!'
www.bing.com/videos/search?q=delia+smith+let%27s+be+having+ya&&view=detail&mid=482C4426BAB69EDD4963482C4426BAB69EDD4963&&FORM=VRDGAR&ru=%2Fvideos%2Fsearch%3Fq%3Ddelia%2Bsmith%2Blet%2527s%2Bbe%2Bhaving%2Bya%26FORM%3DHDRSC3

phwooarrrrr!!!

Aah Delia pissed at half time is superb 😂

I've never noticed her chopping badly- can anyone link to a video?

I'm hopeless at chopping things up.
My friend taught me how to cut up a baguette years ago as I couldn't do it very well. Once shown things I tend to be a lot better.
Anything meant to be ' finely chopped' comes out wrong with me : it is an art form!

@FuzzyPuffling I too am guilty of bollocksy language. #simperingtimidity

But Baylis I don't think you do it on my telly.

I like her and admire her beauty but had to laugh in one programme she did where she was purring over her homemade soup whilst drinking it from a flask ON THE BUS! I find it hard to believe she takes the bus anywhere....

I have a journalist friend who has been to her house for dinner and says the food was terrible - Nigella apologised for it, but in a cheerful. unrepentant kind of way (she's always saying you should never apologise for your food)

I loved Nigella Bites (book and programme) and the Christmas one but since then she seems to have become almost a caricature of herself which is a shame as puts me off watching. I also hate any cookery programmes that pretend to give you an insight into the cook/chefs life with the friends/family dinners, dashing home from work to make something amazing etc. I just want to see nice food being made.