Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Jamie Oliver & his flaming perfect Xmas's!

136 replies

Halloweencat · 13/12/2021 21:18

Nothing to gain from this thread except to air my irritation lol. Just been watching Jamie Oliver create his perfect pre Xmas soiree for about 20 friends & family. Gorgeous food, drinks, cocktails, Xmas decorations, perfect children helping out & singing merrily away. I love the fact that he is so in love with food & is very passionate about it, but is life really like that for anybody, & does it give you fomo & make you feel like you're not putting in enough effort cos your Xmas does not live up to it?
After a day at work & dealing with this cold that never seems to go away I can hardly summon up the energy to do the washing up! There is always the off button on the remote to turn this fantasy land off the tv...

OP posts:
Poppins2016 · 14/12/2021 02:58

@DillDanding

We do ‘perfect’ hosting but it’s all smoke and mirrors and we’re usually flapping around and being completely tetchy with each other up until the first guests arrive.

Plus Jamie Oliver makes me squirm.

I do the same... we flap, we bicker, we 'emergency clean', shove the 'pile of letters'/random crap into a cupboard, etc... and look like we always have a perfectly clean and tidy home and as though the catering is in hand by the time guests arrive. Every time we do it I say 'never again'... until the next time it seems like a good idea!
SlimeYuleBall · 14/12/2021 06:18

I do the same... we flap, we bicker, we 'emergency clean', shove the 'pile of letters'/random crap into a cupboard, etc... and look like we always have a perfectly clean and tidy home and as though the catering is in hand by the time guests arrive. Every time we do it I say 'never again'... until the next time it seems like a good idea!
That describes hosting perfectly for me Grin

Chunkymenrock · 14/12/2021 06:21

Fgs. Haven't read the full thread, but you do understand how acting, pretence, fakery and editing work, OP?

FOJN · 14/12/2021 06:27

I noticed when he strained the veg he dripped the water all over the kitchen floor back to the table. If that was my kitchen I’d have kicked him up the arse.

He's always done that. I can't watch him, I'm too distracted by how much mess he makes and sympathy for whoever is going to clear it up.

LavenderAskew · 14/12/2021 06:33

I wouldn't worry OP, in order to live that "perfect" life you'd have to put up with him. Not worth it.

Goshitstricky · 14/12/2021 06:49

He was quite open earlier in the year that he was filming his Christmas special in late summer, I recall his post about it being weird to pretend it was Christmas.

I think Jamie is great though which I know is as unpopular opinion on here.

megletthesecond · 14/12/2021 06:51

But Nigella does it with a wink. She knows she's playing a part.

Okbutnotgreat · 14/12/2021 06:57

I’ve met the family in the past and actually thought they were lovely people and a great family. It’s not easy being married to an ordinary chef never mind a world famous one but it all feels a tad sour grapes. They seem like a nice family who I’m sure have their moments like everyone, but they’re hardly going to show the downsides to the world.

AiryFairy1 · 14/12/2021 07:04

We make the make-ahead gravy (kind of) and it’s delicious 😋 I’m going to have a watch and hopefully get some ideas to zshush up our usually tasty but very samey festive fare!

ButterfliesAndDaffodils · 14/12/2021 07:16

@Pinkcurtwinsinthebin oh that gravy!! The one with the chicken wings I'm guessing? Yeah I decided to do that one a few years ago, luckily I gave it a trial run first. Followed the recipe presicely, and ended up with bland, insipid beige-y swill. My family were horrified and still take the piss over it Grin

I actually usually really like his recipes, but that gravy was just ghastly. I'm also back on the Bisto Grin

Lobelia123 · 14/12/2021 07:21

Come on guys, its been a shite year after a year before that that was equally shite. Whats wrong with a bit of happiness and jolliness, even if its all a bit staged?? Its fantasy, setting the scene for all the christmases being celebrated at home. I enjoyed it.

Original poster
Halloweencat · 14/12/2021 07:21

@Chunkymenrock
No I didn't know that, thank you for pointing it out to me though 😁

OP posts:
HuntingoftheSnark · 14/12/2021 07:24

I enjoyed it except for the making of the kind of bread and butter pudding which had so much jam and ice cream in it that I couldn't see how it would turn out. I didn't find out as I switched over to feel very uneducated among the University Challenge contestants.

Whitney168 · 14/12/2021 07:25

I loved it. Obviously it's not filmed at Christmas, but hey ho, that's TV. Definitely a good dose of family too, Jules is the image of her Mum.

Buddy is going to be a fabulous cook - definitely not just pulled in for filming, he obviously loves it and does a lot with his dad (and mum, probably). Shows all the instinctiveness of his dad's cookery. River, on the other hand, seems to be a little shit ...

Also not getting the whole dead behind the eyes Jules thing, looks to be living the bloody dream to me!

I also said to husband that this is why we're overweight, if that's how much beef stew he's cooking LOL.

DaphneDeloresMoorhead · 14/12/2021 07:34

@Whitney168 Jools has been very open about having PTSD after 2 miscarriages. I don't think everything is perfect for her

VitalsStable · 14/12/2021 07:35

Love it, I love Jules, she's not smug or dead behind the eyes, she just doesn't feel the need to buy into the celeb bollocks.

DorothyZbornakIsAQueen · 14/12/2021 07:35

I cannot standvthe fat tongued twat. He has a Messiah complex. I'll never forget when he went to America about the obesity crisis. He was crying and said 'why don't people understand, that when I'm around, magic happens'.

Sure you can google it to see I'm telling the truth.

He is just horrid.

DorothyZbornakIsAQueen · 14/12/2021 07:37

His roast beef recipe is absolutely fool proof though and I hate myself for using it, butbits perfect. Every time.

ShirleyPhallus · 14/12/2021 07:39

I like Jamie, I think he has good intentions and I enjoy watching his TV shows

I think if many people had a tv crew in with soft lights and professional decorations then they’d look like that too, enjoying time with family etc

TwoLeftSocksWithHoles · 14/12/2021 07:40

I agree it's all just for the cameras.

It's like Martin Clunes - he isn't a doctor at all AND he doesn't even live in Cornwall. It's all just made up unlike the fly-on-the-wall documentary 'The Royale Family'

MaHBroon · 14/12/2021 07:41

@Classica

He served salad with a beef stew.

IT WAS SO WRONG.

It can be really delicious. The contrast between hot and cold. My favourite is chilli con carne on a salad instead of rice.
MaHBroon · 14/12/2021 07:46

I like his relaxed style and think the food looks yummy and actually I have his latest book on my Christmas list

I have the book. It suits our lifestyle - loads of people at every meal and the recipes are very good.

I bought the book 3 weeks i to the series accompanying it and I’m glad I did.

HunterGatherer · 14/12/2021 08:02

Hugh Fearnley Whittingstal has more "realistic" guests. Wink

twilightermummy · 14/12/2021 08:08

I bought his Christmas book a couple of years back and cooked the Turkey as instructed. Well, it was shite. I went back to my M&S turkey. Going to try Nigella’s recipe this year as M&S Christmas food has sold out. It can’t be any worse than Jamie’s!

I do get what you mean about Christmas though. I’m always shattered by 10am!

LavenderAskew · 14/12/2021 08:14

@DorothyZbornakIsAQueen

I cannot standvthe fat tongued twat. He has a Messiah complex. I'll never forget when he went to America about the obesity crisis. He was crying and said 'why don't people understand, that when I'm around, magic happens'.

Sure you can google it to see I'm telling the truth.

He is just horrid.

I don't get the thing about him comments obesity. I do wonder if anyone has looked at him in a puzzled manner then poked him in his middle.

I mean, I would trust a skinny chef 😄 but do find it odd he cries about being being fat.