Jamie Oliver & his flaming perfect Xmas's!

[Halloweencat]

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...

I heard things are quite as idyllic as his shows suggest.

I like his recipes, in that they are simple enough for me, and taste good! I can’t be doing with anything fussy.

But i agree, things are probably not as idyllic as they seem - it’s fiction at the end of the day

@FrogFairy

Given Jamie’s concern for the health of the nation I am surprised he has never written a weight loss cookbook.

He has. The two superfoods cookbooks.

Jamie and Jools are quite honest in interviews that their life is far from idyllic.

They’re very down to earth tbh.

I watched it last night. Thought the holding hand under the table was a bit much and the kids hugging the grandparents in the middle of the dinner. Jules looked really tired and fed up too. Suppose you have enough of the cameras there sometimes. The kids seem nice and the food looked lovely.

Not seen it. Dislike it when people use their DC in marketing.

Think he’s an interesting example of social media type marketing before social media took off. Now including using his DC.

@HangingDitch

I don’t know why people are bothered by this. Yes, it presents an idealised picture of family life but that’s marketing. What do you expect him to do? Cook next to a sink full of pots because no-one has loaded the dishwasher? Get one of the kids to come in half way through and throw up on the lino? Him to decide to say fuck it and just warm up some M&S party food?

🤣🤣🤣

@Figmentofmyimagination

Notice the branded items I’m his kitchen where the brand name has been covered up eg ‘AGA’. That’s because they have refused to pay the product placement fee. Contrast eg the prominent use of ‘tiptree’ jam. It’s all about advertising and money. Agree about his children - they are going to be pretty screwed up when they are older. Not appropriate.

I don't think he's kids seem screwed up so far. One has just gone off to uni to study to be a nurse. Makes a change from the model/photographer kids of many celebrities.

I did think there didn't seem that much food for the family meal last night. Those hasselback potatoes would only have served four in my house!

They seem to have been upfront that's their life is not picture perfect, let's face it is anyone's?

I much prefer him to Nadia ( Nadiya?) She's got a bit too slick and glam / channelling Nigella. I used to really like her.

I have met Nadiya. She is really lovely in real life.

There's a very British thing of knocking those people who are successful and it's evident in abundance on this thread.

I agree. The nastiness on this thread is horrible. Jamie Oliver’s presenting style might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but his recipes are interesting and always work. I have three of his books. Although posters might deny it, it does come across as envy or sour grapes.

You can't beat James Martin though

I have met him in real life as well, and he was surly and grumpy. The jokey persona is just show. He switches his charm on and off for an audience.

People who write Xmas (and especially Xmas's for the plural) have no right to judge anyone, in my pedantic opinion.