Great British Menu

[Sunbird24]

Anyone coming to watch with me?

Yep and the “coming up tomorrow” did not exactly look like a lot of fun in the judging chamber, did it?

Even that brief trailer for next week proves my point. Rachel's words and demeanor don't match at all. Her mouth says that she loved everything on the plate, but her face says she's a bit disgusted by it. I hate the term resting bitch face, but it seems to be her only expression. I'm struggling to forgive her inclusion in this series.

Yes to all the comments about the scoring this week. They appeared to be all over the place. I do think the lad who kept getting others to help him plate up was showing his inexperience. He was treating it like a normal restaurant kitchen rather than a competition. Other chefs do get help sometimes, but not to that extent and he let it partly ruin some dishes. It was fair to comment on that, but maybe more kindly.

Apologies for any typos. Typing left handed because I broke my wrist on Tuesday.

I hate criticising big portions. Just because they get away with charging £££ for a chicken's bogey and a duck fart doesn't mean everyone likes 'little bit of nothing on a big white plate'. I want to feel fed after a posh meal, not having to stop at the chippy on the way home. I loved Gemma's food.

For me watching at home, not going to the banquet, I know I'd love to go to Gemma's restaurant and that she wouldn't have a starter the size of a canapé at the price of a main.

I do think the judges often forget who is going to be eating the food. And things they think are over done, many of us mortals will never have tried. I get that they want to create a once in a lifetime experience and have to balance it, but this series has felt too mean for a celebration.

I used to love Rachel Khoo in her Little Paris Kitchen, but I've not enjoyed her on GBM.

I thought those two would go through last night. The other guy was struggling to get everything on his plates as he was relying on the others helping him, and when he did it all by himself, he was late. And forgot an item!

The judge (can't remember any names today after the worst nights sleep for ages) was all over the place with his markings. I don't like him judging on this programme.

Quenelles of ice cream are so overrated. Time to go back to the old school ice cream scoop with the ragged swirls. Much nicer looking, and a decent amount of ice cream.

Evening!

Evening. I'm munching a Chinese takeaway while ready to gawp at posh grub.

Yum! I did whole grain tagliatelle with low fat cream cheese and pesto. Have already eaten 2 small microwave pizzas though...

Arrrrgh they can't just enjoy something that tastes good, can they?

If you think it’s too big you don’t have to eat it all...

I love Andi's outfit tonight. She looks fab.

Less is more says Andi, while dressed head to toe in sequins! Love her

They’re pretty hard to please aren’t they?

Yeah, including the guest chap.

I just don’t get it! It’s a bloody banquet, not a mid week meal, it’s supposed to be big and indulgent

@Sunbird24 it’s getting to the point that Andi is the best bit of the programme

At this point, I don't want the lovely chefs to go through to more hassle and criticism at the National finals.

Yeah, I’d be at the point of refusing to cook for them personally

I do think the judges often forget who is going to be eating the food. And things they think are over done, many of us mortals will never have tried

Totally agree with this!

"Oh God! Not turbot and caviar again! I'd much prefer a lovely bit of celeriac that's had a bit of fish rubbed quickly over it to entice my jaded palate"

What's this? A food programme without GregG? Surely not, its against the laws of nature. More SHOUTING please, I always find that helpful when I'm under pressure. And STOP SHAKING too.

I do think the judges often forget who is going to be eating the food. And things they think are over done, many of us mortals will never have tried

Absolutely. And very hypocritical too. They were condemning dishes as “not innovative enough” and then going doolally over what was effectively a steak with nice sauce.

I also think the judges are totally arbitrary when it comes to the use of props. One week they're complaining about lack of theatre and the next week they're complaining about lack of simplicity. One week they'll be oohing and aahing about the playfulness of having to get up and serve themselves from some prop and the next week having to put some bits on their own plate is too much of a faff. It's like they're searching for reasons to be miserable.

I'd like to see chefs on the panel. Maybe Lisa Goodwin-Allen, Paul Ainsworth and Michael O'Hare. Admittedly the latter is mainly for the ensembles.

Michael O'Hare and his shoes! Love him!
The use of caviar, which I love, got me singing, loudly, "caviar comes from the virgin sturgeon, the virgin sturgeon's a very fine fish, the virgin sturgeon needs no urgin', that's why caviar is my dish." etc...
So which region's next, anyone know?

@knittingaddict

This series is really a game of two halves.

The episodes where the chefs cook for another chef are really good this year, mostly down to Andi. She has been wonderful in her new role - warm hearted and supportive. I love her.

The judging chamber has been awful in comparison. The whole thing is depressing and so downbeat. Even on the rare occasions that she actually likes something it's done in such a grudging way that I can't feel any excitement. I have a certain fondness for Oliver and Matthew's "grumpy old men" act, but they need someone to balance that out and Rachel is not it. They had better ditch her for the next series.

This is so true. The early rounds are a genuine delight, most of the veterans give such useful comments and recommendations on how to improve, I thought Tommy Banks and Paul Ainsworth were particularly good. In contrast the judges chamber is mean spirited. I've started to fast forward to the results now.

It's North West this week.