MasterChef with Grace D and Anna H

[Halsall]

Despite the fact that it seems like 5 minutes since the Professionals ended, the new (ordinary) MC starts on Tuesday at 9. Couldn’t see a thread but happy to merge if there’s another already.

Who's in?

Paging

@fourquenelles
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@Potterhead1985
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@ShamedBySiri

There will be more I've missed.

See you tomorrow!

Matt seems like he may do well. Perhaps the next group will be better judging by the clips. So far the standard doesn't seem high,

@ShamedBySiritotally agree. Lemon meringue is glorious and shouldn’t be deconstructed outside my mouth

Just put on my almond and honey feet-softening socks.
Making me hungrier than some of tonight's dishes.
Night all - pleased I managed to stay awake, it's more fun being on the thread "live".

My sky didn't record last week's and I refuse to use iplayer so starting new this week. Just seems the same so far but with new judges. I thought they may have changed the format slightly.

Are the judges sharing plates again?

I agree with LaMarschellin that it's more funwatching this "on the thread."My random thoughts are:
I don't like Anna's headwraps but they're better than having hair waving about all over the food like Rebecca
I regret that I never learned to cook goujons like Sunbird or even pot noodle like Piggy when I was at university
I regret that the reason I never learned to cook anything was NOT because I was concentrating on my studies
When I was teaching, if any student had asked me how to "elevate" an essay, the resulting sarcasm would have got me cancelled. Or sacked
I have never made a fishfinger sandwich. A relative once served me one but it was Captain Birdseye and ketchup between slabs of white buttered bread. I was vey polite
I didn't like Steven before and I don't like him any better now there's less of him
Still love Chariya
I agree with every sentiment expressed about the sanctity of lemon meringue pie. That effort of Matt's was an offence against a classic

Wasn't it Tony who made the lemon meringue pie?

Probably. I'm very bad with men's names. They tend to blur.

My thoughts so far.
When I first started watching Masterchef with Grace and Anna I wanted to turn it off after five mins. It was the eye popping, dramatic staring, especially when the duo synchronised… I liked both of them but didn’t think they worked together. I kept watching and now it’s fine. Although Grace is may be overpowering, and Anna is a little bit in the background and only uttering cliches/ obvious statements with ‘it’s hard work!’ thrown in-between.

I agree Grace is not a natural presenter (as per pp) but I have come to like that now as the whole thing comes across more relaxed. The contestants laugh genuinely around her and you can see how amused they are by her food critiquing - the wonderful words she uses and the jokes she comes up with! I also love her expressive face. I’m not an expert but she seems to have stayed away from Botox, fillers and invisilign and I absolutely love that for her. I was a bit unsettled by the 56yo with no wrinkles (Rebecca?) and a couple of others. It feels like I’m watching people in masks/ bad costumes, especially when the face doesn’t move and all you get is wide eyes for every expression (can you tell I never watch things like Love Island…).

I really like Anna but she seems to take longer to find her place. I’d love for her to talk more about the various cooking techniques, what exactly is being cooked (less known ingredients) and more about the steps. Would love to be able to actually learn more about cooking after watching the show. The focus is too much on the taste testing only.

Definitely feels better and fresh with the two women presenting. I do have a few favourite contestants already but enjoying watching all of them.

Enervated?

Did you manage to watch @PotterHead1985?

i like the pair of them.. its interesting seeing more of Grace as a person and not just a critic.

My only gripe is perpetual.. i want Anna to remember these are not professional cooks, she isn't judging people who've had culinary training, and while i appreciate they want great cooking, expecting perfection and bitching about it not being perfect feels disingenuous.

Hello. I missed last night with yer because myself and my friend were sorting out all the plans for Turkey next week. Just finished watching it now so here are:

Potters Potterings:

Sea Bream - GRUMPY!!! I like the sound of this maths matt
Thank god for the sauce or that would have been a dull plate

Ok i like duck and cherry, but you can keep yer zero waste cooking Yuvi.
Everything except the quack. Love it Grace!!! A 'little' underdone?!?!?! Its fucking RAW!!!
That looks fowl!!!! (🤣🤣)
Dracula looking - perhaps he should have joined forces with yer man from GBM

Well a pescatarian is a bit different Rebecca. Never tried paneer.
Ooh Annas chermerick rivals Jontys choomerick!!
Wild rice that DOESN'T look like maggots. Result!!

Ah a PR Nonna, and even making an odd PR version of Italian!! She can keep the plantain lasagna thanks.
Unctiousness!!!
What was the point of the 4 slices of pickled whatever on the side?!

What the fuck is the travel wan making?! And amalgamation of wtfs!!
Pretty plate ill give that.
She looks like shes been slapped!

I LOVE PORK. Let this be good.
That spud looks excellent. He has totally elevated that plate (apologies for using the wanky word).

Pork and Maths pleaze.
Yay excellent. Next round.

Fuck me sideways. A fish finger sango. I NEVER liked fish fingers (ill admit i last ate them in the late 90s, early 2000s).

Its a sango not a sarno ffs.

Yuvis look scrawny.

Love Rebecca's answer to the britpop question!!!

I love a tart tartare sauce. Bring on the zing

Cremated fingers!!!

Not the best round overall. Laya and Rebecca for me.

Excellent. Delighted with all 4. On to round 3.

Stephen looks SOOOO different. Dont remember Omar at all.

Arepas, excellent. Her main sounds a bit plain.
Why were the flowers in the fridge.
What has she been doing this whole time. Twiddling her fingers? Honestly id send her home for that.
Its someone elses to lose now

More cod. Ooh crust. Nectarines???! Ooh gimme her pud tho! Oh that mix looked like off poop.
The burnt herbs look unpleasant. The shalots look like giant fish scales!!.
My god the retro plating. Oh god the shit cookies.
Still think she did better than Laya.

Steak tartare, thats not cooking. Nor is it a main!!!! Dessert sounds ok.
Odd dish. Oh it went down well!!
Its a bit plain looking for a pud. Oh dear, Grace looked like she was waiting for the camera to pan so she could spit it out!!

Duck yes please. Not suspicious at all tony!!!! (Ive a letter to bring with me if i bring mammy through an airport!!!)
Ooh lemon meringue pie. Yay. Deconstructed. Get in the bin.
Duck looks nicely cooked. Oh i take that back. Excellent presentation.
Oh dear Stephen youll be disappointed so!!!! It is EXACTLY that. Ooh sounds like his curd is the way mammy made it. Tart as all heck.

I still feel Laya was the worst but we shall see.
No brainer really.

See you at 9 all.

Love it, @PotterHead1985 😄

Also: Ooh Annas chermerick rivals Jontys choomerick!!
I actually meant to say this last night and forgot. Spot on!
Not sure I'll make tonight. Woke really early this morning - need to get some blackout-lined curtains 😴

Just finished last night’s episode. My only comment is that I much prefer a lemony custard in my puddings rather than curd. I know curd is correct but I find it too harsh

I know what you mean but some of the food has been spectacularly shit. Salmon and grapefruit anyone? It used to be that contestants had a reasonable understanding of basic cooking but there’s been a good few meals served where I’ve felt genuinely sorry for the judges needing to taste it.

Potter’s Potterings should be the after-show podcast @PotterHead1985😘

Why thank you (takes bow). Im hoping you'll get live potterings next week, but as the episodes will be 11pm turkey time.....

Also @Sunbird24 and anyone else outside country, what vpn do you swear by so I can pre load onto the laptop?

I use Nord, but I get a massive discount through work. Try ExpressVPN?

Evening. Ready for quacking lamb.

Evening! Another day, another headband…..

Thanking you

Evening. Dad instead of gonna.

Yay potter. Podcast would be great