Raymond Blanc THE RESTAURANT new series

[RTKangaMummy]

We went to one of them and it was really deffo brill

I am not allowed to say which one though or say what happened

BBC2

Wednesday

A great episode - but get the feeling that RB is just going through the motions of the prog as he has the look on his face of being annoyed by them

I also think Raymond is too harsh on Helen/Steve - by far the most functional team on the show (I keep taking notes as I think they are great at supporting each other, and dh and I could learn a lot from that!!) - just because their concept is 'downmarket'. I think them and luvvy duvvys are favourites to win. Agree that Tim was being strategically unhelpful to Pete/Laura - he is the most cynical and ambitious of the lot.

yes,agree - he is a bully - I wonder if they were at school together ? they are completely and utterly hopeless anyway.

I'm waiting for Alistair to loose it with him and throw a real "you don't appreciate/love me" type strop.

I can feel it coming!

I'm not sure any f the candidates are as good chefs as last year's...anyone else think so?

Tim really went up in my estimation when he was willing to finish because of his wife's feelings.

James' I am god attitude has been there all along - witnessed again last night when he said something like 'I pulled it back, I caught up' No, why the f*k were you chopping tomatos and making everyone over 2 hours late . 'I'm ready' NO YOU CLEARLY ARE NOT - you are chopping f*king tomatos!

Think Russell is good, but she annoys me (its the voice...)

Think the probelm with Helen's gaff is they feel it has no longevity - ie why would you go back again to pay 20 quid for a meal you could by in a supermarket?

lots of people go out to eat supermarket food because they want to go out

isnt that what pizza hut is?

I have to say, I like Helen and her husband, and if I was a tourist in that town with kids, I might take the children there. But If I lived in the town, I wouldn't pay for food I could cook for myself at home.Maybe at lunchtime on a sat afternoon, but not for an evening out.

yes, it seems a friendly and comforting place

Is it location? I don't know - think Ali and James, and Lindsey and Tim have 'difficult' locations? I think the judges feel Helen's food is overpriced for what it is and would you go back? thats the intereting question - who is getting repeat custom? Or word of mouth custom?

I would be interested to see what they are charging, I'm sure I heard £20 for a main course mentioned, in which case - no thanks!

Lindsay and Tim's is off Brentford High St, just by the river and near a fantastic and popular Indian restaurant - so the location I think if not a prob. - the fact that she touted for business in Chiswick High Rd might be..there are fab restaurants in Chiswick already - she needs to find her more local customers actually in Brentford

Thing about last nights challenge was I really felt it wasn't a level playing field at all and hence Ali and James got away with it, not sure they would have survived with either of the other two clients!

agree blackduck

I third that blackduck