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Original poster

Masterchef - why am i so cynical?

33 replies

PortofinosDHwillDieIfHeForgets · 12/02/2009 20:42

Is it only me that asks myself - if these people are so desperate to cook professionally, why have none of them actually ever gone to catering college?

OP posts:
Hassled · 12/02/2009 20:48

No, it's not only you .

Also - the prospect of ever having a friend like that who invited me to a dinner party would be terrifying. Can you imagine the fannying around that would be going on?

brimfull · 12/02/2009 20:51

my dh loves Masterchef
it is never bloody ending though
how many weeks has it been going on fgs!

brimfull · 12/02/2009 20:52

IT WILL CHANGE THEIR LIFE!!!!

Original poster
PortofinosDHwillDieIfHeForgets · 12/02/2009 20:53

Of course it will, but why couldn't they have made the bloody effort, like all the other chefs have to?

OP posts:
duckyfuzz · 12/02/2009 20:54

lol hassled - my brother and SIL are like that - we drove 300 miles to stay with them, they spent 3 hours in the kitchen, carefully preparing...bangers and mash (it was a heston blumenthal recipe though )

Original poster
PortofinosDHwillDieIfHeForgets · 12/02/2009 21:00

All these recipes are so bloody poncey. The best food I have ever eaten has always been so simple! (We're not counting fray Bentos pies in this though....)

Goats cheese and honey in a simple Spanish place, linguine with lemon and sage in a POSH restaurant, proper fish and chips etc etc.

Every recipe shouldn't need 20 ingredients.

Mind you I did once have a souffle in the Four Seasons in Dublin that I would have killed my grandmother for!

OP posts:
brimfull · 12/02/2009 21:03

I love fancy food when someone else has cooked it .

comparethePeachydotcom · 12/02/2009 21:11

LOL that's exazctly what we said also Portofino!

But do the people at Catering College dream of food?

I'll eat almost anything except pigeon (not because i'm a prissy, tried it and loathed it) so pigeon raviloi- boak.

TheCrackFox · 12/02/2009 21:14

Dh is a chef and now owns 3 restaurants. He didn't go to catering college and most chefs don't.

comparethePeachydotcom · 12/02/2009 21:17

Ah but did he win masterchef thecrackfox? Coz the programme tried to imply there is No Other Way

whilst I assumed there was always severe graft and dedication for a long time

TheCrackFox · 12/02/2009 21:24

No, left school at 16, started washing the pots and worked his way up. Worked in a lot of michelin places along the way. Took about 10 years to become a Head chef.

If you don't mind crap wages (at first) and long working hours anybody can become a chef.

Original poster
PortofinosDHwillDieIfHeForgets · 12/02/2009 21:29

Exactly though - lots and lots of dedication and effort! Not just your family saying you cook nice food and a brief opportunity to be on the tv!

OP posts:
Original poster
PortofinosDHwillDieIfHeForgets · 12/02/2009 21:32

Even JO and Gordon Ramsey had to start with the scabby stuff once. I know Gary Rhodes went to college though as i did a course at the same place. The catering students cooked the food in the restaurant. God did they make nice cakes!

OP posts:
pointydog · 12/02/2009 21:35

Like with any sort of career change, many people have a job where they earn a reasonable wage and due to being older and having more financial commitments, they can't really afford to work long hours for a few peanuts with no guarantees at the end of it. It's a fairly risky business, I would have thought.

So Masterchef provides one opportunity of changing career without the threat of financial and domestic ruin.

Jux · 12/02/2009 21:36

I watch it because I get the odd idea for a flavour or combination which I may try at some point. Otherwise it's just two shouty men trying to persuade us that "it doesn't get more exciting than this". Um, you're wrong.

comparethePeachydotcom · 12/02/2009 21:41

pmsl jux

Pointy yes but for one person. And change is doale for us oldies

Original poster
PortofinosDHwillDieIfHeForgets · 12/02/2009 21:51

But as I'm sure the CrackFox will agree, Professional cooking is bloody hard work. The hours are crap. I agree that change is doable, but a lot of people on Masterchef and The restaurant are used to cooking just for dinner parties. They're not used to the stress.

OP posts:
TheCrackFox · 12/02/2009 21:57

The hours are crap and it is stressful but TBH it is all water off a ducks back for DH.

We have discussed Masterchef and we came up with a plan. If you really want to be a chef, get a weekend job in a restaurant for a year and get a real feel for the business. You could save up the extra wages and open your own gaff. All without, probably, losing a competition on national TV.

pointydog · 12/02/2009 21:57

No, of course they're not used to the stress. But they think they could cope. And until they try it, they won't know. So good on tehm if they give it a shot. There might be one winner, but some of the others probably do go on to something that involves cooking.

pointydog · 12/02/2009 21:59

There is that option too, cf, but depending what your first job is and what your hours are, it might be hard to get a second job. Some people could. It's just one small option of many.

MrsMuddle · 12/02/2009 22:00

Look, all you people who went to catering college or who work 70 hours as a chef, don't you know that when it comes to Masterchef, COOKING DOESN'T GET TUFFA THAN THIS!!

Original poster
PortofinosDHwillDieIfHeForgets · 12/02/2009 22:04
Grin
OP posts:
TheCrackFox · 12/02/2009 22:07
Grin
dizzydixies · 12/02/2009 22:09

love it and thank goodness am not the only one

dizzydixies · 12/02/2009 22:09

have you done enuff to WIN though?!?!?