The Christmas cook-off

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Posted at 11:15AM, 22 December 2008 by Lulu Grimes - Deputy editor, olive magazine

Three days to go. I've been thinking about Christmas since August, and that's partly the problem. In the life of a food magazine such as olive, we are now channelling barbecues and picnics rather than roast goose because, like fashion, we are seasons ahead. It makes for utter confusion, though I know for a fact that barbecued turkey is a winner.

So, in desperation, I tuned into the wacky world of the TV Christmas food show, hoping for inspiration. Reality TV this was not. Whoever thought anyone would believe that Nigella had to drag a Christmas tree as big as a house up the front stairs herself? And where were all the relatives at Jamie's gaff? In fact where was the shouting, the noise, the unwashed pans, the lack of space and the general sense of hysteria in either programme whilst the actual cooking was underway?

I'd much rather be round at Nigella's, even though I suspect that my arteries would not thank me afterwards

Oh sorry, there was plenty of shouting round at Jamie's, but all of it by him. And that's when it dawned on me that I'd much rather be round at Nigella's, even though I suspect that my arteries would not thank me afterwards (for an original Girdle buster pie, look here ). At least between finger licks and midnight sandwiches (I swear one had Christmas pud, turkey and bread sauce in it), there was a lovely sense of calm. Dishes were cooked, tables laid and cocktails doled out and all without blood, sweat or tears. 'Listen', the programme whispered, 'you can do this, all of this, and wear velvet without getting it sticky'. I believed.

Round at Jamie's things were not as floaty and serene. The man was on good form; really brilliant food was cooked, practical jokes were played and chilli was flung about. It was fun no doubt, but that's not how I want it to be round at mine on Christmas morning. Ever. I know it's only TV but really, if I watched Jamie within 24 hours of the day itself, I'd be hyperventilating before I even got the giblets out of the turkey.

But perhaps it's just me. Sam Wollaston at the Guardian thinks Jamie's the one, so maybe all the useless expenditure of energy is a boy thing. What do you think?

Comments

Becks

22 December 2008, 12:01PM
Becks

Calm and serene she may be but she's also unbelievably smug. After the twelvetieth shot of Nigella dreamily gazing through a fairy-light encrusted window licking her soup spoon, I'm afraid I had to switch off. Jamie on the other hand was great, and the ever-lovely Gennaro more than made up for the lack of relatives. I'd be round to Jamie's for a knees up and a bit of how's your father any day...

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Belit

22 December 2008, 12:44PM
Belit

Well, I watch these shows much as I read glossy magazines: Never will I consider to buy a Â£250 pot of face cream or a Â£1500 handbag - however gorgeous - but I quite like to look at their photos and read about why they're fabulous anyway. I'll never cook like Nigella or Jamie, or organize parties like they do. But it's fun and inspiring to watch them all the same.

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Cook-book

22 December 2008, 9:21PM
Cook-book

I really hate watching Nigella. She is too..... hmnn nice and too good to be true. It is almost sickening the way she floats round the kitchen. I don't like Jamie either as I find him a bit slap dash. My personal favourites are James Martin, Gary Rhodes and chefs who have style in their cooking.

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food lover

23 December 2008, 12:08PM
food lover

I agree with Cook-book.

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miniminx

23 December 2008, 1:48PM
miniminx

Nigella is just annoyance on legs. That posh voice, that arrogance....aaaaaaargh! How far removed from reality can she get? She's not even a cook, for god's sake. At best she's a presenter showing off other people's creativity by purring to the camera in a setting about as real as Santa's grotto!

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Lucy

23 December 2008, 3:35PM
Lucy

Nigella is the best....she is not a chef, correct but most of her recipes are handed down from her mother and grandmother which makes it so much more special. She is so passionate about what she does which makes her so amazing to watch. Plus she is not pretentious unlike Gary Rhodes with his dribble of sauce over a perfectly cut slither of cake... Nigella's food is easy to make and tastes fab....all my friends love the food I make of hers, so who cares if she floats around her kitchen. I would do that if my food was aspiring and creative as hers....bring on the calories!!!!

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lulu@olivemagazine

23 December 2008, 10:11PM
lulu@olivemagazine

Cook-book, I'm interested to know why you prefer James Martin, is it his recipes, the way he presents them or his more down to earth presentation? Personally I've never found him as inspiring on paper as either Jamie or Nigella. Far from it really, but I'm willing to be persuaded otherwise.

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Becks

23 December 2008, 10:20PM
Becks

My James Martin favourite is his chocolate terrine. Seriously, I could make that 10 times a day and not get bored!

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Sue

29 December 2008, 3:12PM
Sue

In our house we had a Nigella Christmas - we tried the loaded potato skins and bourbon glazed spare ribs for Xmas Eve, along with the tiramisu layer cake - resounding successes. we also had the Xmas rocky road and the chocolate peanut cups - both hugely popular also. Also, all easy to make and no fuss to cook.

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drusilla

29 December 2008, 8:44PM
drusilla

I'm afraid I'm strictly in the pro-Nigella camp. I've made quite a few of her recipes, as I find them quite easy to adapt for, shall we say, 'real-life' cookery. There's Nigella's version, and then there's mine. I may not be able to get harissa paste or celeriac (heaven knows why, I think it's delicious), but most of her stuff is easy (and in the case of the Express series, quick!) Mr Oliver on the other hand... well, I'm from Rotherham. I can cook. Both my sister-in-laws can cook. Ditto my mother-in-law. All live in the Rotherham area. We do NOT live on takeaways. Neither do most of my friends. You can imagine what we think of Jamie and his highly condescending attitude. Admittedly, there are a few bad apples, but I imagine that's the case anywhere. Oh, and James can throw a pretty mean paso doble cape, but can he cook? Oh... right... ;-)

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mags

31 December 2008, 1:41PM
mags

dont believe all you see on the tv !we all know its for the cameras,but did you know that a lot of the time nigella employs a caterer for her dinner parties.somebody i know used to work for nigellas best friend and dissapointingly she said nigella was not as nice as she seemed on the telly.so much for you can do this! dispite all that i still love her recipes and books.

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lulu@olivemagazine

6 January 2009, 2:55PM
lulu@olivemagazine

Just for the record, I ended up doing the Nigella style turkey, brined the night before which was brilliant. The rest of the meal was pure olive recipes, the herb pancakes from the December issue with smoked salmon to start, and for pud Gordon's Christmas pudding (because I had one left from when we tested them) and the cover recipe (chocolate and cranberry log). I also did Matt Tebbutt's Glazed Christmas ham over the holidays which was lovely.

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jvcg

6 January 2009, 2:56PM
jvcg

Please! Gary Rhodes has style?? Have you not seen his appalling adverts where 'no really, I'm not just doing it for the money,' Gary ponces about in his crumpet-mobile trying to convince people that uttlerly butterly really is better than butter...the man is an embarrassment ...

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dandifiedviolence

23 January 2009, 7:34PM
dandifiedviolence

Anyone who thinks uttery butterly tastes like butter doesn't deserve tastebuds.. I'm very pro-Nigella, although I like her books better than the TV stuff, purely because she's such a good writer and describes the food so beautifully. Jamie Oliver is good too, I agree completely with all of his various campaigns.

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