Whilst living in Japan, I would sometimes indulge in what I labelled cooking porn. This was the kind of programme where someone would cook and/or sample food and would have food-gasms over what they've imbibed or ingested. The eater would close their eyes and squeal "Oishii!" (delicious) and make facial gestures similar to those expressed when feeling physical pleasure. These kinds of programmes or segments were really popular on TV and my friends and I would emulate these people whenever we'd eat something ridiculously delicious (I tried to find an example on You Tube but I couldn't find anything appropriate). Little did I know that this was the start of an obsession with watching cooking on TV.
Anyone who knows me knows I love to eat and I love food. I've turned into a foodie groupie and tend to watch cooking shows a lot. One of my favourites is the British
MasterChef. A little birdie back home told me that Gordon Ramsey has produced
MasterChef for US audiences and I was a little chagrined. Firstly because Gordon Ramsey is SO ANNOYING, and secondly, the UK show kicks ass and I will watch that ish three times a week when it's a new season.
A couple os Saturdays ago, we were forunate enough to score free tix to the GoodFood Show in Glasgow (ah, the perks of being married to a journalist) and I got to see the stars of
MasterChef LIVE! The permanent judges are John Torode and (sigh) Gregg Wallace. Now, I don't know what it is about this bald, tubby, dimpled Cockney bastard, but he had my heart thumping when I saw him on Saturday. I proceeded to stalk his ass, though I never quite got the balls to throw my panties at him, or more sanely, buy some MasterChef plonk and have him sign it. Dave thought I was a little insane, but meh, what are you going to do?
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| Gregg (and John) signing some MC merc. |
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| Gregg and John playing up to the audience. |
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| Gregg's big old head. |
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| Gregg's big old belly. |
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| Dhruv Baker, 2010 MC winner and quite the looker. |
Of course,
MasterChef LIVE wasn't the only thing going on that day. Dave and I sampled loads of food, cheese, desserts and alcohol. There were cooking demonstrations, celebrity chefs roaming around, product demos and loads more. We showed remarkable restraint and didn't buy everything we tasted, though Dave still bemoans the fact that he didn't buy that delicious Lanarkshire blue cheese he eschewed in favour of an oniony cheddar. You live and learn. Some more sights from our day:
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| My media pass. |
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| Sampling some delicious wheat beer. |
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| A cooking demo with seafood. |
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| The SECC was jam packed! |
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| Cooking classes for £10 a pop and all sold out. |
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| Said cooking class. |
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| Fresh seafood (the langoustine at the top was moving!) |
For the first time in several months, Dave and I genuinely enjoyed ourselves for hours. The irony is that the venue, the SECC, was the same place we visited some months ago when it was hosting a baby show. This was not lost on us, particularly when I cried my eyes out some hours later. Sigh. You gain a little, you lose a little.
I myself am not totally immune to the "bald, tubby, dimpled Cockney". I think it's his love of a good pudding.
ReplyDeleteI live to eat, myself.
ReplyDeleteI love the fact that Gregg Wallace can be relied upon to insist that things need more butter, or sauce, or whatever the least healthy part of a meal is.
ReplyDeleteAlso I think Harriet was considering going to a fancy dress party as him, which seems kinda mind-boggling.
It might be because of Gregg's unabashed love of food that makes him so damn appealing. I go nuts when he rolls his eyes in the back of his head and chuckles. Dirty bastard.
ReplyDeleteCalum, I think I would have been creeped out if Harriet came as him, though I must admit, I'm curious.