Good Post
Have to say since moving out the 2 greatest things on earth for me are:

Potatoes
Wholegrain Rice

Cheap, good for you and absolutely versatile.

On another note here are the best celebrity chefs:

1) Rick Stein
2) Keith Floyd
3) Delia
4) Jamie Oliver
5) Ken Hom (for that bit of exotic)

Pity I stink out the flat with all that fish I cook :(
( whenanimalsattackhumans clad in global hypercolour, Wed 8 Apr 2009, 9:33, 2 replies)

Two Fat Ladies were bloody brilliant
Erm... there was a Chinese girl who did an oriental cookery series on BBC2 recently, she was good, and cute to boot.

I'd put Keith Floyd on top, personally, but then I'm not a big fish man.

Heh... like a huge merman, or something...

Edit: how could I forget Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall? Top chap.
( Noeli overtheshoulderboulderholderthingstraplatchboobs, Wed 8 Apr 2009, 9:44, closed)

Ching I think her name was
She is cute, although you can't beat busty nigella. That video that was up a while back (casette boy I think it was) was an absolute dream.



Oh oh oh, and Rachel Allen, if you've ever seen her. She gets me going something rotten. Like the way you'd like to gat your auntie (not blood relative obv.).

Edit: Oh yeah, almost forgot. This post FTW
(TheColonel, Wed 8 Apr 2009, 10:06, closed)

Cheers
Rachel's that Irish lass, isn't she? Man, she gives me the upright towel-hook.
( Noeli overtheshoulderboulderholderthingstraplatchboobs, Wed 8 Apr 2009, 10:09, closed)

I almost choked to death laughing at this
I got put off her by my brother slagging her off non-stop when we watched her show.

I would though.
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Wed 8 Apr 2009, 10:32, closed)

Huge Furry-Whippingtool is one of my favourites
proper old fashioned cooking.

I find Heston Blumenthal quite engaging. Obviously you can't watch him for recipe ideas, but some of his recent Feasts shows have been interesting and entertaining!
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Wed 8 Apr 2009, 10:29, closed)

Yeah
One of the best things about Hugh Fearnley whatshisname is the vast majority of the time he is self-sustaining (growing his own food etc, customising the cottage) and that he loves to get in touch with the British roots.

That episode where he went to a cider festivel and went a bit wild on cider was a classic.

He's also well into "nose to tail" eating which is brilliant. Love reading recipes about pigs trotters and shin of beef - the cheaper cuts. All excellent!

Nigella is such a fucking slut though...

/creams
( whenanimalsattackhumans clad in global hypercolour, Wed 8 Apr 2009, 10:42, closed)

Try Hugh's spring chicken recipe
It's amazing - just loads of fresh herbs, butter and wine - it's utterly divine.

Hugh is mad as a badger, but his programmes are excellent viewing and his books are good too. Sadly I lost my copies as my ex wouldn't let me take them - I got Nigella and Jamie, he kept Hugh and Delia.
( chickenlady b3ta's very own Elizabeth Taylor, Wed 8 Apr 2009, 12:12, closed)

Veggie cookbooks
Just to add my tuppence to this list.

For all you veggies out there, you CANNOT beat Leith's Vegetarian Bible, 600 pages of fantastic vegetarian recipes, hardly any pictures, and you can pick up cheap second hand copies from Amazon.

Buy it, buy it, buy it, it's aces!
( gadjie, Wed 8 Apr 2009, 10:53, closed)

I have that
I don't find it any good, but that may be due to the way I use cookbooks and recipes to see if the idea I've had for a dish has been done and isn't completely mental.

the Leith's one just doesn't work for me.
( Vipros. clever got me this far, then tricky got me in, Wed 8 Apr 2009, 11:01, closed)

that's a shame
Horses for courses, and all that.

I find the way it's arranged by ingredient means that you can usually make something tasty, and there are more than enough impressive recipes if you're trying to get lucky.

Ok, how about Fresh Flavours of India, a great South Indian cookbook? Beetroot curry,yum!
( gadjie, Wed 8 Apr 2009, 12:00, closed)