Ultimate domestic goddess Delia Smith has hit out at celebrity chefs saying they’re ridiculing the public with fussy recipes and arrogant attitudes.
In an interview with Norfolk Eastern Daily Press, the 66-year-old, whose new cookbook, How to Cheat at Cooking, comes out on Friday, slammed the snobby, elitist cookery programmes by celebrity chefs for making fun of enthusiastic amateurs at home. She added that her mission has been to encourage everyone to enjoy cooking.
“I do not want to knock television chefs. I think it is great to have lots of cooking on TV, enabling people to learn about different food and ingredients,” Delia said.
“But what I do not like is amateurs being made to feel like they are being ridiculed. I think people should be encouraged if they are watching a programme. It puts everybody off if you have got some very, very top chef saying 'No that is not right. You haven't got it right’.”
However, Delia added she could not fault television chefs Jamie Oliver and Nigella Lawson. “I really love Jamie and Nigella. I think they are both really good at helping people with their cooking,” she said.
Comments (1)
The successful chefs I have been fortunate enough to know treat their teams with respect, giving encouragement and help. This is in marked contrast to the ridicule, which Delia Smith has correctly observed, meted out to the amateurs and contestants on some TV cookery shows. In the real world of catering, hard work is rewarded and appreciated - everyone is an amateur to begin with.
Posted by Peter Hancock | February 13, 2008 11:31 AM
Posted on February 13, 2008 11:31