great british bake off

It’s day 3 for me. Day 3 of lockdown. No work, not even anything I can take home, and so like many people working in the hospitality sector, I feel a bit lost.

When I then think that many people have been on lockdown/self-isolating for much longer than my mere 3 days, I wonder how you’ve got by.

Things will improve, but right now, we’ve found ourselves in a mad situation. Whilst ‘key workers’ are doing a fantastic job, be it saving lives, stocking shelves or collecting bins so that our world can keep turning, they’re not the only ones bearing the brunt of it all.

I’m talking about poor old Netflix.

Never has our favourite means of procrastination had to deal with so many demands, so many fed up people desperate to find entertaining ways to pass time.

That’s why I’ve come up with my top 16 foodie shows to invest your time in over the coming weeks (or months…). Most of these are on Netflix, some can be found on BBC iPlayer if that’s accessible to you, and failing that, just good old Google should do the trick. These things can often be found somewhere on the web, even if the quality isn’t perfect.

So, if you’re going to devote more time to TV now, you may as well choose something entertaining, informative, and thought-provoking, that’ll get you super excited for all the incredible food waiting for you out there when this blows over…

Category is: Best of British

Great British Bake Off

Okay, so, chances are, you’ve seen some of this already, and failing that, you’ve certainly heard of the Great British Bake Off, so it’s an obvious choice, but there’s honestly nothing better. You can find every single series of the original BBC version of Bake Off on Netflix, and if you can actually find any eggs or flour in the supermarkets, now is the perfect time to hunt for some baking inspiration. GBBO is light-hearted, warm, and funny; a really easy watch full of showstopping cakes, pastry disasters and lots of creepy Paul Hollywood stares.

Nadiya’s Time To Eat / Nadiya’s Family Favourites

Of course there was no way I could write a post like this without mentioning Nadiya. Neither of these shows are actually on Netflix, but both can be found on iPlayer, and once again, they’ll definitely be able to provide you with some ‘isolation inspiration’ cooking-wise. Nadiya is the anti-food-waste queen, with her recipes ideal for families, using simple ingredients, and making sure not to waste a single thing. As well as her resourcefulness when it comes to cooking, her wonderful positivity and bright, sunny personality is a joy to watch on screen.

Masterchef

Less home cooking, more refined, restaurant flair, Masterchef is another mouth-watering best of British option. With a current series on-going on BBC at the minute, there’s still time to catch up from the beginning before the final. The pompousness of the food critics, alongside Gregg’s caricature-like reactions creates a balanced programme filled with as much fun and disaster as there is serious cooking and creativity. Although I haven’t watched it myself, I hear that the Australian version is also worth getting into.

Million Pound Menu

A bittersweet one up next, but definitely a highlight for me. Million Pound Menu takes street food and restaurant concepts and challenges the brains behind them to impress a number of industry figures enough that they choose to invest up to £1,000,000 in their business venture. Many of the restaurants and pop ups involved I’d either already heard of or even eaten at myself, so watching the faces behind them on screen was really interesting. It’s quite gutting to watch at this moment in time when many of them who were still trading have had to put their businesses on hold, not knowing if they will have the means to open their doors again when the lockdown rules are lifted, but on the off chance that this might inspire you to support such small businesses in any way you can, I urge you to watch this series, full of impressively creative and determined, young, entrepreneurial minds. It’s also presented by Fred Sirieux if that sways any of you…

The Big Family Cooking Showdown

Last in the Best of British, is The Big Family Cooking Showdown, hosted by my beloved Nadiya, and Zoe Ball. In each episode, 3 families compete in 3 challenges, preparing home cooked comfort food with their relatives, to make it to the semi finals, as they are judged by Rosemary Schraeger and Giorgio Locatelli. If you can stand Rosemary Schraeger for more than 5 seconds then it’s definitely worth a watch, and for some added fun, why not drink everytime she wobbles her head in disapproval, babbling ‘THe TeXtUrE iS aLl WrOnG…’. This is light-hearted fun, with relatable families like yours and mine, from teenage contestants to grandparents, all cooking together.

Category is: Baking

Zumbo’s Just Desserts

Should I be ashamed to say that I didn’t know who Adriano Zumbo was before watching this? Possibly not as a Brit, but I’m glad I’ve now been introduced to his amazing creations. I’ve often heard people say that part of the reason Americans loved GBBO was because of how lovely all the contestants were to one another, unlike US cooking shows which are much more competitive, and the same should be said for Australian shows. Zumbo’s Just Desserts is similar to Bake Off in terms of individual contestants completing baking challenges, however all of the creations, as the title suggests, are desserts, excluding things like bread and pies like they make in GBBO. The contestants are also much more openly competitive towards each other, some even verging on villainous in their taunts, but this is what makes it so entertaining. Rachel Khoo copresents, with the only downside to the show being her unnecessarily frumpy frocks.

Sugar Rush

From Australian baking shows, to the US, this time we’re sticking with Adriano Zumbo as judge, but of course it couldn’t be hosted by anyone other than a drama school-esque, lip-gloss wearing, movie-star smiled Hunter March. Yes he’s American, of course that’s his real name. The premise here is that the 4 teams of two have three challenges to complete (that’s 4 teams, 2 contestants in each and 3 challenges, got it?), with a set amount of time in which to complete all 3. The time that they save in each round is then added to their 1-hour time limit in the final test, with the least impressive team being eliminated after each challenge. You’ll see cupcakes, confectionary and giant cake masterpieces, each team bringing their own unique style into the kitchen.

Nailed It

Onto something slightly different now – instead of focusing on those who can bake, we’re looking at those who really can’t. On Nailed It, those individuals with a terrible track record in the kitchen compete to recreate professional bakes for cash prizes, with varying degrees of success. It’s just a bit of fun, with some pretty terrible attempts that’ll likely make you feel better about your own skills. It’s also a great excuse to practise your language skills, with series set in the US, Mexico, Spain, France and Germany. I’ve only actually watched the Spanish one so far, and it is ridiculous; quite appalling TV to be honest, but in times like these we’re pretty desperate aren’t we, and it’s entertaining nonetheless.

Category is: Global Cuisine

Ugly Delicious

A new one out there, Ugly Delicious follows US-Korean chef Dave Chang as he chases the trail of some of the most popular foods out there, questioning the concept of authenticity as he goes. Can we really compare the typical foods eaten across the vast space that is China, with our narrow-minded and potentially misguided attempts at Chinese food elsewhere in the world? Is pizza still pizza when crafted by innovative chefs in Japan? Covering tacos and kebabs, curry and fried chicken, this show will have you questioning authenticity vs flavour vs branding, with a group of passionate and grounded friends and colleagues guiding you along the way.

Street Food

It almost seems like a phenomenon of the past, but Street Food took Netflix by storm when it came out last year. With no host or recurring voiceover, we’re left in the company of the mostly non-English speaking cooks, who have mastered their crafts in major cities across Asia. Meet Toyo in Osaka, Florencia in the Phillipines and Jai Fay in Bangkok, who even went on to earn a Michelin Star for her street food café. Off the back of this series, people have flocked from all over the world to try this incredible street food from humble beginnings, but here you get to see these masterful chefs before their work gained international notoriety.

Somebody Feed Phil

The best kind of food-travel doc series, Somebody Feed Phil follows writer and producer Phillip Rosenthal as he embarks on an international food tour, landing in cities including Lisbon, Saigon and New Orleans, bringing a dose of (albeit American) humour along the way.

Chefs’ Line

We’re heading back to Australia with this unique competitive series, in which 4 home cooks compete against ‘the chefs’ line’ composed of 4 chefs, ranging in experience, from hugely successful Sydney restaurants, including the head chef himself. Every 4 episodes centres around a different cuisine, covering Turkish, African and Italian to name a few. Contestants often have strong ties to that particular cuisine, whether they were born in Turkey or are third generation Italians, making them even more determined to showcase their skills and beat the professionals.

Category is: Celebrities/Chefs

Chef’s Table

Each episode of Chef’s Table tells the story of one of the world’s greatest chefs at present, from their background and visions, to inspiration and professional journeys. Travel to Argentina to hear from Francis Mallmann and his Patagonian cuisine, and then to Bo Songvisava for an insight into her rise to success as one of Thailand’s most successful chefs. A highly-acclaimed Netflix Originals series not to be missed.

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

If you got through Ugly Delicious and decided you needed a bit more Dave Chang in your life then don’t you worry, as Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner is here for you. This time around Dave calls in the help of some familiar faces including Seth Rogan in Vancouver, Chrissy Teigan in Marrakesh, Lena Waite in LA and Kate McKinnon in Phnom Penh, as they explore the city, indulging in 3 delicious meals and learning more about local culture and customs.

Category is: Informative/Scientific

Rotten

Something a bit different this time round; Rotten encompasses a series of documentaries uncovering the controversial truths surrounding the supply chain of some of our favourite foods. Chocolate, avocado and peanuts are all on the list as foods hiding ethical issues when it comes to their production and supply. Meet those who are affected as they discuss their plight, and come away with a deeper understanding of how your food consumption habits may be affecting others half way across the world.

Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat

The final show to mention is another travel-cum-science-cum-all round mouth watering content kind of show. The show is hosted by chef and food writer Samin Nosrat, and is based on her own book of the same name. Travel with her to various locations to each time examine one of the 4 essential components of great cooking – fat in Italy, salt in Japan, acid in Mexico and heat in California.

And there’s my round up complete.

Netflix is an absolute blessing at this time, and whilst I admittedly am already slightly fed up of staring up at a screen, it is the only thing I can find to occupy my time once I’ve finished cooking, writing and working out. A lot can be learnt from the shows above, and they certainly offer a huge amount of inspiration, whether that’s for your next trip abroad when we’re finally allowed outside the confines of our own homes again, or simply your next kitchen cooking project to while away the hours.

Take care, and…

¡Comemos!

All the things I wanted to say but couldn’t…

Nadiya Hussain is now often referred to as a national treasure.

Which she is.

But this adopting of her by a whole nation seems to ignore the individual stories of those who have found solace in both her story, and her food.

I watched Bake Off back in 2015, and yes, I was one of those who grew to love her. Endearingly funny without realising it, and completely oblivious to her own talent, we were all rooting for her until the end.

After bake off finished, however, I didn’t think much more of it. I liked her, but I didn’t continue to closely follow her story.

It was just after Christmas last year when I decided to buy her third cookbook, ‘Nadiya’s Family Favourites’. I’m not sure what made me do it – I didn’t own a single recipe book prior to that, and although I often cooked from scratch at home, it was never anything particularly complicated and I certainly hadn’t yet discovered the passion for food that existed somewhere within me.

In the first few months of this year, I tried following a few of her recipes, with varying degrees of success. There were however, occasions where I miraculously ended up with a dish that actually looked half decent. I’d take something out of the oven, and think, ‘I actually made that… and it wasn’t a disaster…’

Without really realising it, I was learning a lot and something was stirring inside of me.

It wasn’t until about April when things really changed. Working in a very challenging secondary school environment started to take its toll on me. I had struggled on for 8 months without saying anything, but it began to reach a point where it was obvious something was wrong, and there was nothing I could do to hide it, often finding it near impossible to drag myself out of bed to go to work without becoming hysterical.

Fast forward a few weeks and I eventually conceded that I needed time off, and began to talk about things that had been stuck in my head for as long as I can remember. This, coincidentally, was also the time at which Nadiya released her ‘Anxiety and Me’ documentary.

I didn’t watch it at the time, despite multiple people referencing it in conversation. At that point, I wasn’t prepared to be introduced to someone else’s struggles when I was working my way through a difficult time myself (I have since watched it, and am in awe of her as always).

Having a few months off work wasn’t what I had initially wanted, but I was very productive during that time. I kept active, going to the gym nearly every day, I completed a food journalism course whilst blogging and researching career options that would help to carve out a happier future for me, and I baked. I cooked and I baked and I baked and I cooked.

I remember in those first few days constantly worrying that everytime I posted on Instagram something that I’d made, people would be thinking ‘so she’s not at work but she’s ok enough to post all these photos of food and jolly captions.’

But it wasn’t like that.

As I sort of managed to tell Nadiya at her book signing on Sunday night, through blubbering, hyperventilated breaths, it was my therapy.

I realised that when I was at work in the kitchen, I literally didn’t think about anything else.

I then bought Nadiya’s second cookbook ‘Time to Eat’, and loved this one even more than the first. Her recipes incorporate everything from British comfort food (think baked beans, roast dinners, buttery English muffins and sausage and mash) to plates inspired by her Bangladeshi background (fattoush, chaat, lassi and halva) and then everything in between (enchiladas, pancakes, pizza and pastries).

Those few months were a whirlwind in the kitchen and I made some of the best food I’ve ever attempted.

Something inside me had been ignited, and I put so much of it down to the love of cooking that her recipes produced within me.

I began to write more about food, starting this blog and channelling all of my energy into what that made me happy.

After a pep talk from one of my closest friends, I made the decision to quit my job. It was a risk, as I didn’t have a plan, and for me, not having a plan is terrifying.

The funny thing is, I still don’t have one, the only difference now is that I trust that I’ll get to where I need to be regardless.

Last night (Sunday 1^st December) I went to Nadiya’s book tour for her new memoir ‘Finding My Voice’ at the Royal Festival Hall, Southbank Centre in London. She spoke openly and eloquently about the many challenges she had faced and overcome, and still is overcoming in her life. Some of them were so far from anything I had ever experienced, and others spoke to me. Some of her fears are my fears, but some of her strengths (without wanting to blow my own trumpet lol) are my strengths.

I was lucky enough to meet her afterwards, but came away feeling like a ginormous idiot, as words failed me, and for reasons I couldn’t really explain at the time I got massively emotional. I actually blame the woman in front of me in the queue who also started to cry so it was her fault for setting the precedent. So yes, this big, long essay here is everything I was trying to explain to her, which just came out in sobs via my ugly crying face.

Who knew cooking and enjoying the incredible recipes that someone else has conjured up could have such an impact on me.

And now I can’t wait to spend every minute of my work shifts reading through the chapters of her life.

Nadiya is brave and inspiring. She’s funny and warm. And I hope that one day when I have children, they have someone like her to look up to.

Fangirling is a bit cringey. But as the title suggests, if you can cry over Beyoncé, I can cry over Nadiya.

……………..

Leaving it on a more light-hearted note, I now have 3 of Nadiya’s 4 recipe books and am gradually working my way through cooking a load of her incredibly diverse food, so just to get you salivating, here are a selection of my favourite and most successful attempts.