Masterchef Ireland 2011

Jelly2

[Also, zooming in like that on Pierce's bum last night was a bit much. Are they trying to make a laugh out of the contestants?[/QUOTE]

Yeah, I noticed that too, and thought that it was very unfair. He's cooking, it's not a beauty contest...

ColeTrain

Thought it was unfair on Big Pierce. Was again given the Dessert which he didn't want. Can't say I care who wins it now tbh..

Thewatcher

Seems to me they're just setting up particular people to fail. The girlies get the easy stations and the guys get the hard ones. 5 minutes into the program I knew Pierce was last night's 'victim'. We all know that these 'reality' shows are not slightly real, but the makers of this program aren't very sophisticated at hiding the bias. To paraphrase: "Yes, you overcooked your fish for the third week in a row, but we know you can cook, so you're all right". "Well done for spending the most, but serving the least. Really quite nasty, but you're pretty, so you're safe". Or the Nick Munier classic: "I don't like this.....it's because the honey has mixed with the vinegar". Notice that Mr. Munier has been relegated to giving instructions or delivering verdicts. His (in)ability to discuss food has been noted and eliminated.

As for showing Pierce's arse crack 3 times: disgraceful.

Darkginger

Hello all - finally found where people are talking about this programme (we have a small thread about it over in the Food & Drink forum).

Coming late to the discussion - I'm finding the series a bit confusing, because we don't get to find out much about the food itself. Take last Thursday as an example - they were let loose in Ireland's largest Asian supermarket - but we didn't get to hear what they 'bought', or their reasoning for choosing those ingredients. OK, so the website has many of the series' recipes on it (not last Thursday's yet, sadly, because I love Indian food!), but I watch the programme because I'm a foodie, not because I enjoy watching people panic whilst trying to cook!

I wonder what audience the programme makers are aiming at (for? lol)? Foodies like me? Reality show lovers? Something else? This is where my confusion originates - each episode seems to wander from one focus to another, without actually giving us enough detail on any of them. If it's about the people, we need to hear more about them and their motivations. If it's about the food, we need more information about each dish, the ingredients, the methods...

Not sure I'm expressing myself particularly well here! I'm actually enjoying watching (I watch RTE online 'cos we don't have a telly, so I pick programmes I think I'd enjoy, rather than going with scheduled programming), and will continue to do so - but I think it could have been a lot better with a narrower focus.

Christine's voice IS annoying, but I can see her running her own restaurant one day - she has that energy, humility (she listens), and - when called for - authority, that would be assets in such a business. I like Bridín too.

Fingers crossed there are SOME recipes from the last episode added to the website soon!

DebDynamite

Thewatcher wrote: »

The girlies get the easy stations and the guys get the hard ones. 5 minutes into the program I knew Pierce was last night's 'victim'.

Sorry, but I don't agree with you there. Mike had starter as well as Bridin, Pierce had the dessert, which someone else said earlier he could've had mostly pre-prepared. The only one who got a raw deal was Shane who had the lamb.

I don't know where you're getting that the girls are getting the easy stations?

Degag

I think the standerd is shockingly bad compared to the British version. I couldn't see any of the final 5 having a chance of winning it. I think it'll be either Claire-Ann, Christine or Bridgin winning. Don't think Mary has the temperment and Mike? doesn't seem to have the drive.

lovinit

Between this, Kitchen Hero, Baking made easy and the bake off I am in cookery heaven

suzie987

rspeedie wrote: »

Loved reading the comments, it's what TV does, creates opinions. Thats most of the fun of these shows. But things aren't always what they seem in reality TV land folks!

Yours
Whingey Richard

Well done Richard on getting as far as you did I was really rooting for you and sad to see you go!

suzie987

tinyk68 wrote: »

My biggest problem was that fact that they used instant eggs in the cakes. Did anyone else notice this? Am I being naive or is this common practice in kitchens. I would have thought they would use real eggs. After all this is supposed to be a five star establishment not McDonald's!

I am pretty sure that some recipes (e.g. macarons) require that the eggs need to be whisked 24 hours before and left in fridge . . .

chubnut

This show has been killed by the personalities or more to the point, the lack of personality of the judges. Both are devoid of humour, sharpness or any input and I watch it because frankly its yet another embarassment of how Irish TV thinks its natives have something in common with other cultures.

The fact that they have now hired a cranky obnoxious English chef that other TV stations run a mile from just epitomises the dearth of intelligence in Irish Television. When are they going to start promoting the real essence of Irish culture, drinking and having the craic.

Neil3030

How soon do the episodes go up on RTE player?

Moving to Italy on Thursday

gbee

Neil3030 wrote: »

How soon do the episodes go up on RTE player?

Moving to Italy on Thursday

24hrs.

BUT, if RTE are like others, you might not have access permission from Italy. You'll need a proxy

themadchef

Should really be seeing an improvement in both the contestants and the presenters tonight.

There's a feeling of "forced" tv, trying too hard. The pressure should be enough without trying to make it "good telly". In reality it has the opposite effect.

NickDrake

Bridin is so hot!!!

themadchef

NickDrake wrote: »

Bridin is so hot!!!

I hate to state the obvious but she is working in a kitchen.

smiles302

gbee wrote: »

24hrs.

BUT, if RTE are like others, you might not have access permission from Italy. You'll need a proxy

Thought the iplayer had the programs an hour after they were shown on TV?

gbee

smiles302 wrote: »

Thought the iplayer had the programs an hour after they were shown on TV?

Looks like you are right, I see Rescue 115 on line now, aired earlier. So neat. That's better again.

suzie987

You can also watch Masterchef live on the RTE player also . . .

amdublin

Who's gonna go??!!!

Either Clare Anne or the fella is my guess.

I'm thinking the fella.

suzie987

What's with the Mary love affair . . .

leahyl

suzie987 wrote: »

What's with the Mary love affair . . .

I know Dylan has had a 'thing' for her from the beginning!!

She is a pretty good cook though!!

themadchef

suzie987 wrote: »

What's with the Mary love affair . . .

She executed the dish well, presented it well and that's what they are looking for. Tasks completed, and completed well. Remember how unorganised she was day one?

Clare Anne i thought took all that criticism very well, he broke her dish apart one component at a time. It was tough for her to stand there and take that with a smile. Fair play to her.

Oh and as for the "sexy food" comment it's tongue in cheek. Maybe they were told to lighten it up a little. There's a phrase used in kitchens, it's "food porn" when something is so wrong, but oh so right :pac: Would love to see him lob that one in!

Mrs Ron Burgundy

suzie987 wrote: »

What's with the Mary love affair . . .

So sick of it, she's really starting to wreck my head. She can't hack the pressure half the time. The baldy guy (what a pleb) has been humping her leg from the start. I'd say the rest of the contestants hate her.

Caros

Mrs Ron Burgundy wrote: »

So sick of it, she's really starting to wreck my head. She can't hack the pressure half the time. The baldy guy (what a pleb) has been humping her leg from the start. I'd say the rest of the contestants hate her.

/\ /\ laughed out loud at that and nearly spit my coffee all over the laptop!

Thud

they did seem to brush over her mistakes when she made them in previous episodes and then focus on the guys mistakes, wasn't really fair in my opinion

heathersonline

Who's the celebrity chef that's heading in this week? His name is wrecking my head!!

lovinit

If you are talking about last night then it was John Burton Race, he has done shows in the UK such as Take on the takeaway and I think he did Britains best dish

leahyl

I think John Burton Race has a look of Wallace from 'Wallace and Gromit' about him - what do you think?!:D It's his teeth I think:p

stargazer 68

I love John Burton Race - gets straight to the point! :rolleyes:
Cant really take to any of the contestants - wish the UK one would start, its much better!

Thewatcher

Thud wrote: »

they did seem to brush over her mistakes when she made them in previous episodes and then focus on the guys mistakes, wasn't really fair in my opinion

Agreed entirely. That's not to say the survivors are not the best cooks, but their earlier mistakes were diminished, whereas some of the others were magnified. That's how it seemed from what we've been able to see. Might be bad editing, might be favouritism.

Either way I think the playing field hasn't always been level. In general, I have been able to predict who was leaving just after the start of each show, based on the comments made about the contestants. Seems they're setting up Mike to go next.