» Nigella Feasts: Nigella Lawson, the AntiSlop Options

[xii]

I remember noticing on her previous shows that the yolks of her eggs were very orange, maybe she insists on using only those fancy Italian eggs.

Occasionally I've gotten organic, free-range eggs that were nearly that color. I think they do taste better, but yeah, it's only noticeable when the eggs are the only/main ingredient.

[tabbygirl521]

Seriously, you gotta hustle to get the Thai chili-lime peanuts.

AREN'T
THOSE
WONDERFUL??

Sometimes I dice UP (as SL but not Nigella would say) some of their spiced dried mango and mix it together. Oh, I want some right now.

Topic? I love Nigella. Her lemon-rosemary-garlic chicken is so great. Everything gets all caramelized and gunks onto the pan and...oooh, I just love picking at it.

I miss the old film look of her past shows but I am certain I will adjust in no time. I hope her little case of nerves goes away, too. Maybe she's read all the other forums here and is QUAKING. Maybe she fears a good old-fashioned Sandra-Lee style ass-whuppin.

[mikkamtl]

My main issue with Nigella Feasts-- which I finally got to watch last night with some friends-- was the camera work, as well. It was the only thing we could talk about(apart from how busty she looked in that red shirt; yes, we are gay men), despite my unabiding love for chili, beans, or no. As long as there's meat in there, I'm a happy man. But, back to the filming. I agree with those who mentioned that it looked amateurish or home cam filmed. It just wasn't as hazy the other shows. I also agree that she seemed...forced? Or maybe, unnatural? Somehow, she didn't seem as full of ease as I've seen her before.

Not that any of this matters. My love and respect for Nigella is unabiding.

I'd also like to second the awesomeness of Nigella licking the spatula. Anyone a little squeamish about that stuff may want to trun down my dinner invitations. Except for roseyrose, who has no choice.

And finally... the eggs. I found they were a little pale compared to what we've seen on previous Nigella shows. Perhaps they'd been sitting out too long, because I remember seeing her make her honey semifreddo (mmm) with the most spectacular, tangerine colored yolks I'd ever seen. Including the ones I grew up with, from farms in central Finland.

[LuLuVuitton]

I remember noticing on her previous shows that the yolks of her eggs were very orange, maybe she insists on using only those fancy Italian eggs.

I have a friend who lives on a "Gentleman's Ranch" in Corona, CA. She always brings me eggs from her chickens - the yolks are BRIGHT orange. Never seen anything like them. I don't think it has anything to do with Italy......just a small ranch where the chickens run free and the feed is not determined by what is most cost effective.

[Aunt Jenny]

mikkamtl, I'd never "trun" down a dinner invitation from you (hee)!

That is a friend well worth kissing up to, LuLu. And, say... any chance I can get in on the "egg action"? I'd be happy to trade Chino Farms produce for Corona eggs...

All hail spatula-lickers and taste-as-you-go-ers! I don't trust a cook who won't "check in" along the way (I'm looking at you, Delia Smith) for seasoning, etc. Another reason to love Nigella.

[roseyrose]

Anyone a little squeamish about that stuff may want to trun down my dinner invitations. Except for roseyrose, who has no choice.

Plus, mikkamtl, it would be wrong to turn down a dinner invitation from my boyfriend.

I thought the show was a little off. Mr. Rosey kept complaining about the extreeeeeeme close-ups, which I also found a little annoying. I'm concerned FN is making her smile and kiss up to the camera more than she wants to. Don't they know that one of the things we love about Nigella is that she's all natural? No additives please.
However, I'm still thrilled Nigella is back, licking the spatula ("don't say you wouldn't do it". Ha!), showing us what's in the pantry and eating straight from the refrigerator.
I made the chili (sans cornbread. I didn't have all the ingredients) last night for dinner. It was fabulous. Someone upthread stated that anyone who's been cooking for a long time already has a good chili recipe, but that's not true in my case. I haven't made decent chili in years. But this is one a keeper.
I never have ketchup in the house, so I used a can of diced tomatoes, which I pureed with my immersion blender until it got nice and thick. I will probably make it again for our Friday night Battlestar Galactica get together.

[mikkamtl]

Man.. I need to stop posting between appointments... having my typos quoted for the whole world to see is absolutely fabulous!

Aunt Jenny, dinner at my house is really easy. Make sure you have a designated driver though. I get a little crazy with the cocktail shaker.

Errrr... Nigella (topic, after all). Hope FN isn't going to make her get all Rachael Ray-ey on me. As I said, too forced, in a lot of her comments. I like wry, deadpan Nigella more than I methed up Nigella, which was a little of what I saw, especially at the market when she was buying her pound cake. Confession: I, too, would buy a good, pre made cake, and then embellish the hell out of it with ourely homemade stuff. Conversely, the other way around... home-made cake with pre-made decorating? Sucks.

[didyouseethat]

I was introduced to Nigella by the "Nigella Bites" show and faithfully TIVOed the episodes so I would not miss them. I saw the first episode of her new show and like it as well. It seems like there are more closeups of her face chatting at the camera and I would prefer more shots showing her cooking, cutting, etc. I love her recipies and cooking philosophy. Made the lemon linguine several times this summer and it was a hit. Also the chocolate Easter cake from the Nigella Feasts cookbook and it was fun and yummy.
I hope the Food Network concentrates on producng shows that focus on good information, good recipies and COOKING rather than getting uber-personalities that are more about chat, trying to be lovable and compromising recipies (Sandra L and that quick cook lady to name a couple) . I love Ina, Tyler F. Dave L, Nigella and miss Sarah M.

[Beautybaby]

I'm one of those people who think that if something isn't broken it doesn't need to be fixed. Consequently, I wish like hell they were using film instead of video. For me it affects the whole mood of the thing, as does the lighting it requires to shoot it this way. What can I say? "Nigella Bites" and "Forever Summer" spoiled me.

Having said that, I think the content was pure Nigellie, (we call her that at our house). Lick the spatula? Of course!!!!!!!! How perfectly natural! Have it be about the food and the guests instead of the fucking "tablescapes"?, (oh how I despise that word!) absolutely!!!

I have a feeling that the more episodes she gets under her belt, the less the nerves will be. In a documentary I saw, it said that she and the cameraman were so in sync, he knew exactly just where and when to place his camera at any moment; just like a ballet. No doubt, not the same guy.

And if SLoppy had made that fabulous trifle?????? Some sort of frozen chocolate cake---defrosted and mashed up including frosting, no cherry jam, about 2 cups (or to SL taste!) vodka, chocolate Jello pudding cups (lots), Cool Whip flavored with cherry extract, and for the shavings, a candy bar she's smashed up with Brycer's little rolling pin, which will be her "good tip" on how to do the shavings so as to amaze your guests.

Right now I would kill for the right-out-of-the-fridge chili leftovers.

[Sea]

The extreme closeups were a bit much, but what really bothered me was that the camera work seemed quite shaky. Hire someone who can hold the damn thing steady!

[Ima Pilgrim]

The extreme closeups were a bit much, but what really bothered me was that the camera work seemed quite shaky. Hire someone who can hold the damn thing steady!

One close up of the chopped peppers going into the pan was out of focus till the last second - I know he was supposed to be artsy fartsy, but Mr. Camera Man needs to learn to focus the damn thing faster. That wasn't artsy, it was annoying.

[Shazam999]

One thing I did notice: She used imperial measurements.

[Frankie Buttons]

One thing I did notice: She used imperial measurements.

Which only makes sense, really. She knows she's talking to an American audience, now. Although she did slip in a couple metric conversions. I know she said to set the oven at "450 degrees Fahrenheit -- about 250 centigrade," and she commented that three cups of cornmeal was about 150 milligrams. So she still seems to be covering all the bases.

[Italian2816]

One thing I did notice: She used imperial measurements.

Which only makes sense, really. She knows she's talking to an American audience, now. Although she did slip in a couple metric conversions. I know she said to set the oven at "450 degrees Fahrenheit -- about 250 centigrade," and she commented that three cups of cornmeal was about 150 milligrams. So she still seems to be covering all the bases.

I don't mean to sound naive, but does the FN air in England? Perhaps that's why maybe she'll start saying the measurements both ways? Or maybe just for when her family and "people" watch it they'll know what she's talking about?

I love everything about the show except for the video. I miss the film so much. It doesn't have that dreamy effect it once had. :(

This post has been edited by Italian2816: Oct 4, 2006 @ 8:59 am.

[cafeaulait]

I don't mean to sound naive, but does the FN air in England? Perhaps that's why maybe she'll start saying the measurements both ways?

She says on her site that she's selling the show to other countries after it starts airing here on FN first. I'm guessing that she and her crew filmed each segment twice so they would be able to cater to the U.S. market and then to those using metric measurements. It's probably a bit hard to keep straight in her head, which may be why she had two accidental "metric slips" this episode.