meemalee

The clip show . When a TV series wants to indulge in some onanistic nostalgia, they will often churn out an episode of greatest hits. You start to watch, and you say to yourself, "God, have they completely run out of ideas? They're just dialling this in - I've seen this a million times", and you grab the remote to change the channel pronto. But then you find yourself sinking back onto the sofa, as you think, "I don't think I've seen this one", or "That was funnier than I remember", and you give in and let the past wash over you. This is a long-winded way of saying here's some stuff from my blog archives but for a very specific reason -I’ve been nominated by fellow blogger Gourmet Traveller to participate in Tripbase’s “My 7 Links" project . Her blog is beautiful by the way - go take a look. The stated goal of Tripbase’s project is "to unite bloggers in a joint endeavor to share lessons learned (yes, I know ) a...

Sorry this is late - at the end of last night’s episode, I actually exploded into 27,000,000 overwrought little pieces and have had to be reassembled by a crack-force of technicians into a mere vestige of my former staggering beauty. It's finally the final final of MasterChef - those first two were massive red herrings. We have a flashback to previous MasterChef winners to see how they've fared - I shall call them Curly , Curly , Ming . Tommi Miers is now squadron leader of Mexican chain Wahaca (* cough * Oaxaca), James " I hated being a lawyer and now I'm a surfer " Nathan now works at Padstein's and my favourite Mat Follas is living the dream running The Wild Garlic in Dorset. Where are Peter Bayless (2006) and Steven Wallis (2007)? We love you Stevo ! Voiceover lady begins her aural onslaught "Tonight Droooov, Alex or Tim will be CROWNED MasterChef champion". Seriously, India love, I think we already established there is no crown - just a cr...

Day 2 of the MasterChef Final. I'm writing this at my mum's house as my husband has gone on a business trip and I am scared of ghosts (TRUFAX). Because I am at my mum's house I have gone slightly deaf as she is slightly deaf and has turned the volume up to 11. Tim, Alex and Drooooov (tm voiceover lady) are about to face "the hardest challenge in the professional world". I'd say neurosurgery is harder, but meh what do I know? For the 1st time ever in the history of the show, our contestants will be put in sole charge of a working restaurant, serving their own menu. Later they'll undergo "the most terrifying test" ever - cooking for the most revered chef in the world ever ever ever happy sparkle horses and dandelions and daisies 19 Michelin star living legend Alain Ducasse . Some stirring soundbites from our brave men - so stirring they fail to penetrate my head in any meaningful way. "The three finalists have all decided they’re ready to chan...

MASTERCHEF! It's that time of year again (yes, I know it seems to be on perpetually, shush). As the credits roll, voiceover lady India Fisher intones solemnly that "It’s the first of three finals" (um, wtf? aren't they one-off affairs?). Our three finalists and food heroes for 2010 are as follows: Food blogger Alex Rushmer , a Chris Martin look-a-like with wildly vacillating facial hair, keen on the science of food and techniques such as spherification, who's already showcased wonders such as magic pea "ravioli". Mild-mannered children's doctor Tim Kinnaird with a nice line in quips and a passion for pastry, who's produced beauties such as a free-styled meringue mousse with caramel shards. Media man and dad of one Dhruv Baker , a pleasing cross between Shahrukh Khan and a young Alec Baldwin who's proved himself a dab hand with flavours as well as carving himself a niche as the Deep Fry King (homemade fishfingers for the win). In the first p...