Results tagged “The Restaurant” from Birmingham Mail - Restaurant Spy

That excellent TV programme The Restaurant drew to a close last night and, pathetic as it sounds, I'm going to miss it.

It was fascinating to watch the competitors struggle with the challenges of running their own restaurants and enlightening to get an insight into the perfectionism that has made Raymond Blanc one of the world#s greatest chefs.

But I reckon he got it wrong by choosing the couple from the Cheerful Soul (what sort of name is that...?) as his partners.

As the Raymond Blanc series The Restaurant nears its conclusion, I'm hooked.

But I'm yet to be convinced that any of the remaining contestants has what it takes to run a successful restaurant, even with Blanc's support.

Of those left on the show, the two blokes seem to me to have the most potential (especially the chef) but make silly mistakes each week.

Neither the bald bloke and his wife nor the madly happy woman (until she's criticised )and her husband have impressed me with their style of food or front ofn house skills.

Watching the latest episode of that fabulous television series The Restaurant, I'm not at all sure I'd want to visit an eatery run by any of the contestants.

Certainly not the father and daughter team - though she seems an excellent cook, dad has no front-of-house skills and a stroppy disposition when challenged.

The lifelong friends, too, are mismatched - again, one's a decent cook, though uncommunicative, while the other can't even ensure the punters have cutlery.

None of the other contenders fill me with confidence either. Especially the pair who think Welsh/Chinese fusion is a good idea and the guy who doesn't know when food is under-seasoned.

Though I'm far from certain about any of the contenders in the new series of The Restaurant, it was great to see Raymond Blanc back on our TV screens last night.

He's has had a huge impact on this country's culinary scene: well over 20 chefs who now hold Michelin stars have worked for him and the standards set at Le Manoir are virtually unrivalled.

A few years back I spent a day in the kitchen with him at the old Brasserie Blanc in Brindleyplace which was a revelation: his palate was amazing and though he's a perfectionist, he was calm and courteous with his brigade.

He can also be clumsy - mainly because of his enthusiasm.