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Jamie Oliver to Launch DIY Cooking Shops

YumSugar — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 15:00:56 -0800

Bobby Flay isn't the only celebrity chef to expand his brand in tough times. UK celebrity chef Jamie Oliver is launching a new chain of food stores that allow customers to create their own dishes under the guidance of professionals.

Chefs at the aptly-titled Recipease will teach eager home cooks how to prepare and assemble set dishes. Customers will also be able to purchase ready-made meals. The first outpost of the chain will open at the end of February in South London.

Oliver, who is also launching Jamie's Italian restaurant this year, has long wanted to develop this restaurant store, as he thinks it will inspire others to take an interest in cooking.

He believes the concept offers "solutions in the neighborhood that people need these days, as so many people were never taught to cook at home or in school." The food personality added, "By having trained chefs helping the customers I think we can really get people excited about food. . . . I really believe that if the produce and product is exceptional and good value, then people will find this service dead handy."

Do you think the young chef's new store concept will take off? Would you be drawn to a do-it-yourself restaurant if it offered expert guidance?

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Jamie's Italian! All These Years, I Thought He Was British

YumSugar — Wed, 10 Oct 2007 03:08:33 -0700

Celebrity chef Jamie Oliver - aka The Naked Chef - has taken on an empire expanding venture. Not content with just a cartoon version of himself, Oliver is now starting his own chain of neighborhood style restaurants.

This spring, the first branch of his new "affordable but excellent" restaurants will open in Bath, England. The restaurant, which is called Jamie's Italian, is the first of 40 intended branches. When asked about why he's partaking in this venture, he said,

"It's always been a desire of mine to really tackle the issue of the quality of high street dining.

"There are some little places, privately owned by dedicated people, who are doing a good job but they're few and far between and I don't think many of the chains really give consistent quality at a decent price.

"We aim to change all that. When people eat at a Jamie's Italian, I want them to really get into the food, maybe try something they wouldn't normally try, but always be safe in the knowledge that they're eating good stuff, prepared with love."

All the pasta at Jamie's Italian will be made on site, and the bread will be created daily by artisan bakers. The meal prices will start £5 ($10) for light meals and hover around £10 ($20) for "hearty meals."

So what do you think? Would you go and check it out?

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Top Chef Recap 5.7: Focus Group

partysugar — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 00:30:30 -0800

After a two week break, Top Chef was back last night with an exciting new episode. We were introduced to Gail Simmons' replacement judge, Toby Young, a vicious British foodie. We watched the chef's get creative in the kitchen and critical at the dining table. If you're anxious to discuss all the delicious details (warning: spoilers ahead!), read more.

What exactly did the Diet Dr. Pepper have to do with the quickfire challenge? Was it a requirement to use the soda in the sugar-free dessert?
Don't you just love Fabio? He's hilariously Italian: The guy actually thinks the reason guest judge Jean-Christophe Novelli didn't like his dessert is because the Frenchman is still bitter about France's loss to Italy in the World Cup!
Whose dessert was the most mouth-watering? I wanted to try Leah's strawberry balsamic crepes!
Do you agree with Radhika: does Stefan create stress in the kitchen?
Was it a good idea or bad idea for Jamie to make scallops again?
Did group B have an advantage because they cooked knowing Toby Young, and that they would be judged by their fellow competitors?
Is Toby Young saying it how it is or just plain rude?
Will the chefs cook differently now that they know what it's like to be a judge?
Why didn't Fabio's undercooked lamb get mentioned at judges' table?
Did they send home the right two cheftestants?

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Top Chef 5.2 - Show Your Craft Recap

partysugar — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 00:15:31 -0800

Hot dogs and ostrich eggs were important ingredients on last night's episode of Top Chef. Things heated up in the kitchen of Tom Colicchio's Craft as the cheftestants had to make "new-American" cuisine. To discuss the episode (warning: spoilers ahead), read more.

Is Fabio for real? How can he possibly be every Italian cliché all rolled into one guy? Wasn't it hysterical when he defended his winning dish?
Do you consider hot dogs to be a quintessential New York dish?
Were you surprised by Radhika's quickfire win?
Does your Whole Foods have mini pull carts? Mine doesn't!
Would you have told Ariane her dessert was too sweet?
Do or don't: cooking with canned crab on Top Chef?
Gail was wearing the same dress she wore to the Macy's Culinary Council Party! Fab approves.
Donatella mentioned that many of the dishes were dated in their presentation. Is good presentation as important as delicious flavor?
After watching this video of Jill on the Internet last week, I knew she was headed for the chopping block. Thoughts?
Now that we know the chefs a little better, who do you like/dislike? I'll start: I like Jamie, the Euros, and Richard. I dislike Carla, Alex, and Danny.

To learn how to dress like Padma, check out our new site, CelebStyle.

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