On Wed, 07 Jul 2004 09:30:27 GMT, Frogleg > wrote:

>Dinging Nigella for wearing rings when cooking is pretty extreme. They
>might also complain how few TV chefs wear head-coverings. I figure
>most shows are directed toward the home cook, not commercial kitchens,
>with empasis on recipes and techniques, not prepared food regulations.

Considering what a big deal that Nigella makes about separating eggs
with her hands, I don't think calling her to task for wearing rings
overboard. I take my rings off when needed; why can't she?

TV chefs should be presenting a good example of food handling, not
fashion.

>Most TV food presenters *do* make mention of precautions with chicken.
>I have noticed both on TV and at home that it's almost impossible to
>eliminate every single possible cross-contamination to utensils and
>surfaces. Unless one has a sink with elbow-operated taps, *washing*
>during prep leaves tracks.

Most TV chefs probably don't clean their utensils by hand (and
probably have a crew that puts it in the dishwasher) so it's not too
much to ask them to have a plentiful supply of tasting spoons (I do
myself) and use them, rather than constantly dipping their fingers in
the sauce and licking them, which seems to be a new trend on these
shows these days. Even if they'd wash their hands before and after
you could cut them some slack, but they don't.

The worst thing I saw recently was a chef who took a bottle of
Schnapp's, poured some into whatever he was making, put the bottle to
his mouth and took a few gluggs, put the cap back on and put it away.
That pretty much killed any interest I had in visiting his restaurant.

Sue(tm)
Lead me not into temptation... I can find it myself!