Thanks Georgie, very informative!

hello all, I see that my comment has sparked off a long discussion ...Let me clarify, i do give Reza his due..he is a good cook...i have tried out some of his recipes and they come out real well. he also knows his stuff. Being an Indian myself, what I really appreciate is that this guy, in both his series- Delhi Belly and Coconut Coast, has shown some authentic Indian recipes.

if he was behind the scenes doing what he is best at - cooking, then i am sure that we all would be smacking our lips to all the wonderful dishes he dishes out! but the fact that he chooses to come on National TV, makes him the receiving end for the comments and opinions of the masses. If only he could keep his histrionics and giggling at bay, his show would be even more wonderful.

Lellysmum dont understand your comments directed at me, I'm no chef, and live in county Durham, hardly a culinary mecca. Infact I havent watched much of the programmes with Reza in, and to some agree with the OTT comments of both Reza and Ainsley, but thats the charm surely? The viewing figures cant be wrong. What I dont like are the constant derogatory comments made about them. Its comes across as so personal and that not what this boards is about.
I love the programmes that explain more about the chef the country etc. They are no longer dedicated cookery programmes anymore and this is a good thing. If there is a way to attract new viewers and get people interested in cookery either as a career or hobby all the better with me.
Cookery is the new trendy thing and all foody related items are hot topics and money makers. Its the world we live in and one that I trade in.
I love it , the chefs, the culture, the food and my customers.

I agre with georgie Rezza has an extremely well established restaurant in London, so if anyone can explain Real Indian food he can.....KT

relishmama, I am not getting personal with you at all, I said I understand, everyone has their own opinion and I think p.k. has clarified the situation really well. I have never said that Reza wasn't Indian or that he can't cook in fact I think he is a really good cook (and if you watch him when he is being serious he is a pleasure to watch) but his "histrionics and giggling" and all the camp behaviour puts me right off watching.
I actually do like to know about the country and origins of recipes from all over the world but I get annoyed when the presenter thinks he/she is bigger than the show. As for Ainsley he is just downright rude (and I know I am not alone in these thoughts) but he stretches right across in front of people, spoonfeeds them Ugh!! is alway interfering with the chefs decisions isteading of just doing his own job - in fact he himself has said on TV when the chef of the day complains that he is always stirring, shaking etc "I know I can't help myself".
So, heh, don't keep having a go at me (and you keep trying to publically put me down) my opinion is just as valid as yours even if it is a different one. As a sideline I originate from County Durham although I have lived in Wiltshire for ** years now!

Oh please can we just put this one to bed now!!!

Before we put it to bed can someone fill me in on what happened in 'A House in France' please. So did they have to sell the house seeing as the restaurant business didn't work out? I thought I sent this yesterday but saw that nothing came through so have to repeat it. Is the book about the series or is it more of a cookery book?

Hi Sonia - I am confused now. I went back to look at the book 'A Curry in France' to see if it were just recipes and have come across 'A Place in France - An Indian Summer' which is a book that covers both series and also has some of Reza's recipes in. As to what the first book is I have no idea! Can't find any info as to whether the house was sold or not, sorry.

Thanks for trying anyway Georgie!!

I loved both the first and second series of a house in France. I think it was a tremendous shame that Nigel and Nippe were plagued with problems from start to finish. Nigel always seemed to come up with the ideas and filled with enthusiam rushed ahead and always seemed to come off worse. He seemed to be messed about by beaurocracy both with the sale of his British home and with his lack of understanding of the French authorities. His new French girlfriend seemed just as illusive.

It was his idea to open an Indian restaurant in France and Nippe brought Reza over. Again the whole project seemed to be plagued with problems from getting hold of the correct spices, to getting bookings and the chef only arrived the day before so no practise runs.

I heard it reported on the BBC news (don't know why it got on there, but) that Nigel lost £40,000 because the business failed. Lets hope he got lots of money for the show to help out.

Never know, he might do a third series, make loads of money and a great success of his next project.

From what I heard (Ain't Gossip wonderful) But they both came out of it with a nice little payout! Nigel produces other programmes, such as Country Parish (Boscastle vicar) and apparently they did okay. But I know what you mean. I would like to see another series, even though Nigel sounded like Peter Sellers when he spoke French. Esp. Bonjour !!!

Hopefully the second series will be repeated so that I can catch up. I'm sure they both came out of the experience richer in every sense. So it seems that Nigel returned to live in the UK. Anybody know what happened to their house in France?

Just looked at this thread....I really enjoy Reza and his camp enthusiasm! Now, not many folk realise that most Indian take-aways/rest. are in fact, Bangladeshi owned. The chefs create and adjust recipes to suit Britsh regional taste. A chicken balti tastes/looks completely different in Sunderland (my home town) to what it does in Wiltshire (my birthplace) and does not exist at all in Bangladesh. Most of the take-away meals so beloved by us Brits are complete invention! I travel and eat in Bangladesh so I know......and British Bangladeshi friends have taught us genuine Bangladeshi curry recipes. This is reality!!

I would be happy to post a real bhuna chicken recipe to anyone who would like to try it....very simple!

Yes please Terry188, I would love your recipe. I adore Indian food and I love cooking it - the more authentic the better!

Yes please from me too Terry188.I enjoy cooking and would love to try 'the real thing'too.K

reza only doing his best wwhat any person would do it takes guts to stand in front of a camera

hello folks..new to this site, coconut coast happens to be the first programme i watched on uktv. it was just fantastic! i have been to kerala and this is the closest you can get to that lovely part of india sitting in your living rooms in the UK, truly authentic! as for reza, poor bloke y dont we just leave him alone, stop judging him and just enjoy the recipes, culture and people he presents???

and i remember someone wanted to go to Kerala (was it sonya???) and someone else offered the bhuna recipe...please go ahead you two!

isnt the word "disgusting" a bit OTT

wot exactly do u dislike....hes CAMP yea..... and .....?
so wot - look at ansley harriet hes desperate to be camp but isnt gay LOL

Rezza is a great presenter, he is everything a presenter should be and has what a lot of presenters lack ENTHUSIASIM!!!! he is a very talented chef and runs a succssesful resteraunt. i think it is a bit silly to be so personal about a tv personality you don't know him! and also he reminds me a lot of freddie mercury SO I WONT HAVE A BAD WORD SAID AGAINST HIM.....ALRIGHT!!!!
***Freddie Mercury lives on***

The fact that Rezza is so camp seems to be the reason some ppl dislike his way of presenting, what's wrong with campness may I ask. I think he is great because he is so enthusiastic about the food and surely that's what counts.

Uhhh...."That's show biz".