Looking forward to this tonight.

Mike always comes accross as a genuine guy who cares about his food.

Funny you say that. I think he does come across as someone who is apssioante about food but there is an air about him that I don't like. I want to like him but I can't. Maybe he's a little smug or conceited? I can't put my finger on it. I've watched the show but I don't find myself rooting for him to succeed. Maybe it's just me.

Have to say I think the series so far is great, the only thing that I can't stand is the constant running finger's through his hair and then cooking...... YUK! If it's in the way, GET IT CUT!

I soo agree guapa. I love the show,I think his food looks delish. The use of local game etc wonderful. But the hair !!! It drives me mad to watch him keep running his hands through it . Tasty food , using hands,I have no problems with , but touching your hair ,for me this is a big no no,and would seriously put me off eating his food. Reminds me of Tamsin and that motely mane of hers !!

So glad there's someone on my wavelength, Yes you're right Tamsin's another one, and dont get me started on Martin Blunos's tash!!

Good episode last night when they collected truffles. Everybody will be there next weekend !
I think Mike must know more about horse racing than he´s letting on,either that or he´s very lucky., but did you see him biting his nails ? He just cannot keep his hands away from his face or his hair ,it´s a real habit with him.grrrrrrr

Just wanted to say what a great team Mike and Katie are, I'm sure their success is down to her as much as him, bet she runs that pub like clockwork. I'm loving the series..... BUT THAT HAIR..... Get it shaved off!

Quapa, if you noted tonight on Good Food Live, Mike has indeed had his hair cut.

I created this thread for the purpose of discussing his food, ideas and his passion...now it;s turned into a hairdressing thread

Gotta say that I totally agree about the HAIR. Food looks great and I'm sure Mike is a great chef but I doubt I would ever be encouraged to eat at the Pot Kiln - don't particularly enjoy hair with my food. It's dreadful to watch and if he insists on keeping his hair that length why doesn't he wear a bandana like James Martin used to. Very off-putting!

I so wanted to write in about Mike and his hair but am always aware of possible 'backlash' when giving your opinions and views. Some of them can be quite nasty! Needless to say I'm glad I'm not the only one who feels so strongly about it.

I know Mike isn't the only chef to do this but did you see him taste the kedgeree he was making? He ate it off the spatula he was using, then gave one of his chefs a taste with the same spatula, then he stirred the dish with it. That is gross in my opinion, and I wonder what he does when the camera isn't there.

SA Ex Pat, Why worry about the 'backlash'... the point of the messageboards are for people to voice their opinion, just because certain comment's don't go down well with some people, then that's just tough luck! I think people who are regular's to the site have them sussed anyway! Unfortunately, when I say what I think they get cut to keep everyone happy. My only fault is saying what I see... Where's the harm in that.

No paul , we are still discussing his food etc,which I for one think could be fabulous, if there was slightly more on the plate, and if the mash was more like mash and less like puree, of course if it's meant to be potato puree then it looks excellent. However he's a chef , and he's a chef who keeps fafing about with his hair , and is often to be seen with his hands around his face and biting his nails.
Using his hands when preparing food I don't object to , but not when he's a fiddler. I personally , and it is only my personal view ,would prefer that all kitchen staff ,including all head chefs still wore something to cover their hair, not everybody these days uses " Head and Shoulders !"

Hi Quapa 1 - Ahh, I feel so much better now and will most certainly be a little braver and have my say in the future. Thanks for that....

Not only have I seen Mike biting his nails but also 'scratching' (?) his nose. Shouldn't the producers cut this sort of thing out? I certainly don't want to see that sort of behaviour and I'm sure nobody else does either. Yuk!

Pleased to hear that he has had a haircut though, his hair has always been a problem (continually flicking it about and running his fingers through it) .

I am a fan of Mike Robinson & am hoping to get to eat at the Pot Kiln next month. I do agree with the comments about touching his face & hair though.

Also am going to find the farm shop & try to cook the venison & pigeon.

That's more like it SA Ex Pat, by the way its Guapa not Quapa, but I'll let you off.... another one who 'plays' with his nose is Ed Baines. One day on UKtv food he nearly had his fist up his sneck...

I'm a bit disgusted now in this show...I've always respected the likes of Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall and even Mike, but to shoot a deer and eat it, it needs to be a good clean shot, Mike messed up, It wasn't a 'clean shot' the deer obviously didn't have a painless death, but Mike claimed it...sorry this is wrong. I eat meat, I eat game but I'm quite offended by this show now...

Right..Lets come too some agreement on here shall we ?

I am Sure Ed and Mike read this stuff...i know they do.

They will take all your critique (sp) into mind.

BUT.

While I myself work towards a career in the catering business I am not stupid enough to beleive that we live in a squeeky clean world ?

We all cook. We all Do Dishes, Leavs stuff around, leave stuff out over night....BUT in my time cooking for family, partner and friends I have never poisoned them.

I am a a total novice in chefing and catering but i am catering for 40 at a Halloween Party (i am pooping myself)...while Hygiene is a concern, Taste, food, produce etc is also the concern.

I take food Hygiene seriously but im not going to micro analyse everything....where does that lead ?

Oooops - apologies Guapa, my fault entirely, I was too idle to go downstairs to get my glasses!!

point well made paul gray, i think that sometimes people are over vigilant about food hygene, this is not a perfect germ free world people! what horrible germs are you going to get from hair for goodness sake!

I really envy you Coopsy , I would love to be able to sample his food ( despite his habits !) and the food he is selling in his farm shop seems really innovative.I admire him greatly for his business sense as much as for his obvious cooking skills,sorry , I just wish he could control his hands .
I was upset that the deer did'nt die immediately , but I'm sure it was a better "death ", if there is such a thing , than being transported to an abbotoir,which has to be the fate of most of our food. One minute you're happy in the field with friends ,pain for a while , then oblivion. Like everyone else I wish we could devise a totally painless death ,but with game that would always, I think be impossible .
In a home enviroment , hygiene is not an overiding issue, babies , children have to be exposed to some germs in order to build up their immune system . Industrial kitchens ,restaurants etc .different ball game entirely .
Unfortunately , even in this day and age , headlice are still a major problem, and yes they do like clean heads,not that I am suggesting for one moment that Mike has nits, hats ,bandanas,hairnets, yes please!

jackwagstaff, i hope you are not seriously suggesting that everyone who works in a kitchen wears a hairnet or hat, having worked in a proffesional kitchen myself, i know thats not the case!!

Actually yes I am . Lets go back to the "good old days ",when that was exactly what kitchen staff did .
I'm sure a lot of diners would be happy to see that happen,and why not ? Would it cause any major problems for anybody ? Do not chefs under formal training still have to wear a headcovering , why should this change later ?
Is this such a controversial issue ?
Mind you , I'm not suggesting face as well , I'm not that politically correct that I would be happy to only see the chefs eyes ,just to keep certain factions happy !!!

well, obviously it is such a controversial issue to you

Cheese Obesseive don;t rise.

Jack.... PLease.

I have done Food Hygeine and take a view on it.

Food Contamination and incorrect storage are straight NO NO.

But what you are saying is just stupid....sorry to have to say that.

I would rather Chefs kept themselves in personal check than cover themselves in overalls.

Communication and personality in a kithcen is key...Or are we speaking about the Kitchens from ASDA, TESCO etc

Get a grip man....This industry needs a good kick about what food is and how we approach it.

STOP trying to make a moutian out of a moalhill.

No it´s not a controversial issue to me, and I am not trying to make a"moutian out of a moalhill," or even a mountain out of a molehill.
Tell me why is it "stupid " to cover hair in a kitchen ?
Personally, I would prefer to have talented chefs in a kitchen , I don´t think personality really comes into it, not to the punter preparing to pay for the fruits of that kitchen, I would imagine , but you might know , that for every fantastic personality with great communication skills in a kitchen , you proberbly have , and need to have many more pretty competant chefs who just get on with the job without a song and dance.
I´m not obsessive about anything, it´s just simply a matter of opinion , and that is my opinion, I would prefer hair tied back and caps or hats worn, you and Cheesy obviously disagree, fine .
Watching the show last night , I do hope that Mike is going to be able to keep up the pretty hectic pace he´s set himself, what with sourcing and at times shooting or capturing the game, teaching ,cooking etc. I admire his stamina,and he seems to have an excellent team,but I hope he does´nt strech himself too thin.