I notice nobody has aired their thoughts on the new series from Sophie Grigson (or have they and I've missed it?) I have to say I find it rather uninspiring and as for "recipes that our mum's used to make" Not everyone's mum was a gastronome! My mum's dinners were gorgeous pies, roasts, stews and casseroles - delish.

Also, when Tony Tobin was on he said his mum used to have butter but the kids weren't allowed it, only margarine. What an 'unselfish' mum she was eh? I can't believe he said that on telly like it was nothing.

Have to agree with you Lil'Abby - I too found it a bit of a let down. My Mum's dinners were tasty, filling and as inexpensive as possible, and like your Mum's - delish! All of that said, there are some nice recipes, but I get the impression that I could have got most of the ones that appealed to me, from one or other of Jane Grigson's books.

Yeah - there are some nice recipes. I'm definitely going to try the potted beef - but you're right - just look in the old Jane Grigson books.

I only saw this for the first time last night and I have to say I wasn't especially impressed. I'll usually watch anything with Sophie in, but this seemed a ittle 'stilted' for want of a better word. It'll tell you something that I fell asleep during the second program!

I don't think you should worry overmuch about TT's margarine comment Lil'Abby. I suspect his mum's thinking was that the kids probably wouldn't appreciate the good stuff and it was too expensive for them to use. And I guess you have to remember, to him it probably wasn't anything special. There might have been lots of little things like that when he was growing up. I know there were when I was. Let's face it, he doesn't appear to have done too badly on it, has he?

At least they were allowed something on their bread - my mum forbid me to have butter OR magarine if I was having jam, on the grounds that not only was it expensive, it was unnecessary!

I see your point Mark, but he said he used to steal it he loved it so much. Sore point this, happened to someone very close to me - there was one kitchen cupboard with all the lovely stuff in for the mum and kids got whatever else was going. I realise money could have been tight, I know what it was like when I was growing up (he's younger than me) but if butter could be bought in the first place, surely a mum would 'do without' to give the kids the best? Not a mum myself but I know my mum did for us. Can't accept it I'm afraid.

What you said about not having butter if you had jam, I can understand that - it's not necessary you greedy thing!

Just realised - I didn't mean to insinuate that tony's mum didn't love them or anything - no disrespect, she obviously fed them very well judging by what he says. Sorry Mr. Tobin

Like you guys I'm not impressed at all. The concept is good, it's Sophie Grigson I've a problem with. I remember liking Grigson when she & ex-husband did a travelling/cooking programme & liked her then. Since then I've a problem with her solo presenting style in which she can be condescending, brash, not to mention boring. And what's with the "assistant" who barely utter a sentence & either just weigh, peel, stir or run errands for her & yet seems to be more than capable or doing just the above ( not to mention also got better personalities than Grigson). No question Grigson is a good cook but personally speaking she's better off just guest presenting rather than the main presenter.

I agree with you baboush. The style that Sophie has reminds me more than a little of Fannie Craddock, especially when orderering her "assistant" to perform basic tasks. Ouch, does that kind of memory mean I am very old?

Then so am I chef de maison - I remember her well, and I agree, Sophie is bossy.

Hi, I dont agree at all with some of the comments made.
I enjoy Sophie Grigson in her programmes and I dont think she has changed her style one bit except for it not being in her own home for a change.

Also whilst some of you have had the pleasure of reading her mother Jane's books some of us havent seen her or read her stuff. I think its great that she is reviving the recipes her mother taught her and they certainly dont come across as being Gourmet in style but simple foods done well. As for her being the presenter, I dont think thats the case, on all of her series I ve seen which are at least 4 in number she is both professional and knowledgeable and gets across very well the points needed to cook the recipes and to enjoy it.

Grigson is not the greatest culinary experience ever but then again Gary Rhodes bores me stupid sometimes and I love his recipes, hey you cant win em all.

Well I don't want to insult Sophie cos I love her way. I mean her lovely nature and the way she is at home with the cameras and makes you feel like a friend. She clearly just wants to pass on her knowledge and inspire us as she does not come across all cheffy. Just not her style. I have seen her in chefs whites (well I use the term loosely) she wore the coloured jackets you can buy. Go Sophie! But she has choosen not to in this instance even though her assistant Aaron is wearing whites. She holds her knife like a pen which is a cardinal sin which just says to me, cook, love cooking, don't get all ponsy about it and just enjoy it. She makes no claims to be a chef, she has acknowledged the nebatism even in the opening titles. She is to me, someone who is as enthusiastic about food as I am, and I for one find that an inspiration on its own. I think if there is critism here, it should be in the format of the new show, not with Sophie Grigson.

No. Sophie isn't my problem but I did think she spoke bossily to her young chap! I enjoy watching her very much - the programme is just no good in my opinion.

oh I forgot to mention. My Mums cooking was... well it can only be described as.... 'ORIBBLE! So perhaps thats why I wasn't head hunted for the programme. lol

poor boy is like a lap dog!i mean what purpose does he actually serve?it just makes it look as if sophie can't be bothered to do the menial things like prep'anymore!love the concept of the show but it just doesn't come across correctly!and toby tobin!well i'm glad to say my mom put us kids first and it wasn't easy with only dad working and in the navy for half his life and my mom stuck with 6 of us to bring up!we never went without but looking back my mom did!only you don't realise it back then!i owe my parents a lot but i've looked after my mom since 1988 when she was struck down with myasthenia gravis/multiple sclerosis,and my dad had 3 heart attacks,a stroke,heart failure,diabetes and pnemonia and i've nursed them through it all with the food my mom brought us lot up on and her care and devotion that she passed on to me!

Aah! little eddie

little eddie, my heart broke and it brought a tear to my eye and I'm quite a hard person. Well done you for looking after your parents and for learning to cook like mamma used to. you go girl!!and yes my mum did without too for years, like you say you dont realise until your a parent yourself, sometimes then its too late.

awww this is getting so heartbreaking now! well done little eddie.

ok, now can we pls get back to grigson.

I must say that I agree with relishmamma, and I really love the Grigson series, and it's been one of the few that I've made a special effort to catch.
It's mainly Sophie that I like, and I don't think she comes across as bossy at all, must say though, that I'm still waiting for a pavlova meringue recipe to be aired, as I seem to remember reading this in the series info.

When you said Aaron was her little lap dog little eddie, my first thought was, no this could well be his big break. Today, Sophie mentioned he could do his asparagus soup on his own programme. So I guess he's hoping that it will set him of on a celebrity carer.

Has any noticed that Margarite Pattern was there again. Perhaps it should have called Grigson and Pattern.

Still love Sophie though.

Mamma - What is nebatism ??

I would love someone to KP for me !!! Any offers???

Hi Nick

Nebatism is when you get a job on the strength of a member of your family being "in the know" or "in the business". Like when you see so many actors following in their parents foot steps that were brought up knowing and mixing with all the "right" people.

This doesn't necessarily mean you wouldn't have the talent to do the job, but you may not have had the opportunity to have been selected to do the job.

xxx

hello to all new to good food live web site I am loving it. Agree with past comments about Sophie Grigson being a bit boring. I do love the Italian bloke though Gino. By the way sorry to correct but spelling of the word is Nepotism.

Or Nick,

Or even nepotism Nick. doh silly me.

Hey mamachef, ceratinly no evidence of any family history in the cookery dept in your house. You star. loved every mouthful, for anyone who hasnt enjoyed mamachefs culinary craft you aint arf missing something.

She does share her recipes with us sometimes though and I have enjoyed those! Welcome Grubhead, hope you have fun here, where do you live?