I was talking about our recent , national obsession in the U.K. with television chefs a few weeks ago , and a guy who was doing it before the current trend , has sadly just passed away.
The guy in question was Keith Floyd , who is probably unknown to you outside the U.K. , but rest assured he was the typical colonial Englishman abroad , and usually ended up with more wine and spirits in himself , than the dish ………………….
…………. “a drop for the pot and a drop for me………. “ :)
………………and of course ………everyone - even complete strangers –
…………”were his new best chums” * :)
( * friends )
Most charmingly though were his recipes -
Which were basically - a dash of this , a dollop of that , and a quick splash of something else , which just added to the nonchalant - craziness of cooking on the heaving deck of a small trawler at sea - in a howling gale , and however mad a picture this may have painted , it became acceptable with Keith .
I’ve actually got one of his books , which is part travelog and part cookery book , entitled - Floyd’s American Pie , although in his various T.V. series he has cooked for people all around the world from the African bush to the deck of the aforementioned ship, which all makes for excellent T.V. , and surprisingly - not very much - cookery information :)
Talking of his programs - I also notice bits of his old shows are being re – run as part of the B.B.C cookery extravaganza on Saturday mornings , which says a lot I
suppose , as you don’t normally see this happening .
I think what made these series different were the people involved , and I know this format has been done - subsequently, but Keith had an ability to disarm people , with his “ mad dogs and Englishmen “ – charm , which made for a natural and relaxed atmosphere up on the top of a mountain ……….. somewhere in Peru ………:)
Keiths last meal ????.........well that’s be ……..pheasant , oysters , champagne and a bottle of red wine ………..good on yer mate :)
