Cooking on a budget with random members of the public (Ready Steady Cook)

Member Name: bruffyboy

Product:	Ready Steady Cook
Date:	05/02/09 (86 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: cooking on a budget

Disadvantages: random guests

WHAT IS IT ABOUT:
Ainsley Harriot hosts this cooking show, where members of the public work with a chef to create a stunning meal with under £5 worth of ingredients. Two contestants cook, in real time, through the programme, with the audience voting for the best at the end.

IS IT ANY GOOD:
There are two elements to this show that may appeal to you. First off, there is the cooking on a budget aspect. The chefs (who vary week on week) give often brilliant, simple and tasty ideas on what to do with £5 worth of ingredients. As a cooking show, the dishes are a bit hit or miss, but generally are accessible and easy enough to follow along with at home.

Secondly, you will like this show if you like finding out about people's lives. Whoever they are, Ainsley interviews the guests each week, and you find out a bit of information about a random person from the UK. This puts me off the show, but some people love to know about people, and for them this is a highlight.

There's a good vibe to the show, with Ainsley's humour and joy spreading through the audience and then back to the chefs and contestants. It's not Gordon Ramsay style food, but it's not meant to be.

IN CONCLUSION:
A light-hearted afternoon show that teaches you a few ideas for cooking on a budget (and to a time limit) and also gives you some useless information on random people.

Occasionally there are celebrity episodes, and these tend to have a failing star doing a plug for a panto or something - not the most exciting prospect, but at least it's better than some random person from the street.

IF YOU LIKED IT:
You may also enjoy 'Come Dine With Me', another show that features cooking and people!

Summary: entertaining show