Category: video

the original TV chef: a keith floyd biography

Post author By Gary @ BigSpud
Post date July 16, 2023
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Keith Floyd played a significant role in shaping the modern TV cookery show. His unplanned approach brought about a sea change in television cooking programs. He’s one of the greatest TV cooks ever, so I decided to make a video biography about him:

Prior to Floyd, cooking shows were often formal and instructional, focusing solely on the process of preparing a dish. Fanny Cradock and Delia Smith were – quite appropriately – focused on the food. In his words “dull and worthy and akin to a secondary school lesson in modern home economics.” Keith Floyd’s unscripted style and relaxed approach to filming brought a sense of chaos to the world of TV cooking shows. Unlike the meticulously planned and rehearsed programs that came before him, Floyd embraced spontaneity and welcomed the unpredictable moments that unfolded during filming. His shows were known for their sense of adventure and the feeling that anything could happen at any moment.

It is the story of a partying nomad, trying his hand at something for five minutes before moving on to the next thing that had caught his attention. And while a life well lived, it also feels like a life stopping short of true happiness. He died at age 65, having been married 5 times, survived by his son and daughter.

I’ve written about Keith before, but please check out my video. As the cool kids say, please like and subscribe!

Here’s The Guardian’s contemporaneous obituary.

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jackfruit vegetable recipes video

what does jackfruit taste like?

Post author By Gary @ BigSpud
Post date August 17, 2020
1 Comment on what does jackfruit taste like?

The jackfruit. An ugly little thing, beloved of the vegetarian and vegan cuisine because of it’s meat-like texture. Many people are cutting down their meat intake, jackfruit has become a popular alternative. Because it has a firm, meaty texture it ends up being used where you would use pulled pork, or shredded into patties. But what does jackfruit taste like?

Not the most attractive thing is it? But despite it being everywhere, I have never tried it! So I thought I’d video the whole thing.

I tried it neat from the tin, and also incorporated it as chunks in a stirfry. (Teaser: I cut in part of a video of me cooking from 2008 which has never gone anywhere near YouTube before!)

So what does jackfruit taste like? In the video I conclude that it is largely tasteless, but a slightly bitter aftertaste. But not unpleasant at all, and will absolutely take on strong flavours such as BBQ sauce, or soy sauce as I did here. You should bear in mind I only tasted tinned jackfruit here, and not the fresh stuff. An adventure for another day!

HOWEVER… food expert Kavey had this to say:

Ripe fresh jackfruit is utterly utterly delicious, a gorgeously tasty fruit. Also fabulous freeze dried into your crisps.
The jackfruit used as a meat substitute is usually the unripe fruit, which is completely different.
I'm guessing your tin was of green / unripe jackfruit?

— @kavey (@Kavey) August 17, 2020

She knows what she’s talking about, so clearly I have to try the fresh stuff!

Please check out the video. Hit like, and subscribe while you’re there! I’m recording more kitchen videos of cooking and product reviews. If you have anything you’d like me to cover just let me know.

balsamic vinegar food peppers pineapple pork red onion video

sweet and sour pork

I’ve been trying video recipes again. Sadly not at the luxurious Food@52 kitchens but in my own.

Freedom Food are asking for people to come up with a video recipe featuring Freedom Food ingredients and Fairtrade produce, so I’ve gone with pork and pineapple to recreate that Chinese takeaway classic, sweet and sour pork. It takes around ten minutes to cook and is really versatile – you can swap out the pork for chicken or fish, or even skip meat all together. Cubed tofu would be a tasty substitute. You can also serve it with the carb of your choice. I’ve gone with rice but it would be just as tasty with boiled noodles or even better, crispy noodles.

You can find this video for sweet and sour pork on my YouTube channel. If you’d like to vote for it in the competition, or enter yourself, go to the Freedom Food page.

sweet and sour pork

Prep Time 5

Cook Time 10

Total Time 15

Author Gary @ BigSpud

Ingredients

250 g rice
1 vegetable stock cube
2 Freedom Food boneless pork chops cubed
1 teaspoon five spice
Pinch chilli powder
1 tin Fairtrade pineapple chunks
1 red pepper diced
1 red onion sliced
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
1 teaspoon cornflour

Instructions

Add the rice to a hot saucepan, and add twice the amount of boiling water and the stock cube. Cover and simmer.
Heat a pan over a medium heat. Toss the pork in the five spice and chilli, add a little oil to the pan and chuck in the pork. Stir fry for a minute or two until coloured all over, then remove the pork to a plate while you cook the everything else.
Add the peppers and onions to the frying pan and cook until tender. Add the pineapple and all it's juices, along with the balsamic vinegar. Add a splash of water to the cornflour, mix well and add to the pan. Bring to the boil then add the pork back in. Check for seasoning and keep cooking until the pork is cooked through. Serve with the rice.

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