Which one?

I know this is terribly middle-class or whatevs but......

Which chef is the best?

I back Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall all the way.

I work nights and get through a lot of 4od and iPlayer.....River Cottage, in all various formats makes me happy.

Personally I take great pride in being better at gutting fish, chucking scallops and dressing crabs than Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall. His books on 'Fish' and 'Meat' are fantastic though.

YouTube - Rory Bremner - Ainsley Harriot

Hugh isn't a chef.

I rate Raymond le Blanc. Ate in Le Petit Blanc in Oxford, tres lush. Otherwise, its Heston all the way. Next bonus, Fat Duck.

yeah, he's just great i think.

With the exception of one or two cuts of meat (chiefly head and balls) i'd eat the shit out of all he makes. Jamie Oliver is a goon who covers everything in olive oil and garlic. Nigel Slater is fine but blatantly the BBC's attempt at HFW and who cares about the rest.

Colonel Sanders FTW!

Hugh isn't a chef.

I rate Raymond le Blanc. Ate in Le Petit Blanc in Oxford, tres lush. Otherwise, its Heston all the way. Next bonus, Fat Duck.

Is the fat duck back open?

I thought he closed it for good?!

As if, the money he makes on covers at that place?

Raj from the Texas Fried Chicken up the road. Always washes his hands in the morning.

Keith Floyd FTW

James Martin? Oops, wrong thread

I like keith floyd & the guy who does the "what to eat now" series with seasonal recipies.

Rick Stein is pretty cool as well.

Bungalow Cafe at Marks Tey on the A12 is my fave. Chef is called Shirley or something.

Yotam Ottolenghi and, err, the other guy who runs Ottolenghi.

I am slightly addicted to Masterchef: the professionals at the moment, despite the ridiculous hamminess of the two judges. Whoever chooses the music for the show is doing something right too.

If you're talking about TV chefs it's gotta be Antonio Carluccio... He hasn't done anything for ages but I used to love his programmes... Must get them on DVD actually... Floyd is awesome to watch but a bit slap-dash for my liking...

i like the earthiness with which hugh does his stuff
grab a pig from the garden gut slice cook
ditto the veg
and then if he needs more he'll go out there with his bare hands pluck pick grab haul the ingredients he needs
i like that way the almost self sufficient way of life and his mates are interesting too the fishermen the livestock experts the cider makers the crab apple jelly mad woman etc

oh to live in cornwall and plunder natures reserves

Yotam Ottolenghi and, err, the other guy who runs Ottolenghi.

I went in there for the first time a couple of weeks back. I've lived practically opposite it for a while now but have always been put off by the huge queue of yummy mummys spilling out of the door and down the street. Went in early on a Sunday morning for brekky. £30 for scrambled eggs and coffee for two? Hmmmm. It was okay. A bit rich for my tastes with smoked salmon and creme fraiche etc. Plus it was way more than I could eat. And I can eat. The lunches starting ot appear as we left looked great but i think it's overpriced. And I make better eggs.

I love the River Cottage books too. Get ideas from either the meat of fish one at least once a week. Was perusing the meat one only last night. Now autumns's in it's time to break out the stews and casseroles. The beef in guiness with cobbler topping in that one is awesome.

Don't forget this guy, Masterchef: The Professionals is fantastic... Michel loves a bit of sauce...

Hugh Fernly is a food activist, Oliver is a pasta mixer but Blanc is the master! with sweary bolloxs Ramsey a close second. he knows his stuff and his restaraunts aren't packed becuase of his TV persona.
The Best in the kitchen right now is Richard Corrigan - just superb! [I][/I]! Heston has a great gadget going on with molecular Gastronomy but it's the fad of 2000

Michel and Albert Roux FTW!!

i like the earthiness with which hugh does his stuff
grab a pig from the garden gut slice cook
ditto the veg
and then if he needs more he'll go out there with his bare hands pluck pick grab haul the ingredients he needs
i like that way the almost self sufficient way of life and his mates are interesting too the fishermen the livestock experts the cider makers the crab apple jelly mad woman etc

oh to live in cornwall and plunder natures reserves

Yeah, it's quite possibly that i love his way of life more.

Great....food talk....its ace!

So, following on from here; what and where do you go when you've just been paid to eat the heck out of something?

It's not very impressive but i really, really love the eggs benedict from Patisserie Valerie....and/or roast pumpkin and chorizo pizza from Story Deli. I realise these aren't extravagant or sophisticated, but they damn good.

Westcountry's where its at.
Rick Stein.

Rick Stein is over rated - Nigel Slater is a better writer and his take out, pastry shop and restaurant are all average IMO. (eaten there 3 times)
it's tough because the standard of ingredients down their is amazing but he doesn't do that extra bit. that said - i like his dog :)

Mr Kipling