Here is something I never (ever ever) thought I would ever write: I hugged Jamie Oliver!
OK, let’s rewind. One Monday night, I almost choked on my chocolate bar as I was opening my emails. It was an invitation to Jamie Oliver’s restaurant in London for the filming of Friday Night Feast, which will air tomorrow (Friday 8th January) on Channel 4 at 8 p.m.
The day started like a normal morning, full of porridge, arguments about orange juice, smelly nappies and walks to school. Then I put on my jeans, heels and a comfy T-shirt before heading to the train station.
Just as I got to Old Street station, it started raining. No, wait, ‘raining’ does not even start to describe the amount of water that was falling from the sky. It was pouring down with rain, raining cats and dogs, il pleuvait des cordes…
I had planned to walk with Nova, who blogs at Cherished by Me, but after a minute or so, we started looking like wet rats (sorry Nova, I could have chosen a better simile but nothing else comes to mind). Luckily, we managed to grab a cab and arrived at Fifteen drenched but as excited as a bunch of teenagers on their way to a One Direction gig.
We met lots of really nice people there. I already knew Ceri, the chef behind Natural Kitchen Adventures, and was delighted to finally meet Alida, the wonderful blogger behind My Little Italian Kitchen. We also started chatting with food and travel writer Ali and Kellie from Food to Glow.
As soon as we headed downstairs, what hit me was the number of cameras there. Not my usual lunch, but every single member of the crew was friendly and smiley. We all sat around tables and the atmosphere was incredibly relaxed. Not that I regularly roam around filming sets, but it just felt like a nice lunch out, with scrumptious food, nice wine and casual conversations about the food before us.
Meeting Jamie and Jimmy felt like a reunion with old friends (my perspective, probably not theirs). I knew them but they did not know me. That is a tad odd, isn’t it? I might have given Jamie a hug and Jimmy a pat. I am French. I am allowed to act a bit weird, right?
Jamie and Jimmy made us feel at home. Their camaraderie, jokes and genuine complicity really made the whole thing completely effortless. I think that is exactly what makes Jamie Oliver who he is. He is himself, not trying to be someone else.
If he wants to cook pasta, he gets a ‘Grand Master of Pasta’ (aka Gennaro Contaldo) to help.
If he starts tackling sustainability and the fact we export the vast majority of Scottish langoustines rather than feasting on them in Britain, he does not lecture us about it: he invites fishermen and listens to them talk about it all.
He brings people together, supports and gets support. The man is a genius!
The day was all about celebrating langoustines, Langos, or as they got nicknamed on the day, Sexy Lobsters. Langoustines are just like lobsters, but much smaller, quicker to cook and cheaper.
Jamie and Jimmy started by serving us plain boiled langoustines with mayonnaise. The experts, fishermen Ian Wightman and Kenny MacNab, taught us how to best get all meat (using the claws) and we all enjoyed our starter. I did not even have mine with mayo. The sweetness of plain langoustines comes from the clear seawater they come from and I was won over from the first mouthful!
Robin, the head chef at Fifteen, then treated us to the most amazing langoustine tartare.
Our last course was created by the master of pasta himself, Gennaro Contaldo, and what a pasta course it was!
If you get the chance, tune in to Channel 4 at 8 p.m. on Friday for Jamie & Jimmy’s Friday Night Feast (Series 3 Episode 2).
Check my new board on Pinterest dedicated to Langoustines:
Follow Le Coin De Mel’s board Food – Langoustine Recipes to Make You Drool on Pinterest.
Mel, je doit te dire quelque chose, je suis très jalouse! J’aurais aimée être à ta place ! Plutôt, j’aurais aimée être avec toi! J’adore Jamie Oliver, je crois que c’est quelqu’un qui est très nature et qui a un talent fou! Transmettre la cuisine à travers le monde d’une manière simple n’as pas de prix! Je suive Jamie en Instagram et je suis ravie que tu as pu le rencontrer ! Mais, c’est normal, tu est une fille aussi bourrée de talent ! xx
C’est aussi mon idole, et je n’en revenais pas quand j’ai eu le message disant que j’étais invitée! J’aurais aussi adoré que tu sois avec moi. Il faut qu’on se rencontre un de ces quatre!
Avec plaisir chère Mel !!
What a great experience that was! I enjoyed every minute of it and I felt so lucky to be part of this filming. I wrote my article some time ago and added your lovely photo of us 3.. what a nice memory for us!
I did too! Oh I must have missed your post. Will go and read it now!
Such a fun day wasn’t it! Looking forward to watching it on TV later, nice to know we were all as star struck as each other! I literally had nothing to say when I had my pic with Jamie! Totally blank!
I think I went the opposite way: I blabbered way too much when I had a chance to have a quick chat, he he!
Thanks for the mention, such a fab day wasn’t it x
It was brilliant! Love the photo of the three of us. x
Love it, what a wonderful opportunity!! I am such a big fan of Jamie, I love his whole no nonsense approach to food, and the way he demystifies it to make cooking simple and enjoyable – just how it should be! 🙂
I am also a fan. He makes cooking look quick and simple, and his recipes are delicious. That’s just what people ‘scared’ of cooking need!
Oh I am so excited for you and this post is making me dribble with hunger. The photos, the descriptions of the food and your enthusiasm are infectious! I am so tuning in on Friday!!
And you know, I think I’d hug Jamie too and I don’t have the excuse of being French!!
Lovely post xx
Thanks sweetie! I love Jamie Oliver’s recipes, but I’m pretty sure the food tasted even better cooked by the master himself!
I’m so excited to watch this Mel and so jealous of you getting to meet Jamie – definitely one of my heroes – and my mouth is watering over the langos ? X
The food was incredible, and meeting Jamie Oliver (JAMIE OLIVER!) was quite simply surreal! The man is a legend!
Oh no, why am I reading this on the 9th??! Will have to look it up on Catch-up. sounds like you all had a lot fo fun that day
It was so much fun! If you want to watch it on catch up, I’ve ut the link in my following article (the one all about langoustines).
What a wonderful experience honey, sounds like you learnt so much. I’m a huge Jamie Oliver fan, always have been xxx
It was surreal. Blogging rocks!
What an INCREDIBLE experience, I would loved to have been there (and with so many super star chefs too)- like you would have totally fan girl-ed out too and wanted hugs with Jamie. Cannot wait to see you on the box. I’m on the box with my family in Feb too, think it will be entertaining with my Dad involved x
Oh that’s exciting, when is it screening?
Saw the Jamie and Jimmy episode! Adore langoustines! Got a great recipe if I can get my hands on some : )
What sort of recipe have you got?
I split and bake them with bresaola, garlic, mixed herbs and butter. I put the recipe on my blog http://www.beasbitesonline.com
Oh yummy!
OMG! How did I miss your write up. Looks like you had a totally amazing time. xxx
It was the most surreal day ever!
I just watched this episode in Sweden now, and am really liking this show of theirs. I’m curious of there’s been any changes in the amount that’s being exported now there’s been a few years. I need a what happened next episode! 😎
I don’t like seafood myself 🙈🙈
I love Jamie & Jimmy. They make such a great team. I don’t like seafood other than langoustines either 🙂
I saw this episode and it made me so emotional as I am Scottish and was broken hearted at the fact that the most food from the sea is all sent abroad because it’s not eaten here. That made me sad 🙁 but to see the emotions of the fishermen was just beautiful.
I thought the same. It’s so sad people don’t eat more of it locally, isn’t it?