Jamie Oliver returns for the second series of this highly popular cooking show. For those unfamiliar with him, please check out the review for his first series The Naked Chef – Series 1.
Pretty much picking up from the first series, the second is more of the same, with Jamie entertaining friends in his recognisable apartment with the spiral staircase that he just loves to slide down. He now has a basketball hoop at the bottom to add some variety for viewers. His enthusiasm for cooking is still there and his infectious personality is again evident. His simplistic style of cooking is the main attraction (for me at least) and in this series he offers another range of simple yet tasty meals. All the standard catch phrases are there such as “Pukka”, “lovely jubbly” and “wicked”, but we just knew they would be, didn’t we?
In the first series, there was a bonus Christmas episode and this series contains another one. This time, though, Jamie jets off to New York for the double length episode. The range of food throughout is extensive and should offer something for everyone. The thing I love most about this series is that those with absolutely no interest in cooking whatsoever can find enjoyment from watching. Let’s face it, if you hate cooking then watching someone else do all thw work is always nice.
Each episode is broken up into the standard format of a starter, a main dish and a dessert, with many having extras little tips.
Episode listing:
Reunion
Mozzarella, Peach and Parma Ham Salad
Two Nut Chocolate Torte Cheesecake
Sea Bream with Mushrooms & Potatoes
Salsa Verde
Girls Girls Girls
Pukkola
Sweet Pea & Prawn Risotto
Chocolate Pot
Midnight Pan Cooked Breakfast
Perfect Day
Chilli Oil
Aubergine Dip
Carspacio of Beef
Noodle Salad
Going to the Dogs
Custard Tarts
Farfelli with Cabbage & Bacon
Pork Chops with Potatoes & Parsnip
Bread & Mint Dressing
Picnic on the Pier
Roast Chicken with Lemon & Parma Ham
Flat Bread with Chick Peas
Cous Cous Salad
Smoothies
A Bun in the Oven
Sheila’s Pudding
Steamed Carrots
Fish Pie
A Birthday Barbecue
Barbecued Fish / Meat / Marinades & Rubs
Botham Fingers
Vodka Melon
Potato, Avocado & Cress Salad
Celery, Celeriac & Pomegranate Salad
Wedding Bells
Campari & Passionfruit Sorbet
Baked Fennel
Salmon Wrapped in Parma Ham & Lentils
Linguine with Clams
Christmas in New York
Christmas Bombe
Mussels & Sweet Leeks
Pancakes
Pizza
Pork with Peaches
Sushi Rolls
The Best Hot Chocolate
Jamie Oliver is renowned for breaking down recipes to the bare essentials and leaves the viewer with options to use ingredients of their own preference. I have never seen anyone get so excited about certain vegetables or mushrooms, but he does and this creates enthusiasm for the viewer. By the end of the series you have an urge to go to a fresh fruit and vegetable market rather than buy the frozen packets at the supermarket.
The total running time for this series is around 291 minutes over two discs, making this much longer than the first series and great value for money. An option is again available to select an episode or select a dish. By selecting a dish you can get the ingredients and then play that section of the episode for preparation details. Quite simply this series is more of the same from the most popular TV chef around and is well worth a look.
Being a television series, this is presented in full frame and therefore there's no 16:9 enhancement. Picture is sharp throughout, apart from some external scenes that are intentionally filmed with a lot of grain to give an arty feel. Colours are vibrant and true and look wonderful. The only major problem is some aliasing in quite a few areas, but apart from this everything else looks terrific. There are no subtitles supplied, however dialogue is clear at all times and the layer changes appear to be placed between episodes.
Audio is supplied in Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo and this does the job nicely. Had this been given a DD 5.1 track I feel the sound would have been kept across the front speakers anyway, so the DD 2.0 is more than sufficient. Dialogue is clear throughout and synch is never a problem. There is some music used between scenes and this comes through strongly with no distortion problems.
This is a better series than the first in many ways, but it maintains the formula that has made Jamie Oliver the international star he is today. The video and audio are very good and this two disc set contains hours of entertainment, along with an easy reference guide for those future dinner parties. I highly recommend this series whether you are culinary challenged or not.