Homebrewer Ben Starr, finalist on Tv's Master Chef season 2

[Revvy]

Please tell me there is video of this.

I don't think it's on video, but here's a blurb from the London Telegraph.

Yes, Marco made me cry. (But who's laughing now, says Gordon Ramsay)

By Jonathan Thompson

Gordon Ramsay, the uncompromising Scottish chef who has taken swearing, threatening behaviour and verbal abuse to a new level on British television, was once reduced to "a blubbering wreck" by a fellow celebrity chef, it emerged yesterday.

In his soon-to-be-published autobiography, Marco Pierre White claims he dramatically "broke" Ramsay, who used to work for him at Harvey's restaurant in Wandsworth, south London, turning the fiery Scot into a sobbing mess.

A spokesman for Ramsay yesterday admitted that there was "some truth" in the claim, but added that the hard-headed star of Hell's Kitchen and The F-Word was only 20 years old at the time, and just starting out in the restaurant world.

In his forthcoming memoir, White, 44, writes of the incident: "I don't recall what he'd done wrong but I yelled at him and he lost it.

"Gordon crouched down in the corner of the kitchen, buried his head in his hands and started sobbing. 'I don't care what you do to me,' he said as he wept. 'Hit me. I don't care. Sack me. I don't care.'"

You can see Gordon in a couple scenes in this video.

 

[Revvy]

Sorry wrong labled video, I fixed it and put the right one in it. That's Gordon in the opening scene and helping make the pasta with his flock of seaguls blonde hairdo.

The Marco programs on Youtube are fantastic. He did a series where he cooked for all HIS chef mentors.

 

[Bookem15]

If you want to see some recipes from Ben go to YouTube and search benthegrate. He has an egg video that he used last night. Lol

 

[EdWort]

If you want to see some recipes from Ben go to YouTube and search benthegrate. He has an egg video that he used last night. Lol

Wow, he has lots of videos. Now all he needs is a Big Green Egg for some great BBQ.

 

[Scruffy1207]

Those fish n' chips look delicious. I think imma cook up a batch tonight after I brew. He's got some pretty cool stuff on his youtube page.

 

[dataz722]

Oh yeah, and can I have all the dirt on Jennifer Behm? I think she's one of the sexiest women I've ever seen. There's just something about her.

I have a major tv crush on her.

She lives right near me.

Wow, he has lots of videos. Now all he needs is a Big Green Egg for some great BBQ.

I like your thinking.

 

[slogger]

I am psyched to learn that Ben is a member of HBT!
Ben -My wife and I watch every episode and both agree that you are one goofy dude(in a good way) and it's easy to root for you. I hope you continue to do well and win MC.

GO BEN!

 

[Revvy]

I take it there was no new episode last night? My hulu queue was empty. I know there's an episode tonight, but I thought there were 2 episodes a week.

 

[dataz722]

I take it there was no new episode last night? My hulu queue was empty. I know there's an episode tonight, but I thought there were 2 episodes a week.

Yeah, apparently someone thought the president had something important to say so they aired a rerun instead.

 

[Revvy]

She lives right near me.

Tell her I love her?

I did catch on the aphrodesiac episode her comment about noone cooking romantic meals for her in awhile...I think she needs me.

 

[bucfanmike]

yeah it fooled my computer into recording it so it must have been marked as a new episode but it was a rerun.

 

[burninmules]

My tv said original airdate was 7/25/11 but, it obviously wasn't.

 

[benthegrate]

Hey folks! Sorry, I really need to duck into this thread more often, I had NO idea it was this busy!

Let's see...Jen Behm. Former Miss Delaware and placed fairly high in the Miss America pageant. But she's not your typical beauty queen. She's a total tomboy, likes to be dirty, watch football, and drink craft brew. (Seriously!) One of the coolest chicks I've ever met, and one tough cookie. She and I cooked on the same station next to each other throughout most of the show.

There were questions about how the show was filmed... We began shooting Feb 1 and the show wrapped March 24. I think ultimately there will be 20 episodes. All the contestants lived in the Radisson Culver City for the duration of the shoot...we started out with roomies, then had private rooms once we got down to the top 18. We filmed ALMOST every single day during those two months...usually we'd have call time around 7am and get back to the hotel around 10pm. VERY long, tiring days. During the filming period, we weren't allowed ANY contact with the outside world. NO cell phone, no computer, and the phone in our rooms was restricted from dialing out. We couldn't even leave our rooms without an escort. This is not only to help us keep the focus on our game, but also to put maximum emotional and psychological stress on us, for maximum drama on screen.

Joe Bastianich is actually not ANYTHING like the person you see on screen. He's actually quite camera-shy and when called upon to talk on camera, he clams up a little and looks and sounds awkward. This is why you usually just see him taste the food, give a bone-chilling stare, and walk away. In real life, Joe is just like his mother, Lidia Bastianich (the Julia Child of Italian food)...warm, friendly, and funny. This is just the role he plays on TV. One afternoon his kids were on set, and one of them told me, "My daddy's not mean at all like he is on TV." Endearing...

Someone mentioned the Big Green Egg...hellz yah, if the manufacturer would hook me up with one of those, I'd made dozens of YouTube videos with it! Ha ha ha... For now, I'm relegated to my offset smoker, which does nicely...just not quite as versatile as the ceramic smokers. I'm notoriously stingy with any kind of purchase, I'd never spend the money to get one for myself when my offset smoker does just as good.

I think that's all for now. We're back to normal scheduling tonight...new episode tonight, then every Monday and Tuesday through mid August.

Cheers!

 

[Revvy]

Hey Ben, I thought I saw last week Graham Elliot and one of your group doing a cooking demo on one of the morning shows, but the sound was off and I was in a waiting room so I didn't really get the whole story.

Are you guys doing tv appearances during this time to promote the show? If so PLEASE make sure you let us know if you're going to be on anything.

 

[dataz722]

Hey folks! Sorry, I really need to duck into this thread more often, I had NO idea it was this busy!

Let's see...Jen Behm. Former Miss Delaware and placed fairly high in the Miss America pageant. But she's not your typical beauty queen. She's a total tomboy, likes to be dirty, watch football, and drink craft brew. (Seriously!) One of the coolest chicks I've ever met, and one tough cookie. She and I cooked on the same station next to each other throughout most of the show.

There were questions about how the show was filmed... We began shooting Feb 1 and the show wrapped March 24. I think ultimately there will be 20 episodes. All the contestants lived in the Radisson Culver City for the duration of the shoot...we started out with roomies, then had private rooms once we got down to the top 18. We filmed ALMOST every single day during those two months...usually we'd have call time around 7am and get back to the hotel around 10pm. VERY long, tiring days. During the filming period, we weren't allowed ANY contact with the outside world. NO cell phone, no computer, and the phone in our rooms was restricted from dialing out. We couldn't even leave our rooms without an escort. This is not only to help us keep the focus on our game, but also to put maximum emotional and psychological stress on us, for maximum drama on screen.

Joe Bastianich is actually not ANYTHING like the person you see on screen. He's actually quite camera-shy and when called upon to talk on camera, he clams up a little and looks and sounds awkward. This is why you usually just see him taste the food, give a bone-chilling stare, and walk away. In real life, Joe is just like his mother, Lidia Bastianich (the Julia Child of Italian food)...warm, friendly, and funny. This is just the role he plays on TV. One afternoon his kids were on set, and one of them told me, "My daddy's not mean at all like he is on TV." Endearing...

Someone mentioned the Big Green Egg...hellz yah, if the manufacturer would hook me up with one of those, I'd made dozens of YouTube videos with it! Ha ha ha... For now, I'm relegated to my offset smoker, which does nicely...just not quite as versatile as the ceramic smokers. I'm notoriously stingy with any kind of purchase, I'd never spend the money to get one for myself when my offset smoker does just as good.

I think that's all for now. We're back to normal scheduling tonight...new episode tonight, then every Monday and Tuesday through mid August.

Cheers!

Thanks, that answers a lot of questions I always had about these kind of shows.

How is it seeing yourself on TV? And how much creative editing do they do to make things seem more dramtic than they are?

 

[MeatyPortion]

The real question is: will Revvy get to date his dream girl?

 

[Scruffy1207]

The real question is: will Revvy get to date his dream girl?

Set it up ben! I might miss master chef tonight because of homebrew club meeting (but that's what dvr is for)!

 

[EdWort]

Waydago Ben! Pork Butt in an hour and he pulls it off!

My pulled pork takes 20+ hours in the Big Green Egg.

Congrats!

 

[HokieBrewer]

Same question Revvy had a few pages back -

Ben, what did you make for the lobster challenge? We never got to see your plate.

 

[Revvy]

Wooo Hooo, good job Ben!!!!!!

That was my favorite episode yet. Really intense.

I'm surprised no one flambeued the Scallops...the little cup of brandy sitting there should have been a clue. I would have browned them off, done a little corn "salsa" bed, put them back in the shell to present them, and set them on fire.

(And then gone and "comforted" Jennifer when she almost got tossed off. )

 

[ReverseApacheMaster]

I always wonder whether the chefs on masterchef come up with the recipes out of their head or if there are computers or cookbooks off screen to consult or if Gordon provides some lesson before the competition. I don't doubt the skills of the chefs but it seems like if you have NEVER made something before, like hollandaise, you would have something to guide you.

BTW Ben, the wife and I are big fans and you are welcome over any time for some homebrew.

 

[MikeG]

Hey, just found this thread, pretty cool to have a celebrity homebrewer around here. Wife and I enjoy the show, I've actually learned a thing or two from watching.

Now I have to quit watching this thread, I tivo the show and don't need any spoilers.

 

[Scruffy1207]

I always check this thread during or after the show.

 

[Revvy]

I always check this thread during or after the show.

I wait til the second the credits are rolling on hulu before daring to peak inside.

 

[Scruffy1207]

I wait til the second the credits are rolling on hulu before daring to peak inside.

Yeah, sometimes I get worried that an east coaster will say something, but I still check

I also wait to read his blog till after. I made that mistake once before. Lol broke my heart to see Jen cry. She's definitely grown on me.

 

[thataintchicken]

just started watching the last episode on Hulu.

Two words -- Holy Product Placement Batman. The secret of the pan is... LOL.
Subtle placement of Global Knives and whatnot is one thing but this was just in your face.
oh well. Back to the show.

 

[EdWort]

Two words -- Holy Product Placement Batman. The secret of the pan is... LOL.

Yep. I think next week I'll play a new drinking game called "Spot the Shameless Plug".

 

[EdWort]

Of all the ******* lines, "Alejandra, do you miss your husband?.......Maybe you'll see him tonight."

Yep, serving raw piggy will do that as she found out last night.

She really screwed the pooch on that pork loin. The Neural Engineer should have bit the dust for her failure on German cuisine. Gordon was seriously mad at her rendition of Bavarian delicacy.

 

[MeatyPortion]

Yep. I think next week I'll play a new drinking game called "Spot the Shameless Plug".

If I play that too then I'll be blotto before Gordon gets to his first "disgusting" speech.

 

[Laughing_Gnome_Invisible]

Yep, serving raw piggy will do that as she found out last night.

She really screwed the pooch on that pork loin. The Neural Engineer should have bit the dust for her failure on German cuisine. Gordon was seriously mad at her rendition of Bavarian delicacy.

Um, no. It had nothing to do with German food which not too many people care about. It was because she tried to poison them.