The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
This week’stv reviews
Making a point of watching a cooking show for all foodies, Rebecca was given an insight into fusion food, in this case Asia meets Scotland, plus squid – deep-fried, of course...
I’d like to start this column with a confession. Prior to this week, I had never seen Nick Nairn and Dougie Vipond’s new series The Great Food Guys. It’s been increasing in popularity in recent weeks on BBC Scotland, I’d just never managed to watch it. However, after a chance conversation I had with one of the show’s guests, Kaori Simpson, I made a point of sitting down on Thursday evening and making some time for it.
The Great Food Guys is the ultimate cooking show for all foodies and what’s even better is that it makes the most of Scotland’s natural produce.
As we emerge from lockdown and start to see some of our favourite places opening up again, there’ll be plenty of others that can’t open their doors for various reasons.
So a show such as The Great Food Guys, which promotes and celebrates the finest Scottish fare and producers, while taking great pride in it, is very much needed. This week the focus was on fusion food, which is the word used to describe when two cuisines collide. No, I’m not talking about that picture I saw the other day where someone had melted chocolate on a margarita pizza.
What it means in this instance is making Asian food but with Scottish ingredients, more specifically deep-fried
CORONATION STREET (ITV)
Geoff is up to his old tricks, proving that, once again, he’s an arch-manipulator. Adam is also on Gary’s case. He’s worked out his arch enemy needs the extra cash for a dodgy deal, now all he has to do is figure out what it is – and information from Laura could help.
EMMERDALE (ITV)
Moira is in hospital following the hitand-run, which is bad news for her, Cain and Jamie, who is wracked with guilt when he realises he didn’t just knock over an animal.
HOLLYOAKS (CHANNEL 4)
The day of Kyle’s funeral arrives, and when Brooke worries about delivering her own tribute, Nancy agrees to speak instead. But as well as remembering squid with Asian dipping sauce. Also joining Edinburgh restaurateur Kaori at the table was Greg Mchugh, who is perhaps better known as Gary Tank Commander and for saying “cheesy pasta” in a weird way.
For the first time in my life I actually liked Greg Mchugh and he was just being his natural, funny self – there’s nothing worse than forced comedy.
What I liked most about this programme, though, was how well it showcased Scottish producers.
Dougie Vipond makes two visits to some people doing great things right on our doorstep. He visits a farm in East Lothian that’s either growing pak choi or bok choy (they use both interchangeably throughout the programme) and learns how quick and easy they are to grow in the Scottish climate, despite being used most widely in Asian cuisine.
Then he makes a trip to Langholm, near the Borders, to find out about the town that has become the home of a chilli-growers club.
What started with 20 members growing chillies because a man called Mark didn’t have enough windowsills to grow them on, is now 500 members strong. But that just goes to show that, no matter what’s been happening these past few months, Scotland is still going to remain centre stage when it comes to homegrown produce, and we have no intention of slowing down. her fiance, Nancy speaks about the importance of honesty and urges anyone keeping a secret to speak out – and she’s looking straight at Darren. Lisa starts a new job and Goldie decides she needs to start looking more like a vicar’s wife.
NEIGHBOURS (CHANNEL 5)
Following another setback, Chloe considers an alternative to fostering, while Levi and Roxy decide to not take things further than a kiss. Ned treats Yashvi at an expensive restaurant, but the bill proves to be quite a shock.
HOME AND AWAY (CHANNEL 5)
Although Ben and Gemma have a platonic night together, Nikau thinks more went on, and has a go at both of them. As a result, the duo decides to go back to being just good friends.