TV chef insists he ‘really does care’ in meal row
CELEBRITY CHEF James Martin has insisted he “really does care” about his customers after he faced criticism for a below-par burger at one of his restaurants.
The TV favourite, from Malton in North Yorkshire, said yesterday that he was working to resolve the issue – and admitted that it “infuriates” him if people think he is not bothered.
Scottish TV presenter Ewen Cameron, who had tweeted him to complain about the burger that he bought at Glasgow Airport’s James Martin Kitchen.
Mr Cameron shared a picture of the burger on Twitter and wrote to Mr Martin: “This is your cheeseburger at your restaurant & priced at £9.50!
“I’m guessing you’ll be annoyed as you’re a man who prides himself on his food.” Mr Cameron said in another tweet that it was “truly awful”.
Mr Martin apologised and promised that he will “deal with it personally”, and Mr Cameron later praised the chef for his handling of the situation after speaking with him privately.
Mr Martin said: “I genuinely care, I’ve got three people flying up to Glasgow who are in there now trying to resolve this.
“I don’t know what the issue is at the moment, and the guy didn’t complain at the time, so all of a sudden it gets posted on social media and the first time I see it is when it’s all over social media.”
He added: “I get upset when people say I don’t care. I went into the kitchen at six years old with a chef ’s jacket and a dream – that’s what infuriates me, I really do care.”
The 45-year-old Yorkshireman, who is best known for hosting the BBC’s Saturday Kitchen programme, announced plans earlier this week for a series of live shows that will include cookery demonstrations, appearances from special guests and input from regional chefs.
He will start the tour at the Grimsby Auditorium on October 3 and then visit places including Hull, Preston, Manchester, Birmingham, Brighton and Cardiff before finishing up in Harrogate on October 24.