The poor woman was hauled into the studio to do an interview about it all for The Today Programme, this morning, and even though the interviewer treated her g

Anyway, in an idle moment later in the day I felt prompted to go and have a look at what this new da


But then, of course, light dawned. This isn't anything to do with cooking, or with helping the disadvantaged poor, or with educating people who can't cook. It's just a sales promotion for a collection of a whole lot of branded goods. No more, no less. No different from Valentina Harris putting her face on the side of packs of Ratafia biscuits, or Gordon Ramsay's features adorning the windows of the Threshers off-licences. Except that in their enthusiasm for giving the initiative as much welly as they can, Delia's marketing people have got a little carried away in this instance, and are presenting it as a whole new way of cooking. Whoops........
No wonder Delia sounded embarrassed and inarticulate when forced to try and explain it all.
It's an unfortunate choice of name, too. Because, of course, 'to cheat' is a transitive verb......it takes an object. 'Cheating' isn't a victimless process; if you're cheating, you're cheating somebody. So, who exactly is it that's being cheated, here? Not the manufacturers or the retailers or the publisher, that's for sure; arguably, the people in front of whom the food is being placed, presumably on the mendacious basis that it's all been home-cooked; but actually, I think it's most probably the poor innocents who've been fooled by the marketing blurb, and have actually bought the book and the ingredients it promotes.
What was that lovely line from the late Linda Smith, in describing Feng Shui? " The ancient Chinese art of parting simpletons from their money". Seems to me like Delia's just continuing with an age-old process.......
Tonight's Dinner:
Tart Shells, filled with Chicken Livers and Mushrooms, in a Cream, Ginger & Sherry Sauce.
Risotto with Spinach, Asparagus and Polpette.
Mango Souffle Glacé with fresh Raspberries.
2 comments:
Well said! She makes me shout at the TV if I ever see her. Ah, dear Linda Smith, much missed. Surely St. Delia doesn't need anymore money, so it must be the people who depend on her. Well, they won't be getting any of my money!
If you look at the book properly you'll also notice the only mention of 'Delia' is on the front-cover, and that's just her first name as part of the title. She's clearly had very little part at all in this and I'm amazed more people have not picked up on the fact.
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