The Leeds Kitchen by James Martin

[david goodfellow]

Could not help but sense the excitement in James Martin's voice on Saturday Kitchen about his new restaurant, which opened yesterday.

Great news for Leeds.

Highly rated by top chefs who appear on the show, it will be interesting to see how his new place works out.

May give it a try soon, but if anyone else would like to post a review, it would be most welcome indeed.

The Leeds Kitchen by James Martin

Edited April 10, 2011 by david goodfellow (log)

[sunbeam]

I have a James Martin 'Executive Blender', which is false pretenses of me as I am not actually An Executive. Perhaps I am meant to blend Executives in it? Anyway, it seemed rather expensive for what it is, perhaps that's why it's not aimed at workers on average incomes.

Mr Martin knows how to make a buck that's for sure. Free advertising for his restaurant on telly, even if the only people watching are small children who can't find the remote, is but another facet of his marketing skill.

[david goodfellow]

Sunbeam,

You do make me laugh with your jaded outlook on many things on this forum

Clearly not a fan. So why buy the blender?

"Small children, who can't find the remote"

I think not.

Three million big kids I think, more to the point.

Record viewing figures not only tuning into the clearly talented Martin, but some truly fabulous chefs.

BTW I have not met, or know Mr Martin, but will try out his food in due course,

Looking forward now to a very positive review.

[Richard1]

Im with Sunbeam all the way on this one. Another celeb tv chef/ travel presenter, game show host, clown (they are all so multi talented these days!!) opening yet another souless cash cow is about exciting to me as dishwater. Will Mr M have anything to do with the cooking, narrgh, they never do, except maybe for the undoubted flash media opening. Is this really what folk want now? Says alot if so.

Wouldn't it be lovely to hear that a genuine, driven, passionate chef is opening a restaurant in Leeds. Now that would be exciting. Like many other places, Leeds is a city that is now crying out for quality, independent restaurants. Well to my thinking anyway

[sunbeam]

I'm not jaded I'm just not starry eyed, I know my stuff and I'm not one to be easily impressed or gush. The blender was a gift btw, it's actually not a bad machine if you can stomach the price point and the crass marketing James employs in search of even more money.

I dont know the viewing figures, but I'll trust your research to have been thorough. What's the demographic?

I'm not one of the audience anyway, I'm up the allotment actually growing food not sinking into the sofa watching a bunch of chefs sharing 'witty banter'like a rugby club for dimwits.

S

[Patrick_O]

I will be in Leeds in a couple of weeks and would rather take my chances at the chip van in Elland Road than darken the door of Mr. Martin's venture.

I agree with the previous posters about the whole exercise being yet another cynical idea probably dreamt up by "branding executives", but more importantly I don't rate him as a chef and have no desire to eat his food.

At least if Ramsey Inc. pumps out yet another cookie cut venture, chances are the food will be half decent.

[Gary Marshall]

leeds yorkshire might be the ideal place to open a restaurant for him but a casino that's almost out of town that gets no passing trade?

don't hear much about vineet bhatia who's also in there? iirc the bird? supposed to be good.

sorry david, it's just fluff, there's more than enough going on in Leeds, this will barely register post the inital flurry of PR.

martin's linked with virtually every pub that comes on the market in north yorkshire, that would be more his natural home but can't see it happening, he's obviously making good money on the tv so good luck to him.

[Bapi]

Im with Sunbeam all the way on this one. Another celeb tv chef/ travel presenter, game show host, clown (they are all so multi talented these days!!) opening yet another souless cash cow is about exciting to me as dishwater. Will Mr M have anything to do with the cooking, narrgh, they never do, except maybe for the undoubted flash media opening. Is this really what folk want now? Says alot if so.

No it most certainly isn't Richard. There is more chance of me selling our six year old into child slavery than ever setting foot in an establishment linked to the immature Mr Martin- and I only live half an hour away.

[dougal]

...

I dont know the viewing figures, but I'll trust your research to have been thorough. What's the demographic?

I'm not one of the audience anyway, I'm up the allotment actually growing food not sinking into the sofa watching a bunch of chefs sharing 'witty banter'like a rugby club for dimwits.

In the light of my comments (in the Fox and Grapes thread) on M Bosi's (or quite possibly actually Mr Martin's) pork pie recipe as posted on the Saturday Kitchen website), I should perhaps explain the quirk of my appearing to be part of the programme's "demographic".

It followed Qualifying for the Malaysian Grand Prix.

I had been watching with a small timeshift (due to breakfast), and I didn't switch off instantly. If I hadn't been able to fast-forward through the bits with that unpleasant jumped-up greengrocer, I certainly would have switched off.

[david goodfellow]

I always read John Lanchester's reviews in The Guardian. He comes in for some serious criticism and a bit of abuse in the comments section. Some of the comments are very funny indeed, adding a fill up to his reviews.

The errant James Martin came under his spotlight this week. Not popular at all on this forum. The ladies seem to be a lot more positive about him though, I am led to believe.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2011/apr/30/leeds-kitchen-james-martin-review

[Harters]

Just read Lanchester's review. No doubt, most indicative that, even on day 2 of opening, James Martin wasnt in the restaurant.

[Richard1]

Nothing more to add on this thread surely? Boring, move on.

[Gary Marshall]

Oh yes there is is richard, unlike most people on tv james martin is very tall, this i noticed at the roux scholarship do recently ! Now move on...

[Soundman]

It's worth one last post surely?

One to point out that Dave is consistent with the nonsense he posts, surely James Martin making 'Leeds join the Premiership' is no worse than a few years ago when he claimed that Matt Follas from Masterchef was a safe bet for a Michelin star, or have you gone off Matt now Dave, as he's not part of the Saturday Kitchen gangbang that you hold so dear?

[RDB]

....and thus is the state of chef worship at the moment, and the groupies that follow. Whereby the illusion of being "friends" with a chef, based upon TV personna, is all too common. Don't get me wrong many chef's are inspiring and I have had meals that have reduced me to tears, but to become sycophantic about every experience bar none and a chef's TV pesonna, is somewhat deluded and narissistic ( a bit like James Martin himself).

[david goodfellow]

It's worth one last post surely?

One to point out that Dave is consistent with the nonsense he posts, surely James Martin making 'Leeds join the Premiership' is no worse than a few years ago when he claimed that Matt Follas from Masterchef was a safe bet for a Michelin star, or have you gone off Matt now Dave, as he's not part of the Saturday Kitchen gangbang that you hold so dear?

Soundman,

It would appear you missed the question mark ? following both statements Both were meant to be taken slightly tongue in cheek, but its now quite clear that you want to have a "pop" which is most disappointing.

Some of the hardcore on here seem to rubbish certain chefs, when its clear that they have not even eaten their food or indeed ever intend too. James Martin, a case in point. I think that's most unfair. Or is it just the British way.

At the very least I make the effort to try these places out travelling the length and breadth of the country to do so. Apart from the cost of the actual meal, considerable travelling and hotel costs have to be factored in to post a review on here, perhaps something more people should do instead of having "a pop".

Your reference to the Mat Follas thread is comforting to me especially that I started it and that it attracted a very healthy 10,134 hits and 74 replies and much to the shock of a few of the sceptics on here Mat has been running a very successful business to this day. Indeed he has had some very, very good reviews for his food along the way.

Good luck to the man.

Edited May 3, 2011 by david goodfellow (log)

[PoppySeedBagel]

David do you mean that you went to Leeds especially to visit this restaurant? If so what did you think? If not, are you planning to go?

[david goodfellow]

David do you mean that you went to Leeds especially to visit this restaurant? If so what did you think? If not, are you planning to go?

No not been, and as its nearly two hours by car away, and only open in the evenings (except Sunday) it will not happen yet. I would have to tie it into something else in that direction with an overnight stay, and nothing as yet appeals. The getting there is not a problem, its the driving back after a heavy dinner that I don't find at all attractive.

There are loads of overnight options in London that are on my list, so a southerly trip is currently more attractive, but you may yet be surprised. Stay tuned in.

[Gary Marshall]

David, The Pipe and Glass (1*)for lunch, (not far from M62 direction hull) and then back on the M62 to Leeds for dinner. about an hour apart from each other and more hotels in leeds than you can shake a stick at.

The P&G has hosted his father's birthday so i guess it gets the seal of approval from the martins!

Edited May 10, 2011 by Gary Marshall (log)

[david goodfellow]

Good shout Gary, a really good recommend, but I have been already.

Remember when Jay Rayner reviewed it? I made the journey soon after to sample the food, and needless to say was impressed. Shame on me for not posting the meal as it was very deserving of it. Somehow it got lost in a haze of other stuff.

From memory its more restaurant than pub inside. I remember posh carpet in the bar, cosy seating areas, the conservatory, and the three hundred year old yew tree? outside.

May have a look at The Star, not as yet tried Mr Pern's food.

[Gary Marshall]

Star slightly further out but still within range, up M1/A1 and right on A170 probably easiest.

If you head that way you should do the Star and their sister The Pheasant, both have rooms (pheasant is a hotel) can walk between the two, both use similar ingredients in completely different ways, star is rustic (and similar to P&G as james from the P&G was star head chef)

head chef at pheasant is ex-star and hibiscus which is quite an unusal combination. tasting menu is one to go for at pheasant, and i saw they're doing the GBM menu at the star now, a week after we'd been and had chefs table there, i'm sad enough to have ordered it if it was available then - next birthday perhaps!

also in the area is the 2x michelin 1* espoir black swan at oldstead, rooms there too, i think the food is overly fussy but michelin are on the verge of starring it by the looks of it, the star's loss of 'star' unwarranted imho.

so there you go- lunch/dinner in harome, then oldstead for lunch, leeds on way home.

[Richard1]

Or another option for you David is to ignore the same old usual gastro pub thing and swing by a little, orginal, individual and best of all unpretentious restaurant, which was also rated by Jay Rayner, Top UK 100 blah blah, just off the M62, forty five minutes from Leeds. It doesn't hold a michelin star for whatever reason but is currently the GFG restaurant of the year 2011, which by the way was based on feed back from over 800 nominations and not just one persons opinion! You won't find food to shock, challenge or confuse but passion and flavour. Believe me theres more to Yorkshire than dining pubs.

[Gary Marshall]

yes, whites in beverley?

[Gary Marshall]

thanks to harden's, celeb chef in cooking in own kitchen shocker....

http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/lifestyle/food-drink/eating-in-or-out/home_james_to_the_kitchen_1_3395998

[david goodfellow]

All in all I think that is a pretty decent review.

I dare say a fair few more fillies will be trotting their to get a glimpse and a "taste" of him.