Channel 4’s new cooking show Five Star Kitchen with the ‘tin-earred’ branding on the mouthwatering dishes
Channel 4’s shiny new cooking show has been labeled ‘pretentious’, ‘tin-eared’ and ‘obscene’ for showcasing meals costing tens of thousands of pounds amid the cost of living crisis.
Five Star Kitchen, which aired last night, follows the contestants as they try to impress a panel of judges including Ravneet Gill, Michel Roux and Mike Reid with outrageously expensive dishes.
Last night’s episode featured a £21,000 taco from Mexico and a £1,700 pizza from New York as examples of the “pure luxury” the competitors should be emulating.
But viewers watching at home slammed the show on Twitter, calling it “out of touch” in the wake of the cost-of-living crisis.
As the show’s second episode kicked off last night, the judges encouraged contestants to use expensive ingredients to market their food to upper-class diners who had cash to spare.
Airing last night on Channel 4, Five Star Kitchen follows contestants as they try to impress a panel of judges including Ravneet Gill, Michel Roux and Mike Reid with outrageously expensive dishes but left viewers hungry for more – as some put it’ pretentious’. ,’ and ‘tin eared’. Pictured is a £21,000 taco from Mexico
Ravneet Gill and Michel Roux were allowed to try the dishes and encouraged participants to use only selected ingredients
“Today is all about money,” said pastry chef and restaurant consultant Ravneet Gill.
Luxury hotels like this are playgrounds for the rich and famous. Money is not a problem for them,” she added.
The chef added that contestants had to use the “best ingredients money can buy” to “attract diners who just want to splurge and create buzz around their menus.”
Global restaurateur Mike Reid explained that the contestants had to find that one dish that “exudes pure luxury” to stand out from other restaurants.
“Think of New York’s 24-karat pizza, which costs just under £2,000,” he said, referring to Industry Kitchen’s £1,700 pizza, which is inspired by Wall Street and covered in gold leaf.
“On to the Grand Velas taco from Mexico, which is wrapped in a gold-infused tortilla,” he said of the delicacy served at the Grand Velas Los Cabos resort for the super-rich.
The taco, which is made from a gold-infused tortilla and topped with gold leaf, is considered the most expensive taco in the world.
Both dishes went viral in 2017 thanks to their eye-watering prices.
The Grand Velas Los Cabos resort taco is made from a tortilla infused with gold and topped with gold leaf
Industry Kitchen’s £1,700 24K pizza is inspired by Wall Street and covered in gold leaf
Viewers were unimpressed with the show, calling it “obscene” and tone-deaf in the wake of the cost-of-living crisis
“These dishes will make your brand stand out,” Mike added.
During the episode, contestants tried to come up with the most insanely expensive dishes they could think of.
A restaurateur told the judges she hoped to charge the customer £2,500 for a canned caviar ceviche served on an ice sculpture of a mermaid.
Meanwhile, a chef named Jordan drew derision from the judges when he revealed he hoped to sell a yellowfin tuna blue corn taco for an eye-watering £500.
But for viewers watching at home, the show left a lot to be desired and failed to impress with its painful pricing.
The contestants, pictured, were told that using the best ingredients money can buy would set their restaurants apart
Contestant Anne said she hoped to impress the jury with her personal take on ceviche and caviar
The jury was not convinced by Anne’s plan to charge customers £2,500 to enjoy the dish
Chef Igor surprised the panel with gold-glazed lobster tail with Maoi caviar and Jersey oysters with 100-year-old balsamic vinegar
‘Channel 4 peak viewing tonight – 8pm Five Star Kitchen’s task of making the most expensive dish (example being a taco costing thousands of pounds); 9 p.m. Britain’s most expensive houses. Lost contact?’ asked one.
Five Star Kitchen on Channel 4 is a one-star serving of pretentious food and huge egos. Also vulgar in a crisis of the cost of living. When is MasterChef back on?’ said another.
Viewers called out Channel 4 for broadcasting the show, saying they couldn’t read the room as several families across the country are dealing with the difficult financial climate
“What a bunch of pretentious bastards,” said one.
“I can’t help thinking that in a country where there is so much disadvantage [people] are unable to buy the basics to feed themselves, the presentation of dishes costing many thousands of pounds for a single course is woefully guilty of rough ears,” said another.
Good God Channel 4, the average person doesn’t have the money for this kind of food. Absolutely ridiculous,” said one.
‘Here I struggle to feed my family and there are shows like this!! Who thought commissioning this show would be a good idea?’ asked one.
And one person even argued that the person who commissioned the show should be fired because he was “tone-deaf in the current climate.”
They argued, “Parents can’t afford to feed their kids and peddle it with a $25,000 taco.”
Femail has contacted Channel 4 for comment.