Cooking up a Storm

I've been at home sick the past couple of days, allowing me the "luxury" of sitting and watching Ainsley Harriott perform culinary wonders.

OK, OK, I'm being a little sarcastic there. I strongly dislike the man, find his elaborate use of salt shakers, sieves and all manner of other kitchen utensils intensely annoying and can't wait for his retirement from the daytime TV circuit.

But all these cookery shows got me thinking; where are the women?

According to a couple of studies I found cited on the Internet (see here and here) roughly two thirds of women cook all the meals in their household. Factor in the families that share the cooking or eat a lot of take aways and I think you'll find that few men dominate in the kitchen (about 1 in 10 say the same studies.)

If that's the case then why do Ready, Steady, Cook (probably my least favourite, not only in terms of cookery shows, but of all programmes ever made), along with Jamie At Home and The F Word flourish, while shows featuring women seem to make little headway? Women might do OK as part of an ensemble, but they never reach the dizzying heights of celebrity adoration that Gordon Ramsey et al enjoy.

Exceptions to the rule seem to include Delia Smith (who is currently being derided for acknowledging that people do like a few shortcuts when cooking. Watching Ready, Steady, Cook nearly made me foam at the mouth earlier - and not in a good, mmmmm that food looks yummy, way. No, Brian Turner asked was it OK to cheat like Delia does. Well, maybe its not an idealistic, aspirational way of cooking Brian, but I don't see me rustling up three different desserts using strawberries and my handy mini-blowtorch. No, I'll be lucky if I even get a meringue out the packet to eat them with.)

And Nigella Lawson, who is portrayed as so oversexualised it is a wonder she can concentrate enough not to burn down the entire set. Can you remember what she cooked by the end of the show? Or do you just envisage her licking the leftovers off the spoon?

But it was Great British Chef that really made me think. Not once have I seen even a token woman on that show. Is it just too impossible that a woman might be the "Great British Chef"? When I commented on such an idea last night, Mum was pleased to inform me that there had been a women on it once, earlier in the series and then immediately realised how ridiculous she sounded being so chuffed. As far as we could tell "token woman" got kicked out in the first round (though please tell me if I am wrong).

Ultimately I think the wonderful Lycos forum users can sum up the argument better than I can. Pay special attention to TallScotsGuy. He's a gem.