I have to thank the fine ladies over at Smart Bitches and their Amazon gift certificate for this wonderful DVD collection. It contains every episode of Two Fat Ladies ever aired and the tribute to Jennifer Paterson who died unfortunately while they were busy filming the fourth season.
This was more than a cooking show. This was an absolute gem of the BBC for every minute they aired. No matter where they traveled to on their classic British motorbike these two old ladies would end up in someone’s kitchen gabbing away on the most startling subjects.
I think it is in the second episode they are discussing walnuts when Jennifer’s eyes suddenly light up and she quickly recites “A woman, a dog, and a walnut tree, The more you beat ‘em, the better they be.” and you are sitting there finding yourself in your first Jennifer Paterson moment. Wondering what will she say next? It is amazing to find out that Clarissa and Jennifer were not lifetime buddies but had met each other while doing this show. So many moments are of them cooking or sitting around and chatting away and having the time of their lives doing so.
Oh, and the cooking… Yeah um, forget low fat or health conscious. I have never seen so many uses of cream, sour cream, double cream, whip cream or so much butter or so many eggs in each and every recipe. If Jennifer was not grabbing for the anchovies then she was sprinkling on nutmeg or the pickled walnuts. Pickled walnuts? Ewwww! Did I mention I have every cook book from this show and have never cooked a single dang recipe?
Two Fat Ladies was not about cooking. It was not just about a wonderful friendship. Two Fat Ladies was about being comfortable in your own skin and enjoying every minute of it. Especially when you find out in the memorial episode that Jennifer was raking in the bucks doing the show but she still lived with her uncle in some old London flat she had lived in for years. The money never really meant anything and in fact she left it all to some church choir.
So $50 is a bit much for 3 and a half seasons I admit. This DVD collection however is staying on my keeper shelf because even after watching a single episode I feel a little bit better about the world. I don’t know if there is a god or a heaven above but I do know that wherever that may be Jennifer is there and it is a drunken wild party.
Some day I want to be Jennifer Paterson.
Tags: MovieTags: Movie
Emmy wrote,
Oh my goodness…I’d forgotten all about that show. I used to watch it all the time when I was stationed in Yokosuka. It was on one of the three English language channels. Those ladies were *hilarious*. Never actually made anything, but it was pure entertainment watching those gals work. Must find DVD’s.
Link | January 9th, 2009 at 10:27 pm
Jenre wrote,
One of the great things about this series was when the ladies arrived at country houses and cooked British food that is rarely done today. Like hare pie or calf head or other recipes that we squeemish people would turn our noses up at now.
Link | January 10th, 2009 at 3:02 am
Sarah wrote,
My Dad and I used to watch this show together. They’re just gorgeous. :)
Link | January 10th, 2009 at 4:03 am
MC Halliday wrote,
Fab suppers prepared in diverse kitchens by two darling eccentrics whilst sharing tips and tales…I so adored this programme!
Link | January 11th, 2009 at 1:24 pm