Jamie Does Athens - The Final and the Best in the Series

Jamie Does Athens was the final programme in the television series Jamie does. Of all the programmes in the series this was perhaps the one we had been most looking forward to. We are particularly fond of Greece, the people and the food. In this episode Jamie was back on his scooter, which harks back to his early programmes as the naked chef full of enthusiasm. The relaxed style of presentation seems to suit him best, although I do realize that some find him a bit annoying and too much in your face.

He got out and about in Athens visiting a market, where of course there was a great range of fresh food on display. He also visited a kebab shop where he attempted to race the assistant to get a kebab from skewer to bread to wrap. This was followed up by his first recipe, hand made kebabs with tzatziki served with salad and on flat bread.

Sometimes the simplest things are some of the best. I have always been always been a fan of Greek salad and the quick and easy way that he put this together made me hungry for another one. The use of really fresh produce and its importance in good cookery was obvious (though I was not too sure about the giant branches of dried herbs). In one of the later dishes in the programme he used a hard cheese that he had bought that day, from a local maker, to grate over the food. We were treated to a demonstration of how the cheese was made from goat's milk after he had milked the goat himself. Real involvement in the product.

The treats continued; fresh honey and a dessert made from it, and freshly caught tuna steaks griddled on the beach were further highlights. As usual the programme was carried along by Jamie's exuberance and enthusiasm for the food and the surroundings. Some wonderful locations and filming to match added to the whole package. I bought the book very early on in the series. I thoroughly recommend it as an addition to any kitchen bookshelf. There are a lot more recipes (I love his Greek slow cook fricassee of lamb). The photography is superb and the travelogue is good too.

At the time of writing Greece and Athens particularly has had problems with rioting and tourist cancellations. Now things are more peaceful I hope people are encouraged to return by this programme. For me the Jamie Does series has been his best yet and I am sorry that it has finished.

A further Jamie Does Review can be found here.

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