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Irish Times
12 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Times
Maybe what the world needs right now is another Anthony Bourdain
Like Anthony Bourdain, I am a little bit early. This August will mark 25 years of his memoir, Kitchen Confidential. But Bourdain was always two steps ahead. He still exists in most people's imaginations as 'the first celebrity chef' (Marco Pierre White or indeed the 19th century's Marie-Antoine Carême might have something to say on that); he pioneered, though didn't invent, the travelogue-cum-food television genre; he showed up for every appointment 20 minutes ahead of time, the New Yorker magazine's Helen Rosner once revealed. So it strikes me as fitting to mark Kitchen Confidential's anniversary two months in advance (though this is where mine and Bourdain's similarities begin and end). This is because it is in keeping with that enterprising spirit (I continue to flatter myself) and because the content of Bourdain's universe – the subject of his memoirs, his novels, his TV shows – is universal, always interesting and perhaps the only thing consistently relevant to every living person. READ MORE There is no bad time to write in tribute to Bourdain because there is no wrong time to think about food. Take, for example, his 2014 trip to Iran for the television show Parts Unknown. The country was escalating its incursion in Iraq and the social temperature was in flux (some controversially argued the regime was liberalising). Something was definitely changing (weeks after appearing on the show, two Iranian journalists were put in prison). But as Bourdain made clear, no matter the mutable weather of Iran – the friendliness of its people contrasted with the vitriol of its anti-American rhetoric – food remained the ancient and unchanging universal. [ Anthony Bourdain: The sceptical outsider baffled by fame ] And that was the soul of Bourdain: whether it was the tahdig he shared with the Iranian journalists, soon to be imprisoned; the cow's foot he ate in a Haitian enclave in Miami as Haiti itself was about to experience a devastating hurricane; or the maqluba he ate in Palestine in 2013. This was a marrying of the timely (the politics of the West Bank at the beginning of the 2010s) and the universal (the falafel made by everyone in the greater region); the ephemeral (the spectre of a liberalising Iran) and the material (the tahdig). Forget the pre-Socratics, Bourdain more than anyone understood this organising feature of the universe. I cannot help but think that if food was of central analytical importance, then – I was perhaps just too young to quantify seriously the extent of global upheaval in 2013 and 2014 – it must be all the more central now. But where is the Bourdain-redux eating borscht (with apologies for the regional stereotyping) with Ukrainians in Kyiv? Sharing a hamburger with Donald Trump just as he shared bun cha in Vietnam with Barack Obama? Proving the truth behind the mawkish and sentimental dreck that there is a culinary universal language? It needn't be so lofty, of course. In the long swooping arc of history the little things matter too. Yes, there is the goat stew that ties the 21st century Iranian with their ancient Persian forebears, linking ancestors through every political permutation of the country. Sure we can we think about the potato and its central importance to the trajectory of the Irish people – from the devastating Famine in the mid-1800s to source of a hackneyed and annoying stereotype in 2025. And what about the long shadow cast by Italy's historical Risorgimento movement on the culinary landscape of the Italian-American in New York today? Fine. But Bourdain was as concerned with the prosaic as he was with all of that stuff. It's not always about the shifting geopolitical sands, but the quotidian life of a restaurant; one not rendered any more or less interesting because of its location within or outside of a war zone. He struck fame in 1999 with his now-clichéd advice in the New Yorker that you shouldn't order fish on a Monday (it has been sitting there since Friday, by now cloudy eyed); that the worst cuts of meat are reserved for whoever orders it well-done; that chefs prefer weeknight diners over the fair-weather weekend ones. Perhaps none of this applies any more. It certainly sounds less original and significantly more pedestrian 25 years on. He was a better writer than chef, something he was willing to admit. And Bourdain had a tendency toward equivocation (on the one hand Iran ran an oppressively conservative regime towards women, but on the other hand the men on the street were terribly friendly to him). He was an imperfect rhetorician and a troubled man whose life ended in suicide . But there are perennial truths to the world constructed by Bourdain: chefs are mercurial; food is always about more than just food; the daily banalities performed in the kitchen are not incidental to an important life but the source of one; and fish goes off. Maybe his task was all too easy: ventriloquising things that were as true millenniums ago as they will be millenniums from now. He just happened to be the first to really do it.
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Jamie Oliver admits his dyslexia made him feel 'dumb' and 'misunderstood' at school - after revealing some of his children are also neurodivergent
Jamie Oliver has opened up about the struggles he faced growing up with dyslexia, revealing it made him feel 'dumb' and 'misunderstood'. The celebrity chef, 50, is sharing his experience with the condition in a new Channel 4 documentary called Jamie's Dyslexia Revolution, which is due to air on June 9. Ahead of the documentary, he told in a new interview that he wouldn't know where he'd end up if he didn't have his passion for cooking, due to the lack of support for dyslexia during his school days. Speaking to Radio Times, Jamie explained: 'It's no secret that I didn't do very well at school. 'I felt misunderstood and, quite frankly, dumb.' From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. He continued: 'I was a disengaged pupil but, growing up in a pub and being surrounded by food on a daily basis, I found cooking at a very young age. 'I had something I was good at, something that built my self-esteem when school – which I left with just two GCSEs – was eroding it. 'I was one of the lucky ones. If I didn't have cooking, who knows where I'd have ended up.' Explaining his time at school with dyslexia, he said: 'In my day (the 1980s), I was removed from class to go to "special needs", which is now referred to as Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). 'It wasn't my teachers that were the problem, but our education system. It's simply not built to support dyslexia or neurodiversity, which together represent a whopping 25 percent of every classroom. 'That's why this issue is so important to me. It's this 25 percent of kids that slip through the cracks. 'We need change. We need to recognise that dyslexic brains just think and express their learning in a different way. 'Embracing that will be a game-changer for our kids with dyslexia, but studies show the whole class thrives in an inclusive classroom. It's better for everyone.' It comes after Jamie revealed some of his children have recently been diagnosed as neurodivergent, telling how understanding how their children see things differently allows him and wife Jools to be 'better parents'. He told how he navigates his 'bonkers family' with Jools, 50, and their children, amid diagnoses of dyslexia, ADHD and ASD (autism spectrum disorder) in the past year. The TV star shares daughters Poppy, 23, Daisy, 22, and Petal, 16, and sons Buddy, 14, and River, eight, with his former model spouse, with the eldest two having flown the nest. Though not revealing details on who was diagnosed, Jamie revealed to The Sunday Times Magazine that he and Jools discuss their children in bed every night and have 'learnt to understand that their behaviour is because they're seeing things differently'. He added that being aware of their children's differences 'allows you to be a better parent'. Neurodivergent is a term that describes people whose brains function differently, encompassing conditions like autism, ADHD, and dyslexia. And amid the conditions affecting many members of his family, Jamie went on to joke that home life is 'bonkers', remarking: 'Imagine four neurodiverse people at the dinner table trying to get their point across.' Jamie also went on to say that he feels attitudes towards neurodivergence are generational, noting that 'older people' tend to reflect on not having these issues 'when they were young', However, the father-of-five counters that people 'didn't know as much about our brains 30 years ago'. Dyslexia is a common learning difficulty that causes problems with reading, writing and spelling and difficulties with processing. Jamie is using his platform to call for urgent changes in schools, including early dyslexia screening and more teacher training in neurodiversity. He said: 'I've only got love for teachers, we need to appreciate them more. But they want to be trained, they want to have the tools to notice, understand and react.' His hard-hitting documentary, airing soon on Channel 4, will question whether the UK education system is doing enough to support children with dyslexia - and if not, what needs to change. Jamie has already met with Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson and says this campaign is even tougher than his famous fight for healthier school dinners.
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Jamie Oliver emotionally reveals his dyslexia made him feel 'worthless and stupid' at school as he discusses lack of support in new documentary
Jamie Oliver has opened up about the emotional toll of struggling with dyslexia when he was growing up, revealing it made him feel 'stupid'. The celebrity chef, 50, has reflected on his own experience with dyslexia in a new hour-long Channel 4 special, titled Jamie's Dyslexia Revolution. Dyslexia is a common learning difficulty that causes problems with reading, writing and spelling and difficulties with processing. Ahead of his documentary's release, Jamie recalled being branded a 'stupid dunce' at school and said his learning issues left him feeling 'worthless, stupid and thick'. He told The Sunday Times: 'I'm unpacking quite a lot of stuff and I'm oversharing with you because I've got to f***ing work this s**t out, I thought I'd buried it but it's hitting a nerve. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new Showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. 'I didn't have any extra time in exams, there were no strategies, just a bit of extra tutoring help,' he revealed. 'There was no robust dyslexic knowledge then.' The Essex-born chef, now a household name thanks to The Naked Chef, said the kitchen 'saved' him and gave him purpose when the classroom let him down. He added: 'I didn't tell mum, dad or the teachers. I just bottled it up inside. The kitchen saved me. I knew I had something to offer. I knew I wasn't a useless piece of s***.' The NHS says dyslexia affects up to one in ten Brits, often causing trouble with reading, writing and spelling. But many, like Jamie, excel in other areas such as problem-solving and creativity. Jamie is using his platform to call for urgent changes in schools, including early dyslexia screening and more teacher training in neurodiversity. He said: 'I've only got love for teachers, we need to appreciate them more. But they want to be trained, they want to have the tools to notice, understand and react.' His hard-hitting documentary, airing soon on Channel 4, will question whether the UK education system is doing enough to support children with dyslexia - and if not, what needs to change. Jamie has already met with Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson and says this campaign is even tougher than his famous fight for healthier school dinners. The Essex-born chef, now a household name thanks to The Naked Chef and Jamie's Kitchen, said the kitchen 'saved' him and gave him purpose when the classroom let him down (pictured in 2010) 'Not acknowledging or allowing a six, seven or eight-year-old to express their intelligence… that's kind of child abuse,' he said. 'This is heavy, because neurodivergent kids are falling between the cracks. They end up resenting education, which leads to anger, frustration, poor health, crime, prison and all the horrible things you don't want to think about. He added: 'I ran from school thinking, 'F*** you,' but I was lucky because I had the kitchen.' Tim Hancock, commissioning editor at Channel 4, said: 'There's no more effective campaigner than Jamie, and now he's turning his expertise to a subject close to his heart. 'I'm thrilled Channel 4 is following him back on the campaign trail. Dyslexia is a learning difficulty that primarily affects accurate and fluent word reading and spelling. It can affect individuals of all intelligence levels and can result in poor or inconsistent spelling and writing - along with potential struggles following directions or being organised.
The Independent
3 days ago
- Health
- The Independent
Chef Jamie Oliver says dyslexia documentary was ‘most painful' thing he has done
Chef Jamie Oliver says a new documentary about dyslexia was the 'most viscerally painful' thing he has ever done. The 50-year old celebrity chef has lived with the learning difficulty all his life and will now present a one-hour documentary on Channel 4 titled Jamie's Dyslexia Revolution. The show will dive into the challenges and issues children with dyslexia face in Britain while asking whether the Government can do more to fix the education system. Speaking to the Sunday Times, Oliver said: 'I'm unpacking quite a lot of stuff. 'I thought I'd buried it but it's hitting a nerve. 'Genuinely, of all the things I've ever done, this documentary is the most viscerally painful,' 'I've seen so many high-flying, talented, grown men cry about this — I've just done it to you — the concept of being worthless (when you're) young is real. It's really triggering.' According to the NHS dyslexia is described as a 'common learning difficulty that causes problems with reading, writing and spelling'. Having left school with two GCSEs, the chef opened up about the challenges he faced, adding that the kitchen 'saved' him. He said: 'I didn't have any extra time in exams, there were no strategies, just a bit of extra tutoring help. 'There was no robust dyslexic knowledge then.' He also described feeling 'stupid, worthless and thick' and developing 'a hatred of words and a total resentment for education' while other students called him a 'stupid dunce', leaving him with a 'deep-seated feeling of constantly being behind'. 'I didn't tell mum, dad or the teachers. I just bottled it up inside. 'The kitchen saved me. I knew I had something to offer. I knew I wasn't a useless piece of shit.' The Essex-born chef and author is known for hosting cooking shows and documentaries including The Naked Chef and Jamie's Kitchen along with publishing a series of cookbooks including Jamie's 30-Minute Meals. He has also been an avid campaigner over the years including calling on the Government for greater provisions for healthier school meals and playing a role in imposing a sugar tax on soft drinks. He is now campaigning for greater support in schools, calling for early screenings for dyslexia and neurodiversity. Oliver added: 'We also need more training for teachers. In a two to three-year training course only about half a day is given to neurodiversity. 'I've only got love for teachers, we need to appreciate them more. 'But they want to be trained, they want to have the tools to notice, understand and react.' Jamie's Dyslexia Revolution can be watched on Channel 4 on June 9 at 9pm.
BreakingNews.ie
4 days ago
- Health
- BreakingNews.ie
Chef Jamie Oliver says dyslexia documentary was ‘most painful' thing he has done
Chef Jamie Oliver says a new documentary about dyslexia was the 'most viscerally painful' thing he has ever done. The 50-year old celebrity chef has lived with the learning difficulty all his life and will now present a one-hour documentary on Channel 4 titled Jamie's Dyslexia Revolution. Advertisement The show will dive into the challenges and issues children with dyslexia face in Britain while asking whether the Government can do more to fix the education system. Jamie Oliver said there should be more training for teachers to help them deal with dyslexic pupils (Joe Giddens/PA) Speaking to the Sunday Times, Oliver said: 'I'm unpacking quite a lot of stuff. 'I thought I'd buried it but it's hitting a nerve. 'Genuinely, of all the things I've ever done, this documentary is the most viscerally painful,' Advertisement 'I've seen so many high-flying, talented, grown men cry about this — I've just done it to you — the concept of being worthless (when you're) young is real. It's really triggering.' According to the NHS dyslexia is described as a 'common learning difficulty that causes problems with reading, writing and spelling'. Jamie Oliver revealed the challenges he faced at school (Matt Crossick/PA) Having left school with two GCSEs, the chef opened up about the challenges he faced, adding that the kitchen 'saved' him. He said: 'I didn't have any extra time in exams, there were no strategies, just a bit of extra tutoring Oliver Advertisement 'There was no robust dyslexic knowledge then.' He also described feeling 'stupid, worthless and thick' and developing 'a hatred of words and a total resentment for education' while other students called him a 'stupid dunce', leaving him with a 'deep-seated feeling of constantly being behind'. 'I didn't tell mum, dad or the teachers. I just bottled it up inside. Jamie Oliver taking part in the What An Eton Mess demonstration outside Downing Street, over the previous government's anti-obesity strategy (Dominic Lipinski/PA) 'The kitchen saved me. I knew I had something to offer. I knew I wasn't a useless piece of shit.' Advertisement The Essex-born chef and author is known for hosting cooking shows and documentaries including The Naked Chef and Jamie's Kitchen along with publishing a series of cookbooks including Jamie's 30-Minute Meals. He has also been an avid campaigner over the years including calling on the Government for greater provisions for healthier school meals and playing a role in imposing a sugar tax on soft drinks. He is now campaigning for greater support in schools, calling for early screenings for dyslexia and neurodiversity. Oliver added: 'We also need more training for teachers. In a two to three-year training course only about half a day is given to neurodiversity. Advertisement 'I've only got love for teachers, we need to appreciate them more. 'But they want to be trained, they want to have the tools to notice, understand and react.' Jamie's Dyslexia Revolution can be watched on Channel 4 on June 9 at 9pm.
