Day 120: Sardines and Mint

Yorkshire Pudding

'Saturday Kitchen'.  James Martin, pudding-botherer and camera-flirt, presides over the eponymous kitchen.  Every week there are visiting chefs, a celebrity guest, and two civilian make-weights, who are largely ignored. 

Today the guest is Chris Isaak.  I know nothing about him, except that he's responsible for the mournful ululating 'Bluuuuuuue Hoe-telllll'.  (Which doesn't score him any points in my book.) 

He is hilarious.  Not in a Peter Kay 'I will take control and trample on your show format for my own comedic gain' way.  He plays nicely with ego-fiend Martin.  But everything is done with bone dry, playful humour.  From his 'Food Heaven and Hell' (sardines and mint) to his impromptu performance of 'Ring Of Fire'.  'Come on, join in!' he encourages as he strums his guitar languidly and serenades everyone up close.  Cue chefs and civilians all red and embarrassed, mumbling along like teenagers in school assembly.  Nobody can quite believe what's going on.  Is he for real?  Isn't he? 

He knows exactly what he's doing.  He reminds me of Tony Law.  Yes, there's the quiffy thing going on.  But it's more about the off-beat, relaxed, friendly manner but with a subversive twinkle that lets you know he's fucking with you. 

I am weeping with laughter.  And not alone.  I check Twitter (a rare occurrence) and the incident is trending.  'Isaak totally owned Saturday Kitchen'.   

There is nothing I enjoy more than watching someone mucking around with subtlety.  Are they?  Aren't they?  If you don't know, it's not for you.