The Cook and the Chef-Spring (2006)

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General		Extras
Category	Documentary	Menu Audio DVD-ROM Extras-Recipes (pdf format)
Rating
Year Of Production	2006
Running Time	261:49 (Case: 280)
RSDL / Flipper	Dual Layered Dual Disc Set	Cast & Crew
Start Up	Menu
Region Coding	1,2,3,4,5,6	Directed By	None Given
Studio Distributor	Roadshow Home Entertainment	Starring	Maggie Beer Simon Bryant
Case	Amaray-Transparent-Secure Clip
RPI	$29.95	Music	None Given

Video		Audio
Pan & Scan/Full Frame	None	English Dolby Digital 2.0 (256Kb/s)
Widescreen Aspect Ratio	1.78:1
16x9 Enhancement
Video Format	576i (PAL)
Original Aspect Ratio	1.78:1	Miscellaneous
Jacket Pictures	No
Subtitles	English	Smoking	No
		Annoying Product Placement	No
		Action In or After Credits	No

    This cooking show has been a quiet success on the ABC for the past three years and has now reached one hundred episodes. So far, four DVD sets have been released from the series, all being episodes from series one. This set contains ten episodes from towards the end of that first series (made in 2006), all with a focus on Springtime ingredients and cooking.

    The concept is a little bit different, for rather than being focused on one celebrity chef with a large ego it features (as the title suggests) a cook and a chef. The distinction drawn is that the 'cook', Maggie Beer is a well-known foodie from the Barossa Valley rather than being a professional chef. The 'chef' is Simon Bryant who is the executive chef from a five star hotel in Adelaide. When you first start watching this series they seem like a very strange pairing with the young and funky Bryant, seeming to be out of place in the traditional family kitchen at Maggie Beer's house. However, as the series progresses it is the juxtaposition of styles and backgrounds which really makes the series work, as they introduce different ingredients, techniques and ideas to each other. This set shows a marked improvement in their relationship showing them to be much more comfortable with each other. The more recent episodes being shown now on ABC show this has continued to develop into an excellent working relationship.

    Each episode tends to feature the two of them taking the same ingredients and cooking them in completely different ways, focusing on local seasonal produce from Australia. Local producers are also featured heavily from backyard tomato growers to secretive grain millers. Most of the recipes are straightforward and the recipes are included in .pdf files on Disc 2. This 2 DVD set includes the ten episodes which made up the first series. Strangely the first disc includes seven episodes and the second only three. Each episode runs for approximately 26 minutes.

    The episodes included are

1. Spring has Sprung
2. Just Veg
3. Blondes have more fun
4. A Moveable Feast
5. Shellfish
6. Cooking with Friends
7. BBQ Party
8. Say Cheese
9. Holiday Picnic
10. Christmas

    This is a good quality, low-key cooking series produced locally for the ABC, without the need for a celebrity chef. Recommended.

Video

    The video quality is very good.

    The feature is presented in a 1.78:1 aspect ratio, 16x9 enhanced, which is the original aspect ratio.

    The picture was quite sharp and clear. There was no evidence of low level noise.

    The colour was wonderful, rich and solid throughout.

    The were no noticeable artefacts.

    There are subtitles in English for the hearing impaired. The English subtitles were clear and easy to read.
    

Video Ratings Summary

Sharpness
Shadow Detail
Colour
Grain/Pixelization
Film-To-Video Artefacts
Film Artefacts
Overall

Audio

    The audio quality is very good.

    This DVD contains an English Dolby Digital 2.0 stereo soundtrack encoded at 256 Kb/s.

    Dialogue was clear and easy to understand and there was no problem with audio sync.

    The music by Steve Matters is fine but a little over the top.

    The surround speakers and subwoofer were not used.

Audio Ratings Summary

Dialogue
Audio Sync
Clicks/Pops/Dropouts
Surround Channel Use
Subwoofer
Overall

Menu

    The menu was simple but functional.

Recipes

    The second disc of this set includes ten .pdf files, featuring full colour versions of the recipes from each show including photos and full instructions. They could easily be printed out and added to your recipe collection.

     This set is not available in other regions. The discs are coded for all regions.

    The video quality is very good.

    The audio quality is very good.

    All of the recipes are included in .pdf format.

Video
Audio
Extras
Plot
Overall