Delia Smith bemoans ‘poncey’ modern cookery

Celebrity cook and TV presenter Delia Smith says modern cookery has become too “poncey” and “chefy”, the BBC reports.

“Cooking has become very poncey, very chefy," she said. "If I get one more plate put in front of me with six dots of sauce on it, I will go mad.

“I can’t do it, I just can’t do it. The joy, years ago, of going to a really special restaurant and having a really special meal has gone. It is very hard to find one that isn’t trying to be theatre on a plate… I don’t like it at all.”

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Smith also bemoaned the effects of mass production on modern food. “People just want to tear out the breasts of chickens and ducks, they don't want the rest,” she said.

Not everybody agreed with the cook. Adam Coghlan, editor of Eater London, told The Guardian: “Delia Smith is an absolute icon and to dispute her on the subject of food feels a little uneasy. However, to say that all cookery nowadays is chefy and poncey is to ignore the most interesting chefs and the most interesting cookery.

“Sadly, I don’t think Delia has looked very hard.”

Smith was speaking at Buckingham Palace after being made a member of the Order of the Companions of Honour for her services to cookery.

Saying she was “deeply, deeply honoured” by the award, added: “Over the years I had such a wonderful response from people - in a way their response to what I was trying to do was what spurred me on do it.”