Food UK
Taste Testing Pretentious Ingredients | S2 E2 Sorted Food
In today’s episode our normals, Mike and Jamie, will ask the age-old question.. Pretentious or not?! Delicious dishes, childish humour and potentially Pretentious Ingredients, perfect video right?!
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Below are links to the Pretentious Ingredients reviewed:
Grated Grey Mullet Bottarga: https://www.nifeislife.com/tinned-packed-fish/4265-grated-muggine-bottarga-40g.html
Kanzuri Paste: https://www.sushisushi.co.uk/blogs/education/what-is-kanuri
Cantabrian Anchovies: https://www.thetinnedfishmarket.com/tins/p/zallo-anchovies-premium
Lemon Juice Powder: https://www.souschef.co.uk/products/lemon-juice-powder
#SortedFood
#PretentiousIngredients
#ExpensiveIngredients
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Food UK
Ultimate Chef Skills Battle
How do the guys’ cooking skills compare to those of real chefs? 👨🍳
In this Chef Skills Battle, the home cooks face four challenges designed by the chef panel to test the techniques every great chef is expected to master.
Sorted Weekend Live Show – BACK TO THEIR OLD SCHOOL:
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1982666728557
Saturday 25th & Sunday 26th July 2026
Watch Live or On-Demand
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Food UK
Cheap vs Expensive Steak… Can a Chef Tell Blindfolded?
Can Chef James and professional beefeater Jamie, tell cheap steak from expensive steak while completely blindfolded? Today we’re putting budget, mid-range supermarket and premium butcher steak to a taste test to find out where price really matters.
Sorted Weekend Live Show – BACK TO THEIR OLD SCHOOL: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1982666728557
Saturday 25th & Sunday 26th July 2026
Watch Live or On-Demand
STOP EATING BORING DINNERS!
It’s easier than you think to cook up banging food… Click here to try Sidekick FREE for 30 days: https://onelink.sorted.club/vWe9/lx15b74h
Why’s it so awesome?
– Discover new ingredients and dishes
– Boost your confidence in the kitchen
– Reduce the stress of deciding what to cook EVERY day
– Make grocery shopping simple, with an automatically-generated list
– Cook more sustainably & reduce your food waste
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Food UK
Can a Chef Tell ‘Cheap’ Steak from ‘Expensive’ Steak?
Can Chef James and professional beefeater Jamie, tell cheap steak from expensive steak while completely blindfolded? Today we’re putting budget, mid-range supermarket and premium butcher steak to a taste test to find out where price really matters.
Sorted Weekend Live Show – BACK TO THEIR OLD SCHOOL: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1982666728557
Saturday 25th & Sunday 26th July 2026
Watch Live or On-Demand
STOP EATING BORING DINNERS!
It’s easier than you think to cook up banging food… Click here to try Sidekick FREE for 30 days: https://onelink.sorted.club/vWe9/lx15b74h
Why’s it so awesome?
– Discover new ingredients and dishes
– Boost your confidence in the kitchen
– Reduce the stress of deciding what to cook EVERY day
– Make grocery shopping simple, with an automatically-generated list
– Cook more sustainably & reduce your food waste
source
Food UK
Chefs Try The Internet’s Worst Recipes So You Don’t Have To Ft. @MarkWiens
Some of the most viral recipes on the internet are utter rage bait… but how do they actually taste?
@MarkWiens joins Chef Ben to taste some recreated versions and after tasting each dish, they’re stepping in to fix what went wrong!
Head over to Mark Wiens:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyEd6QBSgat5kkC6svyjudA
https://www.instagram.com/migrationology/
Sorted Weekend Live Show – BACK TO THEIR OLD SCHOOL: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1982666728557
Saturday 25th & Sunday 26th July 2026
Watch Live or On-Demand
STOP EATING BORING DINNERS!
It’s easier than you think to cook up banging food… Click here to try Sidekick FREE for 30 days: https://onelink.sorted.club/vWe9/lx15b74h
Why’s it so awesome?
– Discover new ingredients and dishes
– Boost your confidence in the kitchen
– Reduce the stress of deciding what to cook EVERY day
– Make grocery shopping simple, with an automatically-generated list
– Cook more sustainably & reduce your food waste
source
Food UK
Chef Judges Rage Bait Dishes… Made Better?
Today the guys are tasked to improve the internet’s most outrageous rage bait recipes – the chaotic, cursed creations that rack up millions of views for the wrong reasons. But will they impress Chef Kush?
Sorted Weekend Live Show – BACK TO THEIR OLD SCHOOL: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/1982666728557
Saturday 25th & Sunday 26th July 2026
Watch Live or On-Demand
STOP EATING BORING DINNERS!
It’s easier than you think to cook up banging food… Click here to try Sidekick FREE for 30 days: https://onelink.sorted.club/vWe9/lx15b74h
Why’s it so awesome?
– Discover new ingredients and dishes
– Boost your confidence in the kitchen
– Reduce the stress of deciding what to cook EVERY day
– Make grocery shopping simple, with an automatically-generated list
– Cook more sustainably & reduce your food waste
source
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@angryasianjim
January 10, 2024 at 10:50 am
7:36 when Jamie is pouring the sake, watch Mike’s face. Goes from “oh that’s nice” to “ok that’s good… waait…” to finally “Oh great I’m gonna have to call an Uber”.
@Nerdsammich
January 10, 2024 at 10:50 am
To my mind, what makes something pretentious is when what makes it really different from similar products is the story behind it, like with the Japanese chili paste. There are a million chili paste products out there, but this one is extra spendy on account of the interesting story behind how it's made.
@skilletborne
January 10, 2024 at 10:50 am
Hot take – ingredients cannot be pretentious, only people can.
For something to be pretentious, it's got to be being used for a pretentious reason, like it's from X region of the world, or made by Y person, or simply because it's known to be expensive. Like is it legitimately the correct choice, or are you using the product entirely because you have preconceived notions and a narrow view?
So long as you have a good reason to use something, it can't be pretentious.
@FM_Flop290
January 10, 2024 at 10:50 am
Idea for video in line with the buying ingredients and using it all. Have 3 videos, each video 1 normal has a budget to buy ingredients, then they make a dish, 2nd normal then has to make something with what's remaining, then 3rd normal has to use what's left over. This will show us how to use all the ingredients and the 3rd recipe will be intriguing to see what they do.
@richmondvand147
January 10, 2024 at 10:50 am
Ingredients to try would be Fennel or Dill pollen, Piment d’Espelette (french red pepper from the Pyrenees), Vandouvan, grains of selim, grains of paradise, tonka beans, grey sea salt (french or where ever), black salts (like Hawaiian lava salt), the Bonnotte potato (or should I say pomme de terre lol)
There isn't a lot of food in my opinion that is wholly pretentious. I figure if there a story where there's dedication and love or preserving a historical method then its just not – expensive sure. Then you have stuff that is just expensive to be expensive which very much makes it pretentious. Spain France and Portugal all have very very good canned fish but its NOT cheap in fact if you spend some money and can something with love and care you enhance and showcase the thing you canned. Conversely in the states for example or britain canned food is mostly for poor people so you get that stigma.
Powdered or even dried lemon peel is perfect for rubs, marinades, adding a little concentrated crumble – its super useful
@TheTattorack
January 10, 2024 at 10:50 am
Oddly enough, I would agree that not a single one of these ingredients were pretentious.
Only thing to note, however, is the powdered lemon in the end. Seems more useful in industrial food processes than it is in a common household kitchen.
@alishaparr577
January 10, 2024 at 10:50 am
We have powdered lemon and lime in the United States called Tru Lemon and Tru Lime sold in packets the stuff is amazing.
@justjane2070
January 10, 2024 at 10:50 am
Lol😂😂 accidental dolphin 😂
@EmilyJelassi
January 10, 2024 at 10:50 am
I’m a pastry chef and I use powdered lemon and orange all the time!! I use it most often in chocolates, but it’s also quite useful to use in any place that you’d normally use zest (but don’t want the oil). It’s not cheap, but it’s a wonderful product!
@tobin1677
January 10, 2024 at 10:50 am
Interesting to see a sardine filet, every sardine I have had was a whole fish.
@TheMNWolf
January 10, 2024 at 10:50 am
I'm looking at the Kanzuri paste, and I'm 99.5% sure that doesn't say Kanzuri. If I REALLY give them some leeway with the calligraphy, it might say "kazunri". Which is interesting because that doesn't come up in any searches. Zu and N are the only characters I feel confident in frankly.
@mehreenkhan6976
January 10, 2024 at 10:50 am
I clicked because of the Thumbnail 🤣🤣🤣
@ngolongsl
January 10, 2024 at 10:50 am
The normals go back for more white powder made me crackling up
@philoctetes_wordsworth
January 10, 2024 at 10:50 am
Nothing in this segment was pretentious. Nope.
@philoctetes_wordsworth
January 10, 2024 at 10:50 am
5:34 Wow. In the US, TGIFriday’s is about the last place anyone would go to for fajitas. Just. No.
@angelkisses5933
January 10, 2024 at 10:50 am
Sayin about chicken balls but seriously do roosters have testicles u can eat? 🤔 I'm goin to Google it now 🤣🤣 x
@ima5ami416
January 10, 2024 at 10:50 am
Could anyone please do me a massive favour and point me in the direction of the video where the guys did that little yellow fruit that boosts the flavours. Essentially dialing the taste buds up to x1000?
Thanks @sorted
@neolithiumproduction
January 10, 2024 at 10:50 am
I feel like a pretentious food is something that is over-hyped, overpriced, and honestly has little point to be that way. Like…gold leaf on a food.
@Pinnix
January 10, 2024 at 10:50 am
Don't know if they are pretentious or not but I'm buying two of them because they sound delicious – the Japanese fermented yuzu chili paste and the Spanish anchovies.
@alexandrasmith7682
January 10, 2024 at 10:50 am
Had the anchovies on scrambled eggs …. They were utterly divine.
@Aquelll
January 10, 2024 at 10:50 am
I do think this version of the Sidekick ads is a bit questionable. Barry at the end looks like only thing he is missing is a klan hood. Once I thought of it I cannot unsee it. 😅
@silasoconnell6413
January 10, 2024 at 10:50 am
I think that most of these super historic cultural products are not pretentious at all in their cultural contexts (like, making Japanese food with the Japanese condiment), but when chefs use them in super expensive "fusion" dishes detached from the actual cuisine then that's a little pretentious.
@saphiael-mansub2206
January 10, 2024 at 10:50 am
Seems like a lot of time to grow chili's I pick chili's every two weeks
@lellyt2372
January 10, 2024 at 10:50 am
"Chicken arms" 🤣🤣🤣 Jamie is right, Ben does live in his own hilarious world 🌎
@andyt2k
January 10, 2024 at 10:50 am
The boys are right about the Japanese thing, they have an attitude for things to be the finest, which makes them expensive, but not needlessly so
@huggledemon32
January 10, 2024 at 10:50 am
I feel like the lemon powder, isn’t pretentious in and of itself, but if you bought it, as a NORMAL, it might make YOU look pretentious!?🧐🤷♀️😂👍🏻
@ryanodriscoll
January 10, 2024 at 10:50 am
That jam is not for me. I feel like the story, but the packaging and price is all carefully designed to place it in the ultra premium end of the market and once you go beyond a certain price point, you are paying more to have a premium product moreso than you are a better quality one. There are a wide array of premium jams that will be a great treat for less price.
As for the steak, they occupy very different places in my mind. A piece of Wagyu like that is an event. A very special treat that I would have once or twice in my lifetime. But if I have steak on the brain, I am going to go for a good quality aged ribeye.
I think the Wagyu justifies its price as an exceptional treat but, as a straight replacement for a great quality grass fed steak, it does not. I would have Wagyu because I wanted Wagyu. There would not be a straight choice between the two.
@jalyntan3044
January 10, 2024 at 10:50 am
"it's not pretentious but we are" perfectly summed up my reaction to most of the products featured in this entire series
@maryjoyspohrer256
January 10, 2024 at 10:50 am
I'm with the boys. None of these are really pretentious. Not even overly expensive. Well within reach of perhaps a special dinner if not everyday.
@WSawchuk085
January 10, 2024 at 10:50 am
A couple of ideas from Canada to try out would be Canadian Ice Wine. Have to leave the grapes on the vine until the first frost that gives the initial freeze then collect the grapes in a very short period of time before the hard freeze that ruins the crystal structure of the sugars. Another idea would be Birch Syrup. Canada is famous for our maple syrup for good reason, but in central Canada around Victoria Beach, Manitoba there is one of the best regions in the world for growing Paper Birch trees. You can make birch syrup the same way you make maple syrup however you need almost twice the amount of birch sap to make one litre of syrup. Also the harvesting period for birch sap is a much smaller window. Birch syrup isn't as sweet as maple syrup though there is still sugars in it, but has a more rich flavour to it is heavily used in glazes and sauces in many restaurants across Canada.
@ArchmageIlmryn
January 10, 2024 at 10:50 am
Not sure if it's pretentious, but I would really like to see you try Salmiak (scandinavian salty licorice)!
@MrDrunkhellokitty
January 10, 2024 at 10:50 am
That Kanzuri has a huge mark up. Also, while it’s true that it’s only produced in one region (Myoko city in Niigata), it’s pretty widely available in high end grocery or specialty food stores all over Japan. That small jar is sold for 650 yen, a bit less than 4 pounds. Being an imported product, I would expect it to be around double in price, but maybe inflation is affecting the price as well (Japan seems to have been spared the worst of inflation so far).
If you find yourself in Japan once the borders open, I recommend going to depachika, or department store basements. They often have a food halls with both fresh prepared items and specialty grocery items. It’s a great place to find gifts if you love food. You’ll likely be able to pick up Kanzuri at a much more reasonable price there too.
@frauleinlindgren8200
January 10, 2024 at 10:50 am
Jamie really is excellent in describing aromas and tast
@faatman42
January 10, 2024 at 10:50 am
That lemon dust would work well to add to creams so you don't curdle them. Mike should know that since he messed that up in a few of his battles.
@victoriarivera8226
January 10, 2024 at 10:50 am
After they tried an Italian, and a Japanese ingredient, I WAS expecting them to have a German ingredient…;_;
@phantomthread4385
January 10, 2024 at 10:50 am
Got my grey mullet bottega from the Eataly sale in London. £4. There's still more left if anyone wants.
@Luckmann
January 10, 2024 at 10:50 am
Honestly, I had just been thinking that "man, I wish I had freeze-dried lemon". I'm not a professional at all, but I can think of so many things I'd like to try.
@abrahamwelday1744
January 10, 2024 at 10:50 am
Det är bra
@wesleyyoder4953
January 10, 2024 at 10:50 am
I feel like niche to us foreign ingredients don't have a place in this format. Love the videos, but this one didn't feel like a pretentious ingredients video. Lemon powder is more what I would expect.
@wetryanycheesedotcom
January 10, 2024 at 10:50 am
I just wanted to say how much I appreciate the quality of the food in this video – the food team are really working their socks off! Any one of these dishes could be a video alone…
@rainydays9967
January 10, 2024 at 10:50 am
Jamie referencing TGI Fridays is the most normal of normal that we all don’t want to be but know we are 😂
@paulschubert6422
January 10, 2024 at 10:50 am
Would powdered lemon for 9 pounds for that much powdered lemon be cheaper then fresh lemon juice or bottled lemon juice?
@AcediaJake
January 10, 2024 at 10:50 am
I loved every ingredient in this. They all felt like innovations in spice or flavoring. The lemon powder gave me so many baking ideas.
@kinagrill
January 10, 2024 at 10:50 am
THe lemon powder don't seem to be pretentious at all to me. It's basically just lemon juice that got dehydrated to the point of freeze-dry levels of no moisture so you just have the powdery stuff instead. It doesn't try to be something it isn't, same with the packaging. It just feels more niché.
@isabellanoren70
January 10, 2024 at 10:50 am
A bit late but it would be cool if you could make a video that explains the industrialized fishing industry and the problems of bycatch. If you could highlight the actual problem with commercialized fishing instead of just asking the question "how do you accidently catch a dolphine" when at least 300,000 are caught and killed every year in bycatch
@endoun8680
January 10, 2024 at 10:50 am
Would love to see if the Ichiran instant noodles are pretentious or not, cause they cost as much, as a serving in a restaurant
@girlsdrinkfeck
January 10, 2024 at 10:50 am
if its regional specific its not pretentious ,just harder to get
@melissapetz625
January 10, 2024 at 10:50 am
I need a recipe to the lemon and black tea truffles… Looks amazing!