First, a survey:
If you live in the States, it's possible that you have no idea who Sophie Dahl is, unless you somehow have access to BBC2, the network that broadcasts her new cookery program The Delicious Miss Dahl. But our British readers are sure to have heard of her as her show has created quite a stir with the critics. Apparently, that's not unusual for Ms. Dahl, who is a former model with a sexy, scandalous past that includes having a bra named after her.
Ms. Dahl grew up in a famous family. Her grandfather is the author Roald Dahl (James and the Giant Peach, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, The Fantastic Mr. Fox) who was married to the American actress Patricia Neal, Ms. Dahl's grandmother. She was the inspiration for the little girl Sophie in his book The BFG and her aunt Ophelia Dahl is the director and co-founder of Doctors Without Borders.
Sophie Dahl has written a companion cookbook book to her show called Miss Dahl's Voluptuous Delights, which was just released in the US. The book is part recipes and part memoir, with a similar vintage/hodge-podge look. It seems to be quite popular with home cooks in the UK, with many five star reviews on the Amazon.co.uk site.
Oh, and we're sorry to report that the pretty kitchen used in the series does not actually belong to Ms. Dahl. While it's not unusual for TV cookery shows to have staged kitchens, this is a little disappointing since she seems so relaxed and at home there. It is interesting to see what the kitchen looks like now, stripped of the wallpaper and hydrangeas. You can find photos and more on this story on the Daily Mail website, here.
Watch a Video: The Delicious Miss Dahl clip, cooking Rhubarb Rosewater Eaton Mess, on YouTube.
Buy the Book: Miss Dahl's Voluptuous Delights by Sophie Dahl, $22.14 at Amazon.com
Related: Kitchen Tour: Scott and Ray's Colorful 9-Year Renovation
(Images: BBC2)
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She wrote a novel, too. It's called "Playing with the grown-ups", I think - I liked it. Her cooking activities (book, show) look nice but I hope she'll get back to writing fiction some time!
ps: I like her kitchen, too. Cosy and nice, and kind of refreshing in this age of obsession with decluttering.
I like the kitchen, it's lovely, but all I can think is "Oh my goodness! All that counterspace that I could USE if it wasn't covered in STUFF!" and cry a little, because while I can cook in my 4 square feet of counterspace, it would be a lot easier with more.
In Britain people have been saying (me included) that the programme is far too sickeningly cutesy (she reads poetry and visits graveyards and railway stations in between cooking-each episode is based on a mood like 'nostalgia' and 'romance') but that might be the natural pessimism coming out! There's some good recipes though and I like her kitchen and the attached garden.
Is it me or are the counters really low?
She's really tall - 5ft 11 !
I think a lot of people in the States might actually know Sophie Dahl because she was a pretty high profile model in the '90s.
Then there was a furor over her YSL Opium ad (2000ish?) where she is supine and naked which eventually had to be taken down from bus shelters and public billboards. I think she branched out into other things right after that.
But she's so skinny now it's like looking at a different person. She used to be like a size 16!
The counters do look really low, but I also think she's just really tall. And probably in heels, at least kitten heels. I'm 5'10" and my counters don't hit too much higher than that if I'm in heels.
Plus they seem to be taking a Giada De Laurentis approach that everything tastes better with cleavage. That approach benefits from low counters to bend over.
The before/after pictures certainly show how accessories and/or wallpaper can transform a room! Wow. I like it both ways) actually, but I'd rather have less clutter in my own kitchen.
Seems like all those flowers would not mix well with food smells, like scented candles.
http://thesweetest3.com/
The kitchen is a delight, but yes, way too cluttered. I would never be able to focus with all that crud on the counter. Am not at all surprised she rented out someone elses kitchen, in my old haunt no less..crouch end has some lovely spaces.
saer
http://cravenmaven.wordpress.com
Sorry, I know that this is a poll about her kitchen, but I just have to say that her show is DEAD BORING. And she can't cook for nuts. That said, I like the cleaner, white kitchen better.
Sophie Dahl also writes for Waitrose magazine (a UK supermarket) - one of her articles is here: http://www.waitrose.com/food/celebritiesandarticles/cookingandrecipeideas/2009/May/model_tea.aspx and a few of her recipes can be found at the site too...
I was very disappointed by the TV programme - far too long with her lingering in graveyards and poking cheese in shops (with no assistant in sight), and not enough time spent cooking. At least with Nigella's programmes if she's cooking for others, then you see that she's found up some friends - even cooking for 2, Miss Dahl curls up on a sofa to read a book - with no sign of the other half!
Less counter equals more Sophie! It seems we are split on whether that is a good thing!
Sophie is married to a jazz singer...can't remember his name....Jamie something.....he's short........................anyway, he'll be rubbing her back with his piano playing hands after she's spent all day leaning down to her benchtops. Ouch.
So not on topic, but she has amazing skin!
I like the kitchen too, but i would probably go for less stuff standing around for the sake of practicality.
@ Melbourne Paula - Jamie Cullum - the jazz pixie. It doesn't seem like a usual match when you consider her previous romantic links... Apparently they got married in January - here's a picture of the two of them together with article about the wedding: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1242316/Sophie-Dahl-marries-Jamie-Cullum-secret-winter-wonderland-wedding.html
It's nice but I can't cook in a space with so much clutter. Also the shelf in the first picture looks like it might be bending a little in the middle...
I just LOVE the show! The delicious recipes, the kitchen, the stories that go along with the food telled in a very poetic way...Sophie gives us the rare possibility to see inteligence and sensibility presented in a very pleasant way. Great!