I didn’t see the first series of BBC’s The Restaurant, even though it’s about food, it didn’t really appeal to my taste in programmes. However, I recently got talking to one of this series’ contestants and hearing all about it from his point of view, I just had to watch it!
Richard Hammond and his partner Scott have survived their first night with Sorbets & Seasons and there are plenty more challenges to come ahead.
I asked Richard what it was really like filming the programme?
” It was very interesting, very much reality TV, it’s not so much about running a restaurant”. Days are long during filming which starts at 7am, “we missed lots of meals, one lady lost 2 stone in weight, that’s how stressful and difficult it was, you just don’t have time to eat”. “It wasn’t what I thought it was going to be but I’m really pleased we did it”.
“The camera crew are there from morning till night, they follow you everywhere, they followed us around Waitrose, around Wicks while we were choosing wallpaper”. “You think, you know I’ve got a dead line, Scott’s got to get back in the kitchen and we’re faffing about filming”. “There was one time I had to do a survey to ask people about menus and what food they like”, ” and so of course when they see you walking towards them with a camera and food etc, it’s like a parting of the seas, they all run away, it’s really difficult!”.
What were your experiences of meeting Raymond Blanc?
“You don’t see him a huge amount, only on the 2 days per week when you’re filming”,”to be honest he was very fair to us, he came across as a very nice guy”. “It’s all about TV though, you can be in the middle of a conversation and all of a sudden they say stop, let’s do that again, it’s very frustrating”.
All this marvelous exposure can only do Richard good, as anyone who digs a little deeper, will know that Richard is also director of drinks company Mile High Drinks, debuting in Waitrose on 22nd September.
Mile High drinks was conceived by Stuart Roberts and Richard, who first met when Stuart & his wife were hairdressing clients of Richard and who later lived next door. Stuart had been developing a ‘feel-good’ drink to help combat the ‘during and after’ effects of flying, and Richard, an ex BA flight attendant, with vast experience and contacts in the aviation world, got the trials they needed to prove it really worked.
What makes this drink different from other health drinks?
“The extremely high anti-oxidant content”, “trials showed it to have the highest level of anti-oxidants in comparison with other natural fruit drinks trialled”, “it is so good for you on a daily basis, I have one everyday”. The Mile High website also states that the drink contains ingredients that have proven to be of benefit to: the digestive system, circulation, the immune system, travel sickness and nausea.
Are you introducing any further varieties?
“A ‘Smile’ High kid’s version because there’s nothing healthy for kids to drink on board an aircraft”. “It’s 100% natural, just like the adult version but we thought children could have something trendy and funky, and that parents know is good for them when they’re flying”.
Although aimed at flyers, other applications for the drinks include, provision by the airlines themselves, use in gyms, use by everyday people as a supplement to their diet, even as a mixer in night clubs.
Mile High drinks is clearly on it’s way with the imminent launch in Waitrose and filming of The Restaurant is complete, so there has to be a ‘what’s next?’. Richard strikes me as a man who takes every opportunity that comes his way and sure enough there’s talk of more TV work in the near future and further development of the Mile High varieties.
Exciting times are on the horizon for Richard and you’ll have to watch the next episode of The Restaurant to find out how Richard and Scott get on.
For further info about Mile High drinks, take a look at the website.
