Confessions of a Nigella Lawson addict

August 27, 2012 by
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Nigella Lawson

In a recent article in The Observer, Viv Groskop confesses to being a Nigella Lawson addict. In a world where the Kardashians and other non-notable celebrities receive far too much press, we’re happy to find someone who adores a celebrity for all of the good things she brings (besides her photogenic qualities).

For example, Groskop writes: “Her approach to food (and life) is decadent, abundant, over-the-top, no-expense-spared. If ever I’m feeling miserable, I only have to leaf through one of her books for life to seem bearable again. She has taught me to trust my instincts. Where once I followed her instructions slavishly, now I tweak. It’s how she’d want it.”

And she prefers Nigella the author to Nigella the on-camera celebrity:  “The way she comes across in the books feels real. She’s not playing to the camera, she’s just being herself. Nigella the food writer is a more complicated, nuanced person, someone you could be friends with and who would surprise you and annoy you and delight you and make you laugh and bake you brownies if you were going through a bad patch.”

But even apart from the warmth of the article, this is worth reading just for the story of the occasion on which Groskop met her idol, and embarrassed herself horribly. It could happen to any of us – and makes for one of the funniest stories we’ve read in a long time.

And if you’re tempted to make any of the recipes that Groskop so lovingly describes, you can easily search for them in our large collection of indexed Nigella Lawson cookbooks.

Category: Food Biz People

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5 Comments

  • Jane  on  August 27, 2012

    Very funny article. I'm sure I'd completely embarrass myself too if I ever meet her as I'm a complete Nigella fanatic. I have bought every book as soon as it was published and cook from them probably more than any other author (especially when baking). In fact I just made the famous Nutella cake today for a bake sale. I do find her a bit over the top in her TV shows but in print she is perfect. And one of the best compliments someone ever paid me was when I was told I looked like her! Or maybe they meant my cake looked like hers!

  • mummybunny2005  on  August 28, 2012

    That is indeed a shocking (but very funny!) encounter. But Nigella herself has written about her own embarrassments without a huge amount of kicking herself so I hope Viv has lived it down. Totally agree with the article – I'm a Nigella addict myself and have Nigellissima on pre-order from Amazon, and I find her tone in her books so much more pleasurable than the one on TV. Her persona in the Nigella Bites days was so much more "real" to use Viv's word – I blame the producers for making her camp it up since then. But of course I will watch her new show as soon as it comes out.

  • Christine  on  August 28, 2012

    Great article! I can't say I'm addicted myself, but I do LOVE her How to be a Domestic Goddess book. Though this conversation is making me consider checking out some of her other books. Can anyone recommend a favorite?

  • Jane  on  August 29, 2012

    'How to Eat' was her first and so covers a lot of the basics and has good menus. 'Feast' is great for entertaining and special occasions. 'Forever Summer' I cook a lot from, I like that style of food. 'Nigella Bites' hasn't made a huge impression though it does contain my daughter's annual birthday cake – Chocolate Fudge Cake. 'Nigella Express' is good fast food. 'Nigella Christmas' is as it sounds – I do most of my Christmas cooking from it. 'Nigella Kitchen' is the newest and I confess I haven't cooked a lot from it yet. Probably the one you already have, "Domestic Goddess' is my overall favorite but I wouldn't be without any of them.

  • Christine  on  August 30, 2012

    Thanks Jane, they each seem to cover a certain specialty, so I'll have to check them out for myself!

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