Despite my cynicism and pessimism, I’ve always rather liked Jamie Oliver. I like his enthusiasm, his recipes tend be tasty and realistic for anyone to make - and they work.
His new magazine Jamie is a beautifully-produced thing, like a really good clothing catalogue. Very pretty, but not much in it for me, I thought, as I flicked through the second issue but then I came to an article called ‘Meet Dennis’ which stopped me in my tracks.
First I thought this man was an artist. Then I started reading and found he was a tramp. I was expecting something twee and patronising, but Jamie’s story of his encounter with Dennis made me stop and think about what is really important to me. Dennis had no home and almost no money or possessions but he was carrying an £8 loaf of bread, a bread Jamie describes as the best bread in the world. He quizzed Dennis on why he had it. He replied “it’s the best bread on the street”.
I wrote to the magazine saying how I thought they’d pitched the tone of this piece just right - and that I wanted to rip these pages out and frame them. The editor wrote back and thanked me and told me not to rip the pages out but I had to wait and see why. Bit mysterious.
This morning a HUGE parcel arrived at our house. It was a large photo of Dennis and Jamie that Jamie’s had on his office wall for five years. He signed it and sent it to me. I am insanely touched.
So my hunch was right, Jamie is a very good bloke indeed.
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