Two Fat Ladies

I'm so thrilled that this is finally on DVD in the US. I received my DVD set yesterday after having pre-ordered and already watched several of the episodes. What a shame that they weren't able to go on and have a longer run. Their show was one of a kind and there will never be another cooking pair matched up such as them.

Jennifer and Clarissa are such fun to watch, and their interactions with the people they visit are wonderful. They are truly special, and in me, they will always have a fan.

So said the delightful, departed Jennifer Paterson as she and her chum Clarissa whipped up a batch of vichyssoise. This is a wonderfully entertaining show, that rare cooking show where what was being made sometimes took a backseat to the antics of the show's stars. Their glee is contagious.
The Food Network edited these episodes significantly; some were seen unedited in the US on PBS. Hopefully these discs will contain full episodes. Most of what was cut turned out to be the gals bashing neighboring countries ("The only good thing the Dutch ever came up with was cocoa"). As Jennifer would say, "Never mind." We can handle it.

What a wonderful release -- I received an advance copy, and can report that this DVD set is a real treat!

Here's a disc-by-disc breakdown (all episodes are about 29 minutes long):

Disc 1 (173 min.): Fish & Shellfish, Meat, Fruits & Vegetables, Cakes, Game, Food in the Wild

Disc 2 (202 min.): Lunch, Cocktail Party, Afternoon Tea, Picnic, Breakfast, Dinner, Christmas Dinner

Disc 3 (202 min.): Benedictine Nuns, The Pony Club, The Cambridge Eight, Barristers, The Air Race, Lock Keepers, A Caribbean Christmas

Disc 4 (154 min.): Potatoes Galore, On Safari, Timber!, A Day at the Races + the Bonus Program "A Tribute to Jennnifer Paterson"

This set includes all 24 full-length episodes of Two Fat Ladies (didn't Food Network cut out several minutes to fit this show into a 30-minute slot?) plus a wonderful 38-minute special about the life of Jennifer Paterson and an 8-page booklet with eight recipes featured in the series. Five stars all the way!!

I agree with the previous reviewer. This was one of the best shows in the Food Network schedule. Of course that was in it's 'heyday' when FN was showing real cooks not just pretty faces. The ladies were always at their finest. I can't wait to get this DVD set. I have a few episodes that I taped years ago and relish watching them.

Ms. Hornaday's review is very good and accurate so all I will add is this: this cooking show is the best. It is well worth the price and then some. The Two Fat Ladies is something you have to experience and you will be delighted. I just love this show.