Ep 1. Fish & Shellfish

Two Fat Ladies is a cooking show that first aired in 1996 and ran for four seasons. The show featured two larger-than-life English women, Jennifer Paterson and Clarissa Dickson Wright, who traveled across the UK on a Triumph Thunderbird motorcycle and sidecar, cooking up a storm in various kitchens and outdoor settings along the way.

Season 1 episode 1 is titled "Fish & Shellfish," and it features the Two Fat Ladies preparing a delicious seafood feast. The episode begins with Clarissa and Jennifer arriving at a trout farm in Scotland, where they catch their own fish for the meal. They then head to the coast to gather some shellfish, including oysters, mussels, and crabs.

In the first recipe of the episode, Clarissa and Jennifer demonstrate how to cook trout in a salt crust. They mix together a combination of flour, salt, and water to make a dough, which they then wrap around the cleaned and scaled trout. The fish is placed in a hot oven and left to cook for around 30 minutes. The salt crust helps to keep the fish moist while it cooks, and the result is a tender, flavorful, and impressive-looking dish.

The second recipe is a simple and delicious seafood stew. The Two Fat Ladies start by sautéing onions and garlic in olive oil, before adding in the mussels, crabs, and some white wine. They let the shellfish cook until they open up and release their juices, creating a delicious broth. They then add some tomatoes, herbs, and fish stock to the pot, along with chunks of fish and prawns. The stew simmers for a few minutes until the fish is cooked through, and is then served with crusty bread and a dollop of aioli.

The final recipe of the episode is for oysters Rockefeller, a classic dish that was created in New Orleans in the late 1800s. Clarissa and Jennifer prepare the dish with a British twist, using smoked Irish salmon instead of bacon to top the oysters. They mix together a combination of spinach, herbs, bread crumbs, and butter, before spooning the mixture onto the oysters and baking them in the oven until they are bubbling and golden.

Throughout the episode, Clarissa and Jennifer are their usual charming, irreverent selves, joking around and having fun as they cook. They also offer some interesting tidbits about the history and culture behind the dishes they are making, such as the fact that oysters used to be considered a food for the poor, and were traditionally eaten with beer rather than champagne.

Overall, Two Fat Ladies season 1 episode 1 is a fun and engaging cooking show that showcases some delicious seafood recipes. Whether you're a seasoned cook or a seafood novice, there's plenty to learn and enjoy in this episode, and Clarissa and Jennifer's infectious personalities will keep you entertained from start to finish.