The popular Gary Eats YouTube channel, run by Gary Hanna, made a comparison between the food in the bars that Jeremy Clarkson and James May frequented.
A food critic has put two three-course meals from Jeremy Clarkson and James May’s respective pubs head-to-head – and declared a winner. Gary Hanna, behind the popular Gary Eats YouTube channel, set out to test the fare on offer at the former Top Gear presenters’ venues ultimately crowning one as champion.
As he kicked off his challenge outside May’s pub, The Royal Oak in Swallowcliffe, Wiltshire, Gary, who claimed he’d been to both venues before and even featured them in his book, called them “superstars.”
He said he’d score each venue out of 50, with categories including ambience, service, starter, main and dessert each worth 10 points. He joked that fellow Grand Tour host Richard Hammond has “got to buy a pub” too.
Gary ordered pork, venison and pistachio terrine for £9.50 and flat iron steak for £28 while sipping a pint of the local bitter. In fairness, he noted that he would aim to try “very similar” dishes at both restaurants.
He praised the “stunning pub” and remarked the service had been “up there” before his terrine arrived. Tasting the dish, Gary highlighted the venison’s “punchy flavour” and the “rich and creamy” celeriac, calling it “bang on”.
Before tasting the “light” onion rings, Gary was surprised by the thickness of the steak when it arrived. The ring was deemed one of the best he’d ever tasted because he was so impressed.
Gary said the restaurant chain with the same name (Flat Iron) “doesn’t produce steak that classy,” and that Gary liked the steak dish at the bar. He continued, calling the sauce “absolutely gorgeous.”
He praised the “incredibly light” sponge and “lovely flavor” of the £9 sticky toffee pudding, saying the sauce was “too sweet” but that the sauce was “too sweet.”
Gary then made his way to Clarkson’s establishment, The Farmer’s Dog, near Burford, Oxfordshire, and Gary was swift to observe that the venue was bustling as he looked over the menu.
Repeating his earlier choice, Gary opted for the ham hock terrine for £12 before choosing the gammon steak with crushed new potatoes and roasted vegetables as his main course for £22.
He characterised the pub as possessing a more “modern feel” in contrast to the “traditional” touches of The Royal Oak, though he remarked that he appreciated both venues before his food and a pint of Hawkstone Harvest arrived.
He noted that it was “pretty good” and that it was “very nice” when he tasted his terrine, which he described as “very nice” and “excellent.” The gammon was “certainly not a small piece,” it was then.
Gary praised the “perfect piece,” pointing out the “lovely saltiness” and noting that it was “super tender.” Finally, he purchased an apple crumble for £12, calling the apple “the star of the show” and declaring it to be “really good.”
Gary gave May 9 points and Clarkson 8 points as their starters, rounding up the results. Both the main courses and the puddings earned Clarkson 9 and 9.5 points, while he gave it an edge by pointing out that Clarkson had edged it.
After Gary turned his attention to the “family” at May’s establishment, Clarkson received 9, and Gary received 10, before both were given full marks of 10 for service.
