It's the question on everyone's lips
Queer Eye is back, and if you’ve not tuned in yet, log into your Netflix account ASAP and get bingeing, because this is the most wholesome viewing you’re going to have all year. The slick reboot of ’00 show Queer Eye for the Straight Guy features a brand new Fab Five – coaches who each perform their own brand of makeovers – but this time the show has got woke, touching on LGBTQ rights and social commentary. The only show that could destroy toxic masculinity and teach you how to make a planter in under an hour, Queer Eye has already been a huge success, with fans already rallying for a second series just days after the release of the first.
Even so, one thing that viewers are polarised on is the brand new ‘food and wine’ expert, Antoni Porowski, and more specifically whether he can actually cook. In an interview Antoni revealed that before the show he was a a sommelier and food consultant, but due to the simple recipes he’s teaching, the Twitterverse is not convinced.
Wow, thanks to Queer Eye's Antoni for teaching me how to make this simple but elegant antipasto plate for when guests are coming over! pic.twitter.com/2TxOFB82gG
— Mitch Feltscheer (@mitchfel) February 14, 2018
Throughout the series we see Antoni picking fairly simple recipes. In episode one he shows Tex-Mex connoisseur Tom to make his own guacamole (essentially just mashed avocados and lime juice). In another episode we had glorified cheese toasties – hardly the complex recipes you’d expect from the expert of all things food. Of course, the reason the recipes are simple is that his clients generally need to take baby steps to improve their lifestyle – but Twitter is convinced that Antoni can’t really cook.
I'm an Antoni truther. I don't think that man can cook.
— Ali B. The B stands for "Black Panther" (@wtflanksteak) February 22, 2018
i'm skeptical of whether antoni can cook at all
— clocked at chopt (@thedahammel) February 20, 2018
Ok I’m still loving the new #QueerEye but did Antoni do ANYTHING the whole season beside telling us to put cilantro in our margaritas?
— dave (@davidtimm22) February 18, 2018
Some have noticed his mad skills seem restricted to avo-based dishes:
The new Queer Eye is like…a body positive hug wrapped up in an embrace that deconstructs toxic masculinity and sometimes that Antoni guy is like hey this is how you cut an avocado
5 stars
— Alisha Rai (@AlishaRai) February 17, 2018
Whilst some have spotted that his and Bobby’s contribution is ever-so-slightly uneven:
The division of labour on queer eye is very uneven. Bobby has to redo an entire house by himself & Antoni teaches them how to make a sandwich.
— Leila Latif (@Leila_Latif) February 19, 2018
But many don’t seem to care:
Antoni from Queer Eye: "Today I'm going to show you how to make Ramen Noodles."
Everyone: pic.twitter.com/vj5ja7M90c
— Brian Moylan (@BrianJMoylan) February 20, 2018
Others have been offering up their own dishes of a similar calibre.
i gotta say, this is definitely the best dish antoni served up on queer eye for the straight guy! pic.twitter.com/LJHvk0KQno
— eric eidelstein (@ericeidelstein) February 19, 2018
Or comparing his skills to other, really difficult things…
is this antoni from queer eye pic.twitter.com/Y96NIEsAim
— chip skylark (@scotty_13_) February 22, 2018
Is this Antoni from Queer Eye? pic.twitter.com/Qo9WGrXYFb
— Colm (@clommy) February 22, 2018
Antoni himself has taken the ribbing in good faith, responding to articles about his food-based competence in good grace:
— Antoni Porowski (@antoni) February 21, 2018