Saturday Kitchen guest star and toastie shop owner Kate Carter-Larg has slammed critics of her outfit after viewers of the cooking programme deemed it “inappropriate”.
Carter-Larg, 35, and husband Sam, 39, who co-own the Cheesy Toast Shack in coastal Scotland, were invited to join host Matt Tebbutt to celebrate “National Cheese Toastie Day”.
Opposed to the more conventional wardrobe choices of her fellow guests, Carter-Larg opted for a low-cut tube top while showing off her signature mac ‘n’ cheese toastie.
Viewers were quick to complain about her outfit on social media, some being particularly distracted by her repeated adjusting of the top.
One viewer fumed: “I can’t concentrate on the show for worrying about her top falling down. She’s pulling and tugging it as it keeps slipping #SaturdayKitchen.”
Another complained: “Someone hand her an apron! No one is listening to what they have to say…just waiting for the top to fall #SaturdayKitchen.”
Carter-Larg and her husband on Saturday Kitchen
BBC
Carter-Larg was quick to respond to the fallout on her eatery’s TikTok account, sarcastically reading off some of the more outlandish complaints.
“Seriously, who do they think they are commenting on what a woman should wear? It’s not the 1950s, it’s 2024,” she fumed.
Carter-Larg also spoke to the Daily Star about the ordeal, telling the publication: “The comments have been awful; you just can’t win.”
Despite the naysayers, the toastie tycoon remained upbeat, joking: “It’s not like I wore a thong and nipple tassels – but that’s how everyone is reacting.”
She continued: “I thought I was going on TV to show off our toasties – I didn’t even think about my arms being on show!”
Carter-Larg believes she can brush off the comments because she developed a “thick skin” but is concerned about others experiencing similar backlash in the future.
“People wanted to concentrate on trying to pull a woman down very publicly. It’s really not okay to troll people, as much as I can take it, not everybody can,” she protested.
Carter-Larg and her husband have been running the award-winning Cheesy Toast Shack in St Andrews, Scotland since 2016.
The beachside business has previously been ranked street vendor of the year and Scottish street finalists.
As well as feeding toastie fans, the couple also raise money each month for Alzheimer’s UK.
Reflecting on her TV appearance, Carter-Larg said: “It’s a shame and really sad none of that was even touched upon. It was brushed under the carpet.”
Using the media storm as a platform, she wants to make her and her husband’s toastie shop “bigger and better”.
“We love being down in St Andrews ourselves and seeing our regulars and meeting new faces. We are very grateful to our customers and amazing staff.”
