The other day I caught the pilot episode for Kitchen Nightmares. It is the latest show featuring Chef Gordon Ramsey, the aggressive and obnoxious chef from Hell’s Kitchen.
You might wonder why I’d watch such an “in your face” show and recommend it on my blog. But what I found fascinating about the show was quite motivating and should I say, a bit inspirational?
The point of the show is for successful Chef Ramsey to enter a floundering restaurant and put his formula to work reforming the failing restaurant into a raging success.
To start, he gets the lowdown on what the owners are doing beforehand. So he walks in, like any other customer, sits down and orders a meal. However, with an uncensored critical eye, he breaks apart each step of the dining experience, from atmosphere to cold crab cakes. His sneers and snide remarks make even the viewer at home glad they aren’t paying for a meal in the establishment.
However, the real magic happens when Ramsey begins putting his formula to work. Although he yells through much of his advice making, gems such as “The only way I can help is if I know the bad news! And the faster I know it the better!!” Cuts through the normal hide your head in the sand habits of loser managers.
His attention to details of each plate as they leave the kitchen are almost distracting. He cranes his neck several times during the show as if he’s checking out some attractive woman in a bikini when you suddenly realize he’s scrutinizing the meals as waiters serve them.
His obsession with atmosphere, appearance and taste of each single meal is a clue to his success.
You can stream the first episode on Fox on demand
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This show is fantastic! I really couldn’t watch the other show he had on, but this has become an instant favorite of mine after a single episode!
If you like the American version you have to see the BBC version. It blows away the American show as it has much less of the macho BS and much more education for the restaurantuers. Check it out and you will be glad you did. I almost wanted to get back into restaurant consultation after watching it, and it is one of the few shows I watch off the Tivo.
Tom, you’ve got me interested. Is there a place to get episodes?
P.S. Green burgers kill people!!!!
We have DirecTv and Tivo and the shows are on BBC America, channel 264 I think.
I hope that helps.
Tom
Did anyone see they red glowing eyes on lastnight’s episode of Kitchen Nightmares?
I saw red glowing eyes! Scared the bajezus out of me. I thought I was going crazy.
Yeah, what are those glowing eyes about anyways? Is it a Terminator movie marketing buzz tactic -or- some weird White Noise ghost occurrence?
Could be a Terminator movie, but definitely a Fox-wide marketing buzz. (The fact that we are writing about it suggests that some buzz has been generated.) I read on Television Withou Pity that other shows on the Network have the same glowing red eyes!
Every Thurs. BBC America. It is my favorite show. It is much better than the Fox version. I’m glad other professionals are taking something of value and applying it. I was thinking I was the only one.
in regards to the glowing red eyes… it seems as if it’s a marketing technique to promote a new show on Fox scheduled to premier in January… the Sarah Connor Chronicles.
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