Kitchen Nightmares: The Meek Shall Inherit The Restaurant Commentary by Maja Seif
October 15, 2007
The October 10th episode of Kitchen Nightmares on FOX featured Ramsay bluntly telling owners of the Seascape Inn in Islip, New York, that they must fire their chefs if he is to help them to improve their restaurant, or as Ramsay put it, they must tell them to "take off."
Ramsay has implied this at other times on other episodes, both FOX and U.K. versions - he has suggested it. I have never seen him, however, plainly say that they must go or he cannot help them. I didn't know if it was something Ramsay might do or if he saw putting it so bluntly as crossing some line. And then I thought, "Ramsay gingerly about bluntness? Silly me!"
Of course he would do it. He's just never had so much reason to do so before. Usually, the chefs are glad to have him in their kitchens. Of course, most of these Nightmares shows have been done in the U.K. where Ramsay is widely known as the world's best chef according to the well-respected, mostly-European Michelin Guide.
There's usually nervousness at him being there - true. The chefs and owners want so much to impress Ramsay and are often crushed when he returns with his sharp critiques of the cuisine and dining experience. Of course, it doesn't take long for them to remember, it seems, that the criticism along with suggestions for change are exactly why Ramsay has been invited to these restaurants in the first place. So they tolerate his lack of gentleness and often listen hard for clues to success.
In one UK episode, a French chef in a Scottish restaurant who has already worked in a 2-Michelin Star restaurant and has trained with many of Ramsay's contemporaries - is extremely resistant to Ramsay's suggestions. The chef sees himself as Ramsay's equal and not in need of suggestions on the preparation of food. Ramsay has to pull some fancy moves to get French chef to listen - including twice secretly inviting former Michelin inspectors to sample Frenchy's cuisine and then hearing them mimic the exact same criticisms Ramsay himself has given the stubborn, though all-conceded talented, chef.
Frenchy never appeared to be rude or crude toward Ramsay throughout the process, though his resisitance to Ramsay's prodding for change was clear. At times during the episode, we even hear Ramsay in a voice-over say, "He thinks I've stitched him up..." and "We'll never be best mates." The worst we saw Frenchy do, however, was ask Ramsay to wait to demonstrate something while French chef took care of some things for the coming evening.
Now - back to the FOX episode of October 10th: Chef Doug of the Seascape Inn in Islet, New York, even before Ramsay even sampled their food, was shown making it known that he felt slighted by the idea of "another chef" coming in to his restaurant to look at what might be improved, and that he basically didn't care what Ramsay might have to say. "Gordon - coming here? To me, it's like a slap in the face."
Gordon orders, among other dishes which are visibly disgusting, crab cakes - a standard for Ramsay in a new restaurant. We watch as Chef Doug removes a plate of two soggy-looking crab cakes from a microwave. At that moment, I was wishing I had someone to place bets with - my bet was on Ramsay's superhuman palate, 10-to-1, being able to taste micro-waves as they permeated the fish patties.
I was glad I had no one to bet with a moment later, because though I was close, it wasn't the invisible microwaves that Ramsay tasted on the fish, it was the fact that they were previously frozen that he could detect. When the waitress makes Chef Doug aware of that fact that Gordon can taste that the cakes were previously frozen, he first seems surprised and says, "Oh yeah?" and then quickly recovers from his brief display of concern with, "Fuck him."
The episode pretty much goes on this way, though Chef Doug's sous chef, Charlie, is shown lining up behind his boss at some point, telling Ramsay, "Whatever..." after Gordon rightfully points out that Charlie has burned a piece of fish. This is when Ramsay pulls the plug and gives the ultimatum to the owners - they go or Ramsay does. The owners make the smarter choice and we finally have an episode of restaurant improvements underway.
What a contrast.....
Maja Seif is a freelance writer residing in the Sacramento, California area. Holder of a B.A. in Journalism, she has published feature articles in Outword Magazine and has experience writing political news and opinion pieces, as well as marketing material. Reality television is one of her favorite diversions, so writing for Reality TV Calendar is a perfect combination of two of her hobbies. You can reach her at: maja.m.seif@gmail.com
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