Kitchen Nightmares: No Rats Allowed Episode 2 Recap by J.G. Bird
September 27, 2007
Gordon Ramsay airs a Manhattan restaurant's dirty laundry in this episode of Kitchen Nightmares.
Besides FOX's medical drama, House, and the several years in syndicated re-runs of Malcolm in the Middle, watching a FOX network show is an oddity for me. So, besides being curious about the show's title, I provide an overview of this show as a Hell's Kitchen virgin. I don't take the BBC satellite channels, so I only know the U.K. version, Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares by name alone.
Dillons is in the heart of Broadway, but even from the outside, it seems like a dubious Manhattan hole in the wall. Finding bugs or rat droppings in a dark corner or basement seems not so out of the realm of possibility. Ramsay and the camera crews will document more than what one wants to see.
Ramsay has either scoped out this near neighbor to his own Manhattan kitchen ahead of time, or he is tipped off by the chintzy décor and completely vacant dining room at the lunch hour.
The presence of a fly or two in the dining room is more than an annoyance. If Ramsay wasn't ordering lunch, he might be in the mood to make a "waiter there's a fly…" joke. The Chef orders a vegetable appetizer plate, and it ends up having a fritter of some kind that includes meat. He orders a beef dish and cannot identify the meat that he cuts into. The kitchen help later describes it as possibly, "old lamb." Ugh! The maintenance man, um, Operations Manager despairs that Chef Ramsay has ordered the one dish that is not on-hand: Salmon. And when the General Manager swoops in from the back of the kitchen (perhaps from the basement) with frozen salmon steak, it's actually the maintenance guy who cooks it up. The Indian chefs do not know how to prepare American fare. What?!
Jenna, a young Caucasian waitress offers an air of sweetness, but is apologetically astute. Almost before Ramsay has put the food in his mouth, (he's audibly, sarcastically praying to maintain his good health before taking a bite of the mystery food) she's offering to question the cooks. Already, I'm thinking she'd make a better general manager
Martin holds the important sounding title, General Manager, but he is the magnet for Ramsay's spite moment-to-moment in this transformative week for the restaurant. One of his co-workers, Andrew, the Operations Manager, actually states that Martin seems suited to be in a reality program. Martin may be British, but he does have that Hollywood smarminess. His face reminds me of the character actor playing the landlord in the later Spiderman movies who said, "I have ears like a cat and the eyes of a rodent." And you know, one can't have rats in an eating establishment. This is the fellow that gave the production company and the network a way to market this second episode. As if claims of set-up shots and a lawsuit would hurt the producers of a Reality TV show. He really could turn this around still and try getting a job at FOX Television in viral marketing.
We are introduced to yet another manager of the barely operating restaurant, Khan, a young fellow who is concerned for his job as Floor Manager. Andrew, the Operations Manager, at least sees the need to pinch hit in this place. He's often switching roles as needed.
Mohammed Islaam, restaurant Dillon's owner, states he is losing $30,000 a month, and is willing to listen to all Ramsay recommends.
Day One - experiencing a normal dinner service is downright scary. A large prep dish is placed on the floor by one of the cooks - he absently stirs its contents (whatever it is) as it sits on the industrial floor mats in front of the stove area. Everyone drawn into the kitchen when Ramsay points out this No-no, agrees this food handling is wrong, but no one seems capable to take the lead to correct the cooks.
The place certainly isn't bustling, but there's no orderliness to deal with the realities of getting orders delivered to tables with waiting customers. Two tables eventually get served. Yet others, still waiting after an hour and a half for ordered food, leave. The rest of the tables remain empty. Few of the managers are providing any direction. Ramsay spies how Martin's lack of participation is reinforced by some of the other staff while there's down-time. He's almost like a spoiled little boy, being coddled by a couple of the waitresses
The Day Two kitchen inspection.....
About J.G. Bird
J.G. Bird has been writing for three-quarters of a young lifetime. She works at a great metropolitan newspaper, but is only allowed to peer longingly into the test kitchen. Reality TV is that needed diversion after spending too much time preparing dinner in her own cramped kitchen at home. She does more than bake bread, yet doing that is impressive enough to her friends. Her portfolio can be found here. You may contact at walkinbird@writing.com.
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