Kitchen Nightmares: Mixing It Up Episode 3 Recap by J.G. Bird
October 4, 2007
Bellmore Village is quintessential Long Island, New York. The town looks like the comfortable kind of area where gentrified New York families enjoy modernization and small town revitalization, but at slower paces than city living.
The Mixing Bowl Eatery is owner/chef Billy's baby. Considering what the near-failure of the business is bringing to his marriage, there could be a reason it is more like his baby than his actual family. His wife, Lisa works at the restaurant too, but she's predicting its demise.
Gordon Ramsay arrives at lunch time to peruse the surroundings and the menu of the eatery. He wastes no time it zeroing in on the foibles of the restaurant's manager. Mike, the manager, is a jovial guy. He's happy to introduce the menu to Gordon as a blend of nuveau American-fare focusing on salads and wraps. "Healthy. Like spa food?" Gordon queries. But next, out come a slew of jabs at Mike's expense.
"When was the last time you went to a spa?" Gordon eyes Mike's gut. Mike looks out of shape and up to 50 pounds beyond a healthful weight. "When was the last time you had a salad? Or stepped into a gym?" Mike seems surprised that the visiting chef is so focused on him. Later he states that Gordon is being intentionally intimidating, but Gordon's points do say something about a mixed message.
Mike also seems embarrassed after stating confidently to Gordon that there is no garlic in the North Atlantic Salmon presentation, later having the chef confirm that there is in the green beans. Gordon is at least happy that the ingredients taste fresh.
Gordon introduces himself to the chef and rapid-fire details the dislikes about the lunch fare he was served. He's most dismayed that there are no other customers.
The turnaround of this restaurant isn't nearly as involved nor does it require the surgical removal of a worker. But after just twelve hours of being in the restaurant, Gordon is ready to lay it out for the owners. With so-so food and no customers the place may as well close. So, he looks for a spark of fire left in its exhausted owners. Billy the chef says he will continue rather than close. Gordon insists that they find a passion, a purpose for it to live in its ten-year location.
Ramsay has done a little research. He documents for the staff of five that while there were only four restaurants on the main road in 1999 (two years after The Mixing Bowl opened), by 2007 there are forty-one. None of the staff, including the owners and the manager seemed aware of these demographic changes. The study signals some hope too. The concentration of gyms and sports facilities has also grown. And no one restaurant is offering a healthful alternative to regional cuisine.
The outer face of the restaurant is clean for a place that faces the main street, but its windows are cluttered with promotional signage. Gordon takes Mike to task for this failing. These professional signs are expensive to create, Gordon surmises. Mike seems to have a discount and offer for every season. The next day, Gordon starts out by running every promotional sign through a wood chipper as Mike watches. Mike declares Gordon Ramsay, "a madman!"
Chef Ramsay is concerned about the owner/chef's subdued presence. He doesn't say so until the end, but knows that Billy needs to step up into the energy of being a restaurateur, not just a man slaving over the grill. He has some fun with Billy, side-by-side in the kitchen. A fifteen ingredient, half-hour challenge shows Billy has technique and the drive to follow master chef Ramsey. Both of the resulting fish entrees look good.
The wait staff is comprised of a young woman named Kim; Billy's sister, Lynn, and Lisa, Billy's wife. Yet there does seem to be some unrest over the pompous and high-handed usurping of a large percentage of nightly tips by the manager, Mike. It seems to be for no good reason, and certainly not contractual.
There's no clear reason given for why Mike is part of this family restaurant business. Even when suggested by Gordon that Mike is the one loose cannon, owner Billy is willing to give the guy a second chance. Mike is at least interesting to watch fall and rise up again.
The new décor provided by Ramsay's crew makes Mike blubber. Lisa and all the other women really appreciate the transformative look. It looks so much more like a comfortable but contemporary up-scale locale.
Short-sightedness or nerve-wracked oversights make the reservation system a mockery on the night of relaunch. This creates a bubbling-over shout fest in proximity to the room full of customers. After Gordon steps in and the owner also shows he can step-up as a boss, Mike is asked to resolve the table-seating problem. He steps up to this task and more.
With the vibrancy of renewed energy in the staff, and a contemporary, lite presentation of healthy American food, the future of The Mixing Bowl Eatery looks like it will evolve along with the healthy attitudes of people from the area.
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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