Hell's Kitchen: The Contestants are GRRRROSSSS

[ilovepcot]

BUDBEERLADY...you said it all and I think you're right.

 

[Simba's Mom]

I used to watch it. I love "Food Network Star", "Master Chef" (agree about Christine), "Chopped", "Chef wanted/Anne Burrel", any chow where chefs compete. But last night after a few minutes, I just deleted it and all future shows of "Hell's Kichen", when it just became too apparent that it's all about shock factor, personalities, not about cooking at all!

 

[sparklynails23]

After working a few places I think the "chefs" are pretty close to what you will find in alot of kitchens.

The kitchens I have been in are not filled with normal people! Its hot, its hard work, long hours and you put up with alot of crud. A busy dinner service can be insane, even worse if the guy next to you is hung over and stinks! Not my idea of fun and I think I am deaf to all the cursing. But talent is talent no matter who the person is or how strange they are!

I disagree. Kitchen workers who look gross and have disgusting habits would keep me away from a restaurant even if they have talent. After seeing the show, I don't want to eat at any of those Gordon Ramsay restaurants.

 

[Planogirl]

These people are under a lot of stress and time constraints that you probably won't find in your standard restaurant kitchen including any of those that belong to Gordon Ramsey. All of this is bound to make them sweat more and also to be snippy. Notice when Ramsey or an assistant have taken over they stay perfectly clean.

 

[disneyfans95]

I've been waiting fo Clemenza to have a heart attack since the first show.

Snarky comment from you..

What about Kimmy? Or the others in years past?

 

[swandiverpatt]

Not meant to be snarky -- his coloring is very mottled and he just doesn't look healthy!

 

[writerriann]

They look like every cook in every restaurant (dive and fancy) that I have ever worked out. :

The only exception in my experience is that I'm actually used to seeing far more ethnicities, particularly guys from Eucador. Best cooks ever.:

I think the average person who has never worked in a restaurant would be horrified at appearance of the BOH (back-of-house) staff. This was the case for roadhouse bars and white-glove establishments I've worked for.

For me, a good test is whether you see any of the employees eating there. That means (1) they believe in the relative cleanliness and yummy taste of the food and (2) they are doing enough business that the waitstaff can afford to eat there.

 

[minniecarousel]

I keep calling Clemenza "credenza" - don't know why!

I agree that his pasty color concerns me. Also, in the first episode, he kept coughing (people sometimes get into a coughing fit when they swallow wrong) but that concerned me. And I wouldn't like to have a chef who is constantly coughing. Thankfully, they haven't shown him coughing like that since.

Yes, they've had overweight chefs on (nearly) every year, but his sweatiness, slobbiness and heavy breathing bother me.

 

[Nature Mom]

I keep calling Clemenza "credenza" - don't know why!

I agree that his pasty color concerns me. Also, in the first episode, he kept coughing (people sometimes get into a coughing fit when they swallow wrong) but that concerned me. And I wouldn't like to have a chef who is constantly coughing. Thankfully, they haven't shown him coughing like that since.

Yes, they've had overweight chefs on (nearly) every year, but his sweatiness, slobbiness and heavy breathing bother me.

His color worries me, too and I can't forget that coughing scene. I feel like we are watching a walking heart attack. I wish Ramsey would take these chefs and give them some kind of health boot camp or something like that. Being a chef and the restaurant business in general is just a physically daunting career and he obviously doesn't want someone who is unhealthy in such a stressful atmosphere. I know I wouldn't want to hire someone for such a demanding position if I had any worries at about their health. I think having a health pep talk from someone they could relate to would do wonders for a lot of these contestants.

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

I disagree. Kitchen workers who look gross and have disgusting habits would keep me away from a restaurant even if they have talent.

Better not eat out then. The difference between the show and most restaurants is in most restaurants, you don't get to see them.

 

[MotifNumberOne]

I disagree. Kitchen workers who look gross and have disgusting habits would keep me away from a restaurant even if they have talent. After seeing the show, I don't want to eat at any of those Gordon Ramsay restaurants.

Are you going to interview the waitstaff, chefs and bus boys about their personal habits and lifestyle choices before you decide whether an establishment is suitable enough for you?

This is so silly, the food of a restaurant should speak for itself. Professional chefs are passionate about their work, and if they weren't they wouldn't work 10 hours on their feet in a hot kitchen to make hundreds of meals.

 

[sparklynails23]

Are you going to interview the waitstaff, chefs and bus boys about their personal habits and lifestyle choices before you decide whether an establishment is suitable enough for you?

This is so silly, the food of a restaurant should speak for itself. Professional chefs are passionate about their work, and if they weren't they wouldn't work 10 hours on their feet in a hot kitchen to make hundreds of meals.

No way. I don't care how the food tastes. If it's made by gross people, I don't want it, and most people feel that way. That's why many kitchens are open/visible to the public and why there is a health department. I definitely wouldn't pay Ramsay's prices to be fed by sweaty, tobacco-stinky, tatted up kitchen workers.

 

[si-am]

No way. I don't care how the food tastes. If it's made by gross people, I don't want it, and most people feel that way. That's why many kitchens are open/visible to the public and why there is a health department. I definitely wouldn't pay Ramsay's prices to be fed by sweaty, tobacco-stinky, tatted up kitchen workers.

The health dpt. isn't going to close down a restaurant with tattooed kitchen staff. Not even if they smoke.

 

[sparklynails23]

The health dpt. isn't going to close down a restaurant with tattooed kitchen staff. Not even if they smoke.

True. And a couple tattoos are fine, even cute sometimes, but the neck ones and sleeves? Don't want to see them. I think the guy who won the first season had knuckle tattoos, like the kind you get in prison for free.

 

[canopynut66]

AGREE 100% they ALL need a sweatband around their head as makes me ill thinking sweat can drop into the food. and you know it does and they sweat so bad. is why Chefs wear a hat in nicer places. also all the face peircings could also fall into food and tatooes is just over the top. or them women Chefs with mohawks. to much for me gave up on the show.. but nit just that one as they all over food network as well. is like they all trying to out do each other.. and did ya noitice the ones that have made it and are making the money all dressed in suits and nicely dressed.. just sayin

 

[disneyfav4ever]

A lot of kitchens that I've worked in, a lot of the staff have been just like that. I don't like all the judgement against people with tattoos. And OP, if it seriously bothers you that much, you really should not eat out unless you can see the kitchen staff working, and know they're not tattooed.

And I think the health department is kind of a joke. Unless their are major problems, they get warnings before there is any major action like closing the restaurant, so most of the time, the general public wouldn't even know if a restaurant did poorly or not.

A lot of the restaurants I've worked in, I wouldn't eat at, due to things that goes on in the kitchen. And it has nothing to do with what the cooks look like, or what their personal habits are. At least Ramsey's kitchens are always clean.

 

[lizabu]

Hate to burst the OPers bubble but the people on the show are pretty typical for what you see working in Fine dining kitchens. I worked as a Garde Manager Chef for a number of years and I was often the only person who didn't smoke or have tattoos. As for sweating...guess what many restaurant owners don't bother to air condition the kitchen. They spend their money keeping the diners cool and comfortable. With 4 or 5 ovens on plus any other burners on you would have to be not human or some kind of freak to not sweat. It's ok though, most Chefs will have one rag to wipe their faces with and another one for picking up hot things with. Many Chefs wear a hat too. A Chefs hat is designed to absorb sweat from your forehead. The main thing that's weird about this show is there are so many white people. Most kitchens are not full of white people just saying. The swearing is pretty common. Ramsey is over the top though. Few Chefs act like that or people would just quit on him but then again if the Chef has a few Michelin stars you might put up with his crap just to have a restaurant like that on your resume.

 

[lizabu]

No way. I don't care how the food tastes. If it's made by gross people, I don't want it, and most people feel that way. That's why many kitchens are open/visible to the public and why there is a health department. I definitely wouldn't pay Ramsay's prices to be fed by sweaty, tobacco-stinky, tatted up kitchen workers.

I'd advise you to stop eating out then.

 

[MartyM]

Seriously? I've never worked in a place that didn't have white tablecloths. I've been Garde Manger, Saute, and finally Sous Chef before I finished at UNC. I have tattoos, i used to have piercings, and I sweat like crazy in a 100-degree room with 6 20,000 Btu burners or a 4'x8' wood grill in my face.

OP should avoid going out to eat anywhere ever, if she has a problem with people like me. Sweaty folks with tats and (gasp!) immigrants are the only people who work in kitchens these days.

 

[MzDiz]

I agree, don't ever eat out again, OP. I worked in restaurants, back and front of house, for 15 years. I've worked at everything from comedy clubs to country clubs and nearly everyone smoked and had tattoos. I'm not kidding. I was a culinary major in college for three semesters - again, all tattooed smokers. And sorry, but in a 100 degree kitchen, everyone sweats.
I'm a nurse now, still covered in tattoos. Just putting that out there. Stay healthy, OP, or I might have to touch you.