I've been watching old Hell's kitchen episodes.

Yes, I think most if not all reality shows are scripted. I used to watch this show but quickly got tired of Ramsey screaming profanities and demeaning all the contestants. For someone who's a world class chef, he's doesn't act very professional.

In real life, I can't imagine anyone tolerating the verbal abuse on a daily basis; I'd consider it a hostile work environment. I once worked in a restaurant and even though it could be stressful at times, it was nothing like that. Of course it's all an act on Ramsey's part; if you watch the kid's version of Master Chef, you see his softer side.
You must have gotten lucky. I grew up in kitchens, my dad is a chef, all his friends were chefs, my best friend is a chef. No one has a bigger ego than someone in charge of a menu. Words and plates fly and they don't care who's in the line of fire. My dad is the sweetest man on earth but it was hell working in his kitchen. My best friend? You couldn't pay me enough to work under him. When my daughter decided to go into the business we warned her about the environment and told her to never work for grandpa or her godfather, lol. I'm sure it's somewhat exaggerated for TV but watch the movie "Burnt" that's pretty much spot on.
 
You must have gotten lucky. I grew up in kitchens, my dad is a chef, all his friends were chefs, my best friend is a chef. No one has a bigger ego than someone in charge of a menu. Words and plates fly and they don't care who's in the line of fire. My dad is the sweetest man on earth but it was hell working in his kitchen. My best friend? You couldn't pay me enough to work under him. When my daughter decided to go into the business we warned her about the environment and told her to never work for grandpa or her godfather, lol. I'm sure it's somewhat exaggerated for TV but watch the movie "Burnt" that's pretty much spot on.
I've worked in kitchens too. I had a couple pot throwers for chefs but for the most part the chefs I've worked for have been professional. I think behaviour like Ramsey and White is old school and more and more phasing out.
 

I've worked in kitchens too. I had a couple pot throwers for chefs but for the most part the chefs I've worked for have been professional. I think behaviour like Ramsey and White is old school and more and more phasing out.
Could be, I haven't been in a working kitchen in a long time. DD has had a few experiences that have brought out an urge to be a mama bear but have me saying, "I warned you" instead. They're far less frequent then I remember but they're also Union which I'm sure helps keep a lot of these guys in check.
 
I love Hell's Kitchen :) It's one of the only 'reality' show I still watch, and it's because of Ramsey. I think it's mostly and act, just judging from his other shows. The UK version of Kitchen Nightmares was completely different from the American version. He seemed really nice and helpful in UK, and more 'in your face' in US. I did hear that we're suppose to be getting a version of The F Word. No doubt censored beyond recognition, but still. lol
 
I love Hell's Kitchen :) It's one of the only 'reality' show I still watch, and it's because of Ramsey. I think it's mostly and act, just judging from his other shows. The UK version of Kitchen Nightmares was completely different from the American version. He seemed really nice and helpful in UK, and more 'in your face' in US. I did hear that we're suppose to be getting a version of The F Word. No doubt censored beyond recognition, but still. lol
I think you're right. There seems to be a formula to these kinds of shows. I was watching Hotel Hell tonight and it's like Kitchen Nightmares but for small family owned inns and hotels. It's always the same thing. He tours around and then he sits down in the restaurant and he orders everything on the menu. He doesn't like anything and he sends it all back. He looks through the kitchen and always finds something disgusting. There's usually a conflict of some kind with the owner and you think he might walk away or close them down but the next day they make up and he fixes everything. Then all the people of the town come to the inn to eat and every one is happy.
 
Amy's Baking Company is closed? What a surprise. Although at least she kept her kitchen clean which is more than I can say for many others.

It's easy to turn around a restaurant in a week. Unfortunately, unless you also turn around the owner, it's going to gradually go back to the way it was. I made a point never to visit any restaurant on the show (or on Irvine's) in my area that had a pathetically dirty kitchen. I'm pretty sure Gordon saw some of these and wondered whether they deserved a second chance. Although in the end I guess it doesn't matter. They will show whether they deserved one in the weeks to come after he visits.
 
I think you're right. There seems to be a formula to these kinds of shows. I was watching Hotel Hell tonight and it's like Kitchen Nightmares but for small family owned inns and hotels. It's always the same thing. He tours around and then he sits down in the restaurant and he orders everything on the menu. He doesn't like anything and he sends it all back. He looks through the kitchen and always finds something disgusting. There's usually a conflict of some kind with the owner and you think he might walk away or close them down but the next day they make up and he fixes everything. Then all the people of the town come to the inn to eat and every one is happy.

Yep - there's definitely a formula for Kitchen Nightmares (US). There's a restaurant that is beyond any possible redemption for 55 minutes that turns around into a restaurant that should thrive in the last 5 minutes. Drives me crazy. The only thing worse than all the drama - is the fact that it's staged drama.

I'm not into the drama as much as I am the business aspect and seeing how - and if - problems can be solved. That's why I prefer the British version much more. The problems are more realistic, and so are the solutions and expectations.
 
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You must have gotten lucky. I grew up in kitchens, my dad is a chef, all his friends were chefs, my best friend is a chef. No one has a bigger ego than someone in charge of a menu. Words and plates fly and they don't care who's in the line of fire. My dad is the sweetest man on earth but it was hell working in his kitchen. My best friend? You couldn't pay me enough to work under him. When my daughter decided to go into the business we warned her about the environment and told her to never work for grandpa or her godfather, lol. I'm sure it's somewhat exaggerated for TV but watch the movie "Burnt" that's pretty much spot on.

The arrogance factor runs very high in chefs and even line cooks. I really don't see any reason for it. It's not like it's nuclear physics or anything. Truth be told there are tons of chefs on Hell's kitchen that go out before thy should because they can't get past their own ego.
 
The arrogance factor runs very high in chefs and even line cooks. I really don't see any reason for it. It's not like it's nuclear physics or anything. Truth be told there are tons of chefs on Hell's kitchen that go out before thy should because they can't get past their own ego.
Well, cooking/baking are in fact science. Tossing stuff in a pan and hoping for the best won't make a chef. It would depend on the caliber and training on whether or not that type of ego was warranted. A full half of the chefs I've known in my lifetime, it's not. Certainly the behavior isn't warranted at all but there's something in their make up that makes them very possessive of their kitchen and the food it produces. I've even heard my own DD (swear, one of the nicest, sweetest people you'd ever meet) say things to the effect of "If it's going out there with my name on it..." I obviously did not inherit the drive for fine cooking or baking so I can't say where the mentality comes from but I've sure witnessed it plenty, lol.
 
Remember Elise from several seasons ago? She popped up again last year in a Bravo show called "Apres Ski." I'm sure many of them just want to be on reality tv.

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Well, cooking/baking are in fact science. Tossing stuff in a pan and hoping for the best won't make a chef. It would depend on the caliber and training on whether or not that type of ego was warranted. A full half of the chefs I've known in my lifetime, it's not. Certainly the behavior isn't warranted at all but there's something in their make up that makes them very possessive of their kitchen and the food it produces. I've even heard my own DD (swear, one of the nicest, sweetest people you'd ever meet) say things to the effect of "If it's going out there with my name on it..." I obviously did not inherit the drive for fine cooking or baking so I can't say where the mentality comes from but I've sure witnessed it plenty, lol.

Playing random notes and hoping for the best won't make a musician either. But that doesn't make music a science. It's an art. Cooking is also an art.
 
The arrogance factor runs very high in chefs and even line cooks. I really don't see any reason for it. It's not like it's nuclear physics or anything. Truth be told there are tons of chefs on Hell's kitchen that go out before thy should because they can't get past their own ego.

I don't think Waffle House "chefs" that have an ego on Hell's Kitchen are a good example of the ego of real Chefs. ;)
 
Playing random notes and hoping for the best won't make a musician either. But that doesn't make music a science. It's an art. Cooking is also an art.
Playing random notes and hoping for the best won't make a musician either. But that doesn't make music a science. It's an art. Cooking is also an art.
It takes both. Putting things together, knowing how they'll react together, what will happen or why something will happen if you do A or B, that's science. Having the skill to do it and making a beautiful presentation, that's art. Understanding both is what makes the difference between a really good cook and a skilled chef IMO. Here's a good article on it. https://theintegralschoolblog.org/2016/04/10/is-cooking-an-art-or-a-science/
 
I always think of the Kitchen Nightmare in Paris. This woman had a teeny tiny restaurant, but couldn't be bothered to open for lunch. Ramsey opened it for lunch one day, just to prove how much money she was losing not being open. The restaurant fell apart, because the owner was so lazy. Ramsey ended up taking the chef and bringing her into his fold, which I thought was very decent of him.

I couldn't believe someone had such a great spot in Paris, and couldn't take them time to run the place. Even after being shown how much money she could make just on a simple lunch menu.

I'm surprised too Mamma Cherri's closed. That seemed like she could rake in the bucks.
 
Yes, I think most if not all reality shows are scripted. I used to watch this show but quickly got tired of Ramsey screaming profanities and demeaning all the contestants. For someone who's a world class chef, he's doesn't act very professional.

In real life, I can't imagine anyone tolerating the verbal abuse on a daily basis; I'd consider it a hostile work environment. I once worked in a restaurant and even though it could be stressful at times, it was nothing like that. Of course it's all an act on Ramsey's part; if you watch the kid's version of Master Chef, you see his softer side.
Chefs in general are not very nice people. I don't know why, but DH works with chefs on a weekly basis and I've met most of them. They are arrogant egomaniacs.
 












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