Topic: Hell's Kitchen Season 4

[marigold]

An interesting article: breakfast in bed

http://www.nydailynews.com/lifestyle/food/2008/05/04/2008-05-04_3_questions_for_gordon_ramsay.html

Gordon Ramsaymay act like a tough guy on "Hell's Kitchen," but he's known around England as a stickler for home cooking and a softy when it comes to his family:

Q. There are two mothers in your life: your wife, Tana, and your own mother, Helen. Will you be cooking for either this year?

A. As I am often away or working late in the week, the weekends are very precious. It's always a treat for Mum to join Tana, the children and I for Sunday lunch, and Mother's Day is no exception.

The kids and I will make breakfast in bed for Tana - something a bit special for a treat. Maybe a nice cup of tea, an egg frittata with pancetta, goat cheese and rocket [arugula; see recipe below]. Later on, Mum will stop by for Sunday lunch and we'll have a long, leisurely lunch together.

Do your kids ever help you cook?

I've got four little ones, all under 10, and they've grown up in and around the kitchen. I think it's important for children learn where their food comes from and to learn to appreciate what they're eating, so Tana and I like to get them involved, whether it's helping us out in the kitchen or trying new tastes and flavors.

You once said your last meal would be your mother's Sunday roast, to remind you of your childhood. If you were going to make a similar meal for your own family for a spring Sunday supper, what would you do?

Growing up, there wasn't a lot of money for food, but Mum would always make the most delicious, home-cooked meals using simple ingredients - quite humbling and something I really appreciate.

For Sunday at home, the children love a simple roast lamb or roast beef with Yorkshire puddings. We always make sure to have loads of vegetables, and perhaps a fresh fruit crumble or trifle for dessert.

[marigold]

  Shayna the 4 hours for chopping up vegetables was tonight's HK's contestant to leave.

Ramsay kills me when he took over Rosann's position and boy oh boy was Ramsay ever pissed at Matt 

So Matt will try show he is a great chef and a leader in the kitchen by asking to be on the ladies team.

Good luck with that one as I don't think the ladies are going to welcome him with open arms.

  I can't wait until next week's show.

[marigold]

This week on Hell's Kitchen:

Chef Ramsay tests the teams' taste-buds by doing a blindfold taste-test challenge.

Find out who knows their pork from their chicken and their potatoes from their polenta.

Those who impress Chef Ramsay get to enjoy being pampered at the spa, while the losing team is forced to clean the dorms.

During dinner service when one team tries to serve raw food and the other team fails to communicate with one another, Gordon loses his cool.

[apskip]

[During dinner service when one team tries to serve raw food and the other team fails to communicate with one another, Gordon loses his cool.

It's too bad that we have never ever previously seen on Hell's Kitchen:
1. chefs serve food intended to be cooked raw.
2. teams failing to communicate
3. Gordon losing his cool.

These will be such a novelty!

[marigold]

[During dinner service when one team tries to serve raw food and the other team fails to communicate with one another, Gordon loses his cool.

It's too bad that we have never ever previously seen on Hell's Kitchen:
1. chefs serve food intended to be cooked raw.
2. teams failing to communicate
3. Gordon losing his cool.

These will be such a novelty!

  Thanks for the laugh, yay apskip was here 

[marigold]

rosesrred      have you watched the last two episodes.

Anyways next week looks great Matt loses a finger possibly in the pancetta 

[TexasLady]

rosesrred      have you watched the last two episodes.

Anyways next week looks great Matt loses a finger possibly in the pancetta 

Hi CA!! 

Holy Carp! You think it's Matt who loses his finger? I am positive I know who joins the blue team? I replayed the recording over and over again, plain to see who has the blue coat on and I can't wait to see how she does.  It wasn't so clear about the finger tip but I did think it was one of the men.

It really makes you wonder how some of these people could be trained chefs doesn't it? I really can understand how someone can get burned but not how you can cut your finger off. (Well, I COULD understand it if you used the knife as fast as Hung did on Top Chef, but he is on another level from this bunch.) 

Rosesrred, are you still having trouble with that DVR? Demand a new one!! It's broken! 

[apskip]

Texas Lady, I have known for over 24 hours that it is Jennifer that joins the Blue team so I will be happy to be the first to announce that.

[marigold]

Hi CA!! 

Holy Carp! You think it's Matt who loses his finger? I am positive I know who joins the blue team? I replayed the recording over and over again, plain to see who has the blue coat on and I can't wait to see how she does.  It wasn't so clear about the finger tip but I did think it was one of the men.

It really makes you wonder how some of these people could be trained chefs doesn't it? I really can understand how someone can get burned but not how you can cut your finger off. (Well, I COULD understand it if you used the knife as fast as Hung did on Top Chef, but he is on another level from this bunch.) 

Rosesrred, are you still having trouble with that DVR? Demand a new one!! It's broken! 

I hope I didn't spoil it for you TL

But yes for the preview for next week during HK it showed someone what looked to be a males finger was cut

So I went to HK's website and at the top of the site on the right cornor there are quick video's to view for next week

Click on that video to view a quick preview for next week it shows Matt and everyone looking for his finger

and Ramsay is looking for it and in a frying pan that is cooking pancetta ewwwww 

Link: http://www.fox.com/hellskitchen/

[marigold]

Texas Lady, I have known for over 24 hours that it is Jennifer that joins the Blue team so I will be happy to be the first to announce that.

  Yay apskip

[TexasLady]

Texas Lady, I have known for over 24 hours that it is Jennifer that joins the Blue team so I will be happy to be the first to announce that.

LOL!! Good for you Apskip. Yes, it's clear that she does move over. I have hopes for her, I don't believe she will win but she has shown leadership abilities and we know that the men haven't shown much.

Gaw... It is Matt, Yuck!  I forget to go look at Fox for videos because for some reason they won't play in Firefox. I have to use IE to watch.

I still want to see what Bobby, Petrozza and Louross can do as a leader. I still don't see anyone outstanding in this bunch. 

[apskip]

Texas Lady, you are right on about the lack of leadership skills being demonstrated. Part of that is hopefully the Ramsay intimidation factor. Look at what happened to Jennifer when Ramsay thought she was encroaching on his responsibilities! She properly noted on camera that he talks one way and then disciplines based on strict adherence to authority (HIS).

[rosesrred]

rosesrred      have you watched the last two episodes.

Anyways next week looks great Matt loses a finger possibly in the pancetta 

Hi everyone yes i'm here and I could never miss Hell's Kitchen.    Just a real busy time school is winding down and I have one leaving middle school and one graduating so it's end of the year stuff from banquets to hijacking my laptop to turn in papers, etc.  So getting on line is like 10th down the line of things mom's allowed to do!   Thanks for asking and I miss all of you too!  And TL i'm actually on my 3rd HD DVR my last one recorded a blank gray screen and this one records a blank black screen my first one did both    We love Directv but when they came out with their own DVR and broke their contract with TIVO that was the biggest mistake they made!  Their DVR's don't work at all!

I'm just wondering which of these chef's could run a kitchen 
Usually by this time you see someone that starts to shine through but not noticing meat is absent in the chef's dishes well that makes me wonder.   And when does a mango ever taste like a pineapple?  I'm just saying 

[marigold]

rosesrred      have you watched the last two episodes.

Anyways next week looks great Matt loses a finger possibly in the pancetta 

Hi everyone yes i'm here and I could never miss Hell's Kitchen.    Just a real busy time school is winding down and I have one leaving middle school and one graduating so it's end of the year stuff from banquets to hijacking my laptop to turn in papers, etc.  So getting on line is like 10th down the line of things mom's allowed to do!   Thanks for asking and I miss all of you too!  And TL i'm actually on my 3rd HD DVR my last one recorded a blank gray screen and this one records a blank black screen my first one did both    We love Directv but when they came out with their own DVR and broke their contract with TIVO that was the biggest mistake they made!  Their DVR's don't work at all!

I'm just wondering which of these chef's could run a kitchen 
Usually by this time you see someone that starts to shine through but not noticing meat is absent in the chef's dishes well that makes me wonder.   And when does a mango ever taste like a pineapple?  I'm just saying 

  Yay my girl is back, sooo glad you found a moment to check in 

I think he said it was a nectarine 

[apskip]

Other way around, actually. Petrozza said the nectarine tased like pineapple.

[rosesrred]

Other way around, actually. Petrozza said the nectarine tased like pineapple.

Thank you apskip but that's even worse a nectarine tasting like a pineapple???  Gee not any nectarines i've tasted. 

[marigold]

Thank you apskip but that's even worse a nectarine tasting like a pineapple???  Gee not any nectarines i've tasted. 
 

You know what a day it was for Petrozza between the nectarine tasting like pineapple I don't know how one can confuse that distinct flavor of each fruit but also Ramsay yelling at him for a messy work area in the kitchen during dinner service and in the end Ramsay saying to Petrozza "Your level of maturity stands out, you are the most gracious man on that team and later went to say your a gentleman. That certainly is one heck of a compliment and Petrozza crying over the compliment. It was a rollercoaster of a day for him with what seemed to be a bad day ended in compliments.

[apskip]

I would not say it was such a bad day for Petrozza. He could not tell a nectarine form a pineapple. He could also not distinguish turnip from a sweet potato. However he did get chicken and he was the only person who had half a clue on the funny taste to the faux meat even though he could not bring that one home. He did score one point in that phase of the competition. How many did Louross score? How many did Bobby score? Goose eggs for both! Only Ben seemed to have a better palate and it was a completely different type of test. Ben might have gotten zero if he had to do what Petrozza and the others had to do.

[apskip]

One item that should be revisited was the Red Team telling Matt he’s going to be the first to go. He has no problem with that - as long as Ben goes before him. Ben is gone, so who will be next?

The correct answer is Rosann(who has been hanging on by her fingertips), then Matt the following week.

[marigold]

  .... an interesting article (edited)

Q&A Gordon Ramsay Source: TV Guide May 19-25, 2008
 
Any chit-chat with Gordon Ramsay, the foul-mouthed British chef and demanding star of Hell's Kitchen (Tuesdays at 9 pm/ET, Fox), is likely to be, well, profane. We were relieved Ramsay's harsh words were aimed mostly at the contestants… and not us!
TV Guide: There seems to be a considerable lack of culinary talent this season.…
Gordon Ramsay: Characters have to be flamboyant and funny, but you know they could be on the verge of a liability. That's my battle with Fox — they want to run a show, and I a restaurant.

TV Guide: Are you worried that none of these people are really worthy of the prize — a senior chef position at your new London West Hollywood restaurant?
Ramsay: I'm not worried...I'm sh---ing myself. A $10 million investment, and here I am facing a scenario that I could have egg on my face.

TV Guide: Obviously the contestants are challenged, but what is it like for you?
Ramsay: If they look good, I look good. If they look bad, I look terrible — I'm standing there completely exposed with my pants down in front of a dining room full of 120 difficult diners. It's bloody hard.

TV Guide: Is it really that difficult to make beef Wellington and risotto?
Ramsay: [Laughs] The recipes are laid out in black-and-white — it's in plain f---ing English.

TV Guide: You're a dad — do you curse like that at home?
Ramsay: With four young children — no chance.

TV Guide: One word to describe your cooking style.
Ramsay: Passionate.

TV Guide: What's your favorite comfort food?
Ramsay: In-N-Out burgers [an L.A. chain] — I absolutely love them.

TV Guide: Are you a fan of any American chefs? Thomas Keller, Ramsay: Jean-Georges Vongerichten, Daniel Boulud. Then you've got your TV chefs — Emeril [Lagasse], Bobby Flay. [Food Network] keeps on asking me to go on this Iron Chef thing.

TV Guide: Really? Are you going to do it?
Ramsay: I think they want to get me one-on-one to see what [I'm] really like on my own. Here's my issue — I have a competition every day, not once a month on Iron Chef on Food Network, which I love watching. It makes me laugh to watch them cook in an hour. Of course I welcome [the challenge] one day, but winning three [Michelin] stars in New York, three stars in L.A., three stars in London and three stars in Paris — when I achieve [that] goal in the culinary world, then I'll go on Iron Chef America. [Laughs]

TV Guide: You're promoting a new cookbook....
Ramsay: Yeah, Fast Food. Fast food doesn't have to be junk food. With four kids and a manic lifestyle, honestly, at home it's like the bloody zoo. Cooking from home is a completely different league, but a joy.

TV Guide: Any more Kitchen Nightmares?
Ramsay: I just finished filming the new [season] and here's the bad news… I've just been told I've got an ulcer from eating crap. So I have a big medical bill coming towards Fox. I swear to God, I'm so pissed off.

[apskip]

bb ca fan, I am amused by a few things that Ramsay said. However, most interesting is the attitude of the writer, who based on his reputation apparently she was going to be eaten alive by Gordon Ramsay. Come on, the man is just trying to run a restaurant with some marginal help. It is his style to throw things and to curse incessantly, but he apparently is a very decent chap in real life when the cameras are not on. As Jon Lovitz on Saturday Night Live used to say: "ACTING".

The most interesting question is There seems to be  complete lack of culinary talent this season? I've noticed that too and pondered why. I believe the answer is that the advanced chefs want to be on TopChef and Ramsay is stuck with the less talented to work with. He is a gifted teacher of the culinary arts, but there is only so much he can do in limited time of 15 one hour episodes. From the list of original HK4 contestants I have culled 3 that I think say it all:

Ben, 29, an electrician and former chef from Charlotte, NC

Dominic, 43, a stay-at-home dad from Catawba, SC

Rosann, 33, a receptionist and former cook from Staten Island, NY

Note the use of the word FORMER. Ramsay had to dig up 3 chefs who were out of the business in order to make this show work. Is it any wonder that he is having such serious problems?

Ramsay's answer was that his cheftestants have to be flamboyant and funny, and that may put him into liabiliity situations(which he hates but has to accept).

Note also Ramsay's apparent disdain for FOX. There were multiple references that were not exactly flattering.

[rosesrred]

I would not say it was such a bad day for Petrozza. He could not tell a nectarine form a pineapple. He could also not distinguish turnip from a sweet potato. However he did get chicken and he was the only person who had half a clue on the funny taste to the faux meat even though he could not bring that one home. He did score one point in that phase of the competition. How many did Louross score? How many did Bobby score? Goose eggs for both! Only Ben seemed to have a better palate and it was a completely different type of test. Ben might have gotten zero if he had to do what Petrozza and the others had to do.

And I noticed during Ben's and Matt's "taste challenge" that they knew they were eating clam chowder so they basically had to go thru the ingredients that make chowder and it was a slam dunk for either of them.  I was naming the ingredients as they were it was a very ez challenge for the last two. 

[marigold]

bb ca fan, I am amused by a few things that Ramsay said. However, most interesting is the attitude of the writer, who based on his reputation apparently she was going to be eaten alive by Gordon Ramsay. Come on, the man is just trying to run a restaurant with some marginal help. It is his style to throw things and to curse incessantly, but he apparently is a very decent chap in real life when the cameras are not on. As Jon Lovitz on Saturday Night Live used to say: "ACTING".

The most interesting question is There seems to be  complete lack of culinary talent this season? I've noticed that too and pondered why. I believe the answer is that the advanced chefs want to be on TopChef and Ramsay is stuck with the talented to work with. He is a gifted teacher of the culinary arts, but there is only so much he can do in limited time of 15 one hour episodes. From the list of original HK4 contestants I have culled 3 that I think say it all:

Ben, 29, an electrician and former chef from Charlotte, NC

Dominic, 43, a stay-at-home dad from Catawba, SC

Rosann, 33, a receptionist and former cook from Staten Island, NY

Note the use of the word FORMER. Ramsay had to dig up 3 chefs who were out of the business in order to make this show work. Is it any wonder that he is having such serious problems?

Ramsay's answer was that his cheftestants have to be flamboyant and funny, and that may put him into liabiliity situations(which he hates but has to accept).

Note also Ramsay's apparent disdain for FOX. There were multiple references that were not exactly flattering.

Oh absolutely apskip that is the difference between Top Chef and HK.

You know I can't forget an article I had read and posted early in this thread where Ramsay stated that, "It's much more exciting to me when you can pluck somebody out of obscurity."  He mentioned "that the people who don't start out as professionals often have a greater level of passion in the kitchen." So as completely unqualified as his contestants seem, what an opportunity for them.

Another tidbit of information I was glad to revisit states that "Chef Ramsay dropped other interesting tidbits about the season, such as the fact that all the previous winners will be back to help with the judging.  This should also provide an opportunity to see how successful the winners from the first three seasons have been." So I am looking forward to that.

[marigold]

bb ca fan, I am amused by a few things that Ramsay said. However, most interesting is the attitude of the writer, who based on his reputation apparently she was going to be eaten alive by Gordon Ramsay. Come on, the man is just trying to run a restaurant with some marginal help. It is his style to throw things and to curse incessantly, but he apparently is a very decent chap in real life when the cameras are not on. As Jon Lovitz on Saturday Night Live used to say: "ACTING".

  Your so right on that.

I don't know whether that was a failed effort at humor from the writer which I would probably be more satisfied with than that ridicules statement.

[apskip]

bb ca fan, I am amused by a few things that Ramsay said. However, most interesting is the attitude of the writer, who based on his reputation apparently she was going to be eaten alive by Gordon Ramsay. Come on, the man is just trying to run a restaurant with some marginal help. It is his style to throw things and to curse incessantly, but he apparently is a very decent chap in real life when the cameras are not on. As Jon Lovitz on Saturday Night Live used to say: "ACTING".

The most interesting question is There seems to be  complete lack of culinary talent this season? I've noticed that too and pondered why. I believe the answer is that the advanced chefs want to be on TopChef and Ramsay is stuck with the less talented to work with. He is a gifted teacher of the culinary arts, but there is only so much he can do in limited time of 15 one hour episodes. From the list of original HK4 contestants I have culled 3 that I think say it all:

Ben, 29, an electrician and former chef from Charlotte, NC

Dominic, 43, a stay-at-home dad from Catawba, SC

Rosann, 33, a receptionist and former cook from Staten Island, NY

Note the use of the word FORMER. Ramsay had to dig up 3 chefs who were out of the business in order to make this show work. Is it any wonder that he is having such serious problems?

Ramsay's answer was that his cheftestants have to be flamboyant and funny, and that may put him into liabiliity situations(which he hates but has to accept).

Note also Ramsay's apparent disdain for FOX. There were multiple references that were not exactly flattering.

Oh absolutely apskip that is the difference between Top Chef and HK.

You know I can't forget an article I had read and posted early in this thread where Ramsay stated that, "It's much more exciting to me when you can pluck somebody out of obscurity."  He mentioned "that the people who don't start out as professionals often have a greater level of passion in the kitchen." So as completely unqualified as his contestants seem, what an opportunity for them.

Another tidbit of information I was glad to revisit states that "Chef Ramsay dropped other interesting tidbits about the season, such as the fact that all the previous winners will be back to help with the judging.  This should also provide an opportunity to see how successful the winners from the first three seasons have been." So I am looking forward to that.

I think we had a taste of how Ramsay uses such judges in the HK3 Finale. They are just freaking placehohlders whose job is clearly to make sure the score gets and stays tied so that the heavy hitters can make the real decision. It's all phony baloney. They could hire a monkey to do the same job!