Hell's Kitchen U.S. (2008)

[Tri2Cook]

The final round of the taste test was a joke. If they've ever made a clam chowder and could indentify that that's what it was when they tasted it their ability to taste was no longer required... they could just starting naming the usual ingredients.

Gordon Ramsay: "That's the best risotto to come out of Hell's Kitchen this season."

Matt: "He said that was the best risotto he ever tasted."

Errrr... no he didn't.

[demiglace]

None of the current crop are real contenders for anything beyond the local McDonalds. That being said, didn't the show end with a shadowy figure seen entering the dining room causing everyone to gasp?

So who is it? Jen?

If so, my money's on her.

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maybe it's that contestant that he was going to send to culinary school and then have back on the show..forget her name.

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Great concept! I never thought of that. I figured it would be the girl who quit two weeks ago after the burn. I hope it turns out that way.

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I thought it would be interesting..oh well...I think her name is Julia.

[Doodad]

The final round of the taste test was a joke. If they've ever made a clam chowder and could indentify that that's what it was when they tasted it their ability to taste was no longer required... they could just starting naming the usual ingredients.

Gordon Ramsay: "That's the best risotto to come out of Hell's Kitchen this season."

Matt: "He said that was the best risotto he ever tasted."

Errrr... no he didn't.

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I thought the same as well. I kept hoping someone would say stock or salt

[hungryCAT]

Finally!!!

[Claudia Greco]

I would've booted Rosann at least two dinner services ago! And Corey's strategizing to get Jen off the red team seems to have backfired. Never mind that the boys lost the 20-ingredient challenge - they triumphed during dinner service, costing the red team to lose a cook. I wonder how Ramsay is now going to even up the 3-"girl"/4-"boy" teams for next week? People can't keep going back and forth more times than Elizabeth Taylor's husbands!

[et alors]

Hell's Kitchen is getting harder and harder to watch., There is not a single contestant who could run a Ramsey restaurant, except as a figurehead. Gordon must be depressed. After all it's not some Las Vegas casino...

The only upside is I can't imagine a man winning this one (none can cook edible food consistently), so it'll have to be one of the women. But I don't see an eliza doolittle in the bunch.

[Claudia Greco]

I used to think Louross had some real ability - which he might, indeed - but he has very little judgment. I can't see him leading a kitchen now - he's fallen apart a few times, he gets truculent, and he doesn't heed common sense or good advice when it's handed to him on a platter. I'm still rooting for Jen - how many times and how right can one woman be, in the course of a single dinner service?! Petrozza is an inherently decent guy and probably not a bad cook - but, man, he's got to keep a grip on how he handles meat. I can't see him leading a brigade, either.

Go, Jen!

[maynardk]

Did anyone else see Ramsay taste the risotto and then procede to plate it with the same spoon? I thought his greasy hair flying all over the place was bad enough.

[McDuff]

Did anyone else see Ramsay taste the risotto and then procede to plate it with the same spoon? I thought his greasy hair flying all over the place was bad enough.

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that went by quick, but I noticed it also.

[handmc]

Did anyone else see Ramsay taste the risotto and then procede to plate it with the same spoon? I thought his greasy hair flying all over the place was bad enough.

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that went by quick, but I noticed it also.

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Didn't you read the menu that is "Ris - o -toe", as he calls it, kissed by God! Just ask him.

[Claudia Greco]

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[Qwerty]

Did anyone else see Ramsay taste the risotto and then procede to plate it with the same spoon? I thought his greasy hair flying all over the place was bad enough.

If you think that doesn't happen in professional kitchens of every level than I'd say you are dreaming. Greasy hair? come on...his hair is fine. What do you want him to wear a hair net in there?

A lot of this are just Brits mangling the pronounciation of foreign words Jamie Oliver does the same thing), even though, as a chef, Ramsay certainly should know better. Then again, it sends me wild to hear "au gratin" (o grahh-TAHN) pronounced here as "o'grottin". (When did melted cheese become "Irish?!") (Joke, folks.)

Makes me want to send in Bourdain's fiery, northern Italian wife, Ottavia, to teach Gordo, once and for all, how to pronounce that classic northern Italian dish - "rrrrrrreee-SO-toe". (Lots of aspiration on the rolling "r"). angry.gif

thats a little nitpicky, isn't it? Getting someone on the correct pronunciation of foreign words doesn't really define how one is as a chef does it? You'd really think he has the time/inclination to say "Orderingone rrrreeee-SO-toe twolambmediumonebeefmediumwelltwo Pahs-ta.."

It seems to me he is speaking the words in a british accent how a british person would say the words if they weren't italian. Which is what most of the world does when pronouncing foreign words in their native tongue. In fact, I think I would find it quite jarring to hear him do what you suggest.

Now, if he were in italy trying to speak italian, it would be a different story. But he's speaking british english and I don't see the problem.

[CKatCook]

I simply don't see in this season one chef in there that I think should be running a high end dining resturant. (I am not a chef, so take my comment with that understanding) I mean. Louross has some talent and could be good, I think Jen is bullying him and he needs to stand up for himself.

I don't think Gordon's hair is greasy, I think it takes a lot of product to keep it looking "touseled".

[The Flame]

Hell's kitchen, although pretty entertaining, is the most pathetic group of people there is. At least in Top Chef the people are more serious about making a career out of cooking. Hell's kitchen is a purely entertainment show. Gordon Ramsay definitely lost any credibility of seriousness with this show.

The funny thing is you never ever hear about what any of the past season winners are doing. Because obviously it;s just a scam and in the end no one would dare have any of these "chefs" running a restaurant of theirs.

Edited May 26, 2008 by The Flame (log)

[Claudia Greco]

thats a little nitpicky, isn't it? Getting someone on the correct pronunciation of foreign words doesn't really define how one is as a chef does it? You'd really think he has the time/inclination to say "Orderingone rrrreeee-SO-toe twolambmediumonebeefmediumwelltwo Pahs-ta.."

It seems to me he is speaking the words in a british accent how a british person would say the words if they weren't italian. Which is what most of the world does when pronouncing foreign words in their native tongue. In fact, I think I would find it quite jarring to hear him do what you suggest.

Now, if he were in italy trying to speak italian, it would be a different story. But he's speaking british english and I don't see the problem.

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No, I didn't say it makes him less of a chef when he mispronounces foreign words - I did say it's a very Brit (but not exclusive Brit) thing to do so (I went to British schools my entire life) and it drives me crazy. And, yes, AS a chef, he should know better and correct himself. In Italy, France OR England. And it takes no more effort to say "ree-SO-toe" than "rih-ZOTT- toe." Same amount of syllables.

[Claudia Greco]

I don't think Gordon's hair is greasy, I think it takes a lot of product to keep it looking "touseled".

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It's not greasy. More lank and "flippy", when all of his hair products have worn off. Nice highlighting there, too, for Frostylocks!

[takadi]

I can't BELIEVE they sent Louross home instead of Jen or Matt. Absolutely shocked that Matt wasn't kicked out at the beginning of the season. This season is so disappointing

[Tri2Cook]

It impresses me that so many watch these types of shows (Hell's Kitchen, Top Chef, etc.) in search of the opportunity to be negative. I think if they had top level people making few or no mistakes they'd measure up much too closely to the audience's level of perfection and lose most of their viewers.

[Claudia Greco]

I was so sure Matt was going home this week, but as things began to heat up in the blue kitchen, I was pretty sure the boys would manipulate it so Jen went home. Louross? Siiiigghhh. I guess he really didn't have the chops I thought he possessed. Still, I thought he'd make it further than Matt. I see a Full Metal Jacket ep coming up, where the DI has tormented Vincent D/Onofrio so badly he goes mental and picks up his gun and . . . oh, well. I wonder if next week's ep will actually involve suicide or homicide? I think they'll be taking Matty out in a triple X straight jacket . . .

[Claudia Greco]

It impresses me that so many watch these types of shows (Hell's Kitchen, Top Chef, etc.) in search of the opportunity to be negative. I think if they had top level people making few or no mistakes they'd measure up much too closely to the audience's level of perfection and lose most of their viewers.

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Oh, I don't know about that. Rock was about as good as you could get (as was Heather), and I rooted for those two all the way. It's just that some of the mistakes the cheftestants make are SO incredible that you just don't expect it from a professional cook. I can understand a line cook screwing up desserts, but one screwing up meat? Or pasta? REPEATEDLY? I like to see top notch chefs compete at perfection or near-perfection - but maybe I'm in the minority!

[RAHiggins1]

I watch this show because I like GR. I think Fox sucks for purposely selecting candidates that will goad his ire and fail miserably. The editing also plays alot into trying to make everything over the top and over dramatized. We did not see the 50 other filets Louross put out that were done right or however many pasta dishes Mat didn't sweat into for seasoning. I do think that GR is actually tasting/checking the dishes at the pass on the show. So these people are at least able to get plates by him and finish these blitzkrieg services where they fill the place up to start. If you've ever experienced a rush so heavy that the whole restaurant literally turns at once, you would know you weren't just in the weeds but under them. So I give these people more credit than Fox shows you.

[takadi]

From the episodes I saw, Louross seemed to have been sent home because of the fact that he didn't bring in ratings and the type of drama Fox wanted. He was talented, but he was sent home because of a raw steak? My god, raw steak is how it's supposed to be eaten. Meanwhile Matt absolutely obliterates a simple pasta dish and Jen destroys her team with her beachy demeanor, not to mention she wrecked every single contribution she made, including her oh so subtle suggestions for the menu.

As someone said above, Gordon Ramsey has absolutely lost credibility with me

[Ndy]

I watch this show because I like GR. I think Fox sucks for purposely selecting candidates that will goad his ire and fail miserably. The editing also plays alot into trying to make everything over the top and over dramatized. We did not see the 50 other filets Louross put out that were done right or however many pasta dishes Mat didn't sweat into for seasoning. I do think that GR is actually tasting/checking the dishes at the pass on the show. So these people are at least able to get plates by him and finish these blitzkrieg services where they fill the place up to start. If you've ever experienced a rush so heavy that the whole restaurant literally turns at once, you would know you weren't just in the weeds but under them. So I give these people more credit than Fox shows you.

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very well put. I can tell you speak from experience.

[Doodad]

It impresses me that so many watch these types of shows (Hell's Kitchen, Top Chef, etc.) in search of the opportunity to be negative. I think if they had top level people making few or no mistakes they'd measure up much too closely to the audience's level of perfection and lose most of their viewers.

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Nah, we all like Iron Chef too. But, Hells Kitchen lets you laugh.

[Tri2Cook]

But, Hells Kitchen lets you laugh.

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Exactly... that's why I watch it too. They don't recruit top-notch Chefs for the most part so I don't have to worry about top-notch Chefs displaying their skills. There usually has to be one or two that actually stand a chance in Hell ( ) of being capable of doing the job they're rewarded with but most of them are there for the entertainment value.

It just seems like people get a bit angry that it's not a serious enough cooking competition... it's not supposed to be. It is what it is. A (semi)reality show designed for non-foodies that I have no doubt Chef Ramsay does strictly for the money and publicity. I don't fault him for doing it. It's not hurting anybody, it doesn't diminish his abilities as a Chef. It pads his (and his family's) bank account. I'm willing to bet 92.673% of us would do exactly the same if we had the chance. At least I know I would... I'll never get rich where I'm at now. "Selling out" is only bad if you don't profit from it.