"The Restaurant" Reality Show Season 1

[tommy]

Tommy boy...nobody was naiive.  One does expect the "chef" to make an appearance at least daily in a kitchen where he is filming a TV show for chrissakes.

i don't know if the "filming a TV show" bit has much to do with the point, but i find it hard to believe that chefs who have several restaurants make an appearence in each kitchen daily. why would Rocco be any different?

Edited July 28, 2003 by tommy (log)

[Lreda]

Forgive me if this has been brought up in this thread already, I don't believe it has but I haven't read the entire thing (sorry! ), but does Rocco's have a head pastry chef working there?

I didn't see anyone getting desert>

Maybe Episode 4?

[Elizabeth_11]

Forgive me if this has been brought up in this thread already, I don't believe it has but I haven't read the entire thing (sorry! ), but does Rocco's have a head pastry chef working there?

Yes. Nancy is a lovely woman who was the pastry chef and worked under insane conditions with the rest of us. Quite talented.

Wow, very cool. Thanks for the info. Now watching HER would be something I'd be interested in...

Edited July 28, 2003 by Elizabeth_11 (log)

[Bothameboutasteak?]

You're not still there, are you?

Unfortunately, I am still there until my other job resumes in the fall.

[JohnnyH]

You're not still there, are you?

Unfortunately, I am still there until my other job resumes in the fall.

Got it. How much of the original front of house staff stuck around after the cameras stopped rolling?

[Bothameboutasteak?]

Forgive me if this has been brought up in this thread already, I don't believe it has but I haven't read the entire thing (sorry! ), but does Rocco's have a head pastry chef working there?

Yes. Nancy is a lovely woman who was the pastry chef and worked under insane conditions with the rest of us. Quite talented.

Wow, very cool. Thanks for the info. Now watching HER would be something I'd be intersted in....

Yes. Watching Nancy is interesting. But they aren't showing kitchen stuff yet. They should though...

[Lreda]

Tommy boy...nobody was naiive.  One does expect the "chef" to make an appearance at least daily in a kitchen where he is filming a TV show for chrissakes.

i don't know if the "filming a TV show" has much to do with the point, but i find it hard to believe that chefs who have several restaurants "make an appearence" in each kitchen daily. why would Rocco be any different?

Cameras?

I'd be there workin.

Shining actually.

I've got an ego.

[tommy]

Cameras?

I'd be there workin.

Shining actually.

I've got an ego.

yeah, but you'd be in a $2000 suit, walking around dipping your pinkie in some sauces and sucking on a bottle of wine.

[Bothameboutasteak?]

Rocco doesn't have "several " restaurants. He has Union Pacific one block from Rocco's, and consults only on "Tuscan".

[tommy]

Rocco doesn't have "several " restaurants.  He has Union Pacific one block from Rocco's, and consults only on "Tuscan".

...and he's promoting a restaurant and tv show. i dunno, but if i were a cook applying for this job, i wouldn't be thinking that he'd be holding my hand or stopping in once a day checking to make sure my marinara was properly seasoned.

i'm looking forward to some kitchen action though. those people upstairs are a little too saccharin for me.

[Mark Sommelier]

What's Chicken Parm?

Spagatenni Oil & garlic? Who's training the waitstaff?

The best for me was they were putting cappelinni & other thin pasta in a pasta machine that has holes in it. When the pasta cooks it goes through the holes. That machine is good for tubular pastas only.

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I've got more.

This show after the 1st epidode, didn't make Rocco look bad. The 2nd made him and his management look completely incompetent.

Yeah, baby, I'm with you. This show made them all look like jerks. The creep with the "go across the street and buy 4 bottles of red wine. Barolo, or something". Dude! Its lower Manhattan, there's no bodegas on every corner there. Everything about this episode seemed fake, principally Rocco's "concern". There were as many bleeps as the stupid Osbournes, ferchrissake. Get me the <bleeping> clams! That should be this year's mantra, like last year was "you're off the island!". I personally have no interest in the next show, or the last show. What did everyone think about the appearance of the Hilton girls? That's a whole other thread......

[Lreda]

Cameras?

I'd be there workin.

Shining actually.

I've got an ego.

yeah, but you'd be in a $2000 suit, walking around dipping your pinkie in some sauces and sucking on a bottle of wine.

My friend, I dress the part.

Thanks for the props.

Do you know anyone at The Food network? I had my chance but I got braces for my teeth at 35 and that was my shot. An old college buddy trieed to hook me up but they told me not until the rails came off the teeth.

Oh well!!!

[tommy]

What did everyone think about the appearance of the Hilton girls?  That's a whole other thread......

which ones were they? someone told me that they thought Wal-mart sold only wallpaper.

[Lreda]

Never mind that. Rocco running with the fire estingisher was the best. My hero!!! What a Joke!

Rocco's looking sad now.

[Lreda]

What did everyone think about the appearance of the Hilton girls?  That's a whole other thread......

which ones were they? someone told me that they thought Wal-mart sold only wallpaper.

I could use The Hilton girl's at my bar.

[Bux]

What was the bit with going across the street and buying red wine? Was the diner an Amex executive? I don't know where the nearest wine shop is, but in NYS, bars and restaurants are not licensed to see liquor for off premises consumption. Heads would have rolled if the cameras caught anyone selling wine for take out. The poor waiter was clueless -- except for the one clue Rocco gave him about pleasing the customer when Rocco sent someone out for beer, excuse me Coors, during rehearsal. And the take my credit card bit? Is that the way Amex encourages members to use thier cards?

[Gifted Gourmet]

Looks like "The Restaurant" part deux was really having its problems with their staff and the comments on the quality of the cooking were dreadful ...

so what was their point in this episode? Has reality truly set in for Rocco et al? Will Rocco finally throw in the towel, throw his hands up in the air, and beg his mother to save him? Guess you have to tune in next week ...

Although I thought the initial episode was fast paced, albeit even quite frenetic, this episode had me looking at my watch and visibly wincing with sympathetic, no, empathic, pain.. the staff appears to be a product right out of "Central Casting" and is still woefully uncomprehending of how the Italian dishes should work, ingredient-wise ... spaghetti al olio? duh?

The acting of the guy who fell and broke his arm was truly horrendous ...

all told, I am less than excited to go to Rocco's when I visit NYC ... now his Union Pacific is actually superb and will be his best legacy to the trade.

[Mark Sommelier]

What was the bit with going across the street and buying red wine? Was the diner an Amex executive? I don't know where the nearest wine shop is, but in NYS, bars and restaurants are not licensed to see liquor for off premises consumption. Heads would have rolled if the cameras caught anyone selling wine for take out. The poor waiter was clueless -- except for the one clue Rocco gave him about pleasing the customer when Rocco sent someone out for beer, excuse me Coors, during rehearsal. And the take my credit card bit? Is that the way Amex encourages members to use thier cards?

Ah, but, Bux, you're not paying attention! That wasn't just any waiter. That was GIDEON!!. He was the actor/waiter who was first in line in the first episode with the sign that said "I'm not a bum. I'm first in line". He has his own website now. This is a sad show.

[hsm]

Made me want a Xanax. Couldn't decide if it was the Survivoresque Burnett-style editing, the fact that no staff went to the hospital with Gideon - although for a second it looked like Rocco got the concept of liability and was going to be the escort (until the shot of he and Mama doing the Happy Dance), the whining about the working hours, or, thank you Tommy, the 3 things every hostess should know.

Same time next week? Olive Garden, indeed. Did I hear a mention of a brand name that isn't a sponsor???

[malachi]

Oh my god.

I couldn't decide if I wanted them to fire most of the staff or just kill them.

Where did they find these people? Some hair salon on the lower east side? Working as clerks at Tower Records?

And nice 'trip and fall' there buddy.

I think I have to stop watching this show - I got out of the business for good reason and really don't want to relive the vapid self-centered waiters, the junkie fry cooks or the demanding no-taste customers. Makes my blood pressure go up.

[whosrbud]

What was the bit with going across the street and buying red wine? Was the diner an Amex executive? I don't know where the nearest wine shop is, but in NYS, bars and restaurants are not licensed to see liquor for off premises consumption. Heads would have rolled if the cameras caught anyone selling wine for take out.

pretending for the moment that they had "really" run out of red wine on

opening night, wouldn't the wine steward or at least rocco call over to

Union Pacific--a very short walk--and have an emergency supply sent over?

or...would that also be a violation of the liquor laws? in a related matter,

wasn't the waiter awfully lucky that there was an NBC cameraperson outside

who could accompany him on his quest for vino? what a coincidence, huh:~)

[zenial]

O.K. As far as the staff not knowing the menu we got the menu description two nights before worked until 2am and had to be back at 10. Not to mention the descriptions were wrong. Also gideon really did fall and had to have surgery. The guy that asked Pete to go out and get the wine was an arrogant ass I don't think it was scripted at least we didn't know that it was. I have to stick up for the foh because,yes there are a couple that shoulcn't be there but almost all the staff has had years of experence. Our menu and actual training in the restaurant was NON-EXSISTANT. Before opening night we had barely step foot in the dining area let alone servrd in it.

[Jinmyo]

I have seen the first two shows.

I have no idea why Rocco would want his name to be associated with this kind of food or level of dining.

I wonder if seeing this show or eating at Rocco's will affect how patrons view Union Pacific. It certainly has for me.

[fresco]

I haven't seen a single episode, but it does seem as though there is more wit and entertainment in this discussion thread than in the entire series.

[GordonCooks]

What did everyone think about the appearance of the Hilton girls?  That's a whole other thread......

That wasn't Nikki & Paris, they travel in a pack of 10-12 always.