"The Restaurant" Reality Show Season 2

[rancho_gordo]

No, salt in pasta water a good thing, an essential thing.

I think the confusion is you don't want to salt until the water is already boiling, or you slow down the process.

[Raynickben]

No, salt in pasta water a good thing, an essential thing.

I think the confusion is you don't want to salt until the water is already boiling, or you slow down the process.

Actually, WATCHING the pot slows down the process.

[ronnie_suburban]

It occured to me while watching last night's installment, that Rocco isn't somewhat clueless, he's completely clueless. Seriously, does he have no idea that restaurants are supposed to make money? Or is he just playing dumb? At one point, the opening voiceover says "Rocco fought back." How so, by running out of the restaurant like a child and refusing to ever face P/L reality? Avoidance is not fighting back, it's...well, avoidance.

As for the intern, I will not accept the "I was taken out of context" excuse from one more reality tv participant. He was such a stroke (and the interview with him at Salon.com confirms as much), he almost had me rooting for Captain Douchebag...almost.

=R=

[Lopaka]

The kitchen seems to be rather quiet compared to last season... maybe the food is being catered?

Liked the bit about salting the pasta water, salt has gotten such a bad rap lately.

[mags]

Actually, I think my favorite Drew Moment -- well, aside from handing out the free drinks and leaving the restaurant open to having its liquor license yanked by serving drinks underage -- involved his desire to pull down the statue of the madonna. I mean, I don't know if that statue is there as a function of Rocco's religion or as a kitsch-reference to Little Italy red-sauce joints or both, but even assuming that Drew was meant to help improve the restaurant's efficiency, since when does that have anything to do with his imposing his taste in interior decor?

Nah, forget it, all the Drew Moments were my favorites. What a little bedbug. I hope he doesn't get laid again until he's 45.

[SobaAddict70]

Jeffrey called me yesterday and was a little upset. He feels bad about how they were making me look. I was like, who cares? Let's just have fun. A year from now, who's really going to remember this anyway?

Unfortunately Drew -- is it ok if we call you Drew? -- once you're on the Internet, it's Memorex forever.

Just a piece of advice, mind you.

Soba

[ronnie_suburban]

I hope he doesn't get laid again until he's 45.

Again?!?!

=R=

[mags]

I hope he doesn't get laid again until he's 45.

Again?!?!

=R=

You make an excellent point.

[greenfield]

Almost as funny is the intern kid talking about "15 years of experience" and then calling the co-owner of the restaurant a "douchebag", even if he also included the honorific "Captain".  Even if it was true, even if Mr. Intern is an employee of the parent corporation and not Rocco (and he's not REALLY an employee of anyone if he's an intern), you just don't do that.

I was wondering why intern-boy didn't put the phone on hold as he handed it to his coworker. Then he made the Captain Douchebag crack. They may have fired him for being disrespectful, but being an idiot is also a good reason to let someone go.

[richw]

Actually, about that -- I was always under the impression that salting pasta water was A Bad Thing.  Yes?  No?  A Your-mileage-may-vary thing?

Salt good, oil BAD

I was teaching assistant to a culinary instructor that used to freak out when students put oil (it was usually olive oil since it was nearby) in the water for boiling pasta. He would say that the only thing it does is reduce your bottom line...and knock down the starchy foam a bit.

Edited April 27, 2004 by richw (log)

[Stone]

As an attorney, I love this show. It conclusively demonstrates that people in the restaurant business are way lower on the evolutionary chain than lawyers. (Sure, advertising, insurance, child pornographers and politicians are also beneath us.)

Is it just me, or is every person on the show, from Chodorow, Rocco, Momma, to the wait staff, hostesses and, yes, the guests, simply repugnant? ("Is Rocco here? I've been here twice and I haven't gotten to drool over Rocco?")

Chodorow needs a pr person to get rid of the "just got back from the Hamptons, haven't had time to change out of my all-black outfit or shave and -- ooh -- is my hair just right messy" ensemble. He should be the most sympathetic person on the show, but he's so smarmy. He looks like something out of Star Wars.

Rocco -- take the fucking pacifier out of you mouth, stop whining like a little girl (my apologies to the little girls). Does any other chef prance like a nancy around the room posing for pictures? I can only imagine that Keller, Ripert, Ducasse, Batali, Valenti, Colicchio, and dozens of others are on their way over to 22nd street just to slap you in the face. I hear Julia Child's chartered a plane to New York.

Momma -- When the Italian-American Anti-Stereotype Association is done with the producers of the Sopranos, they'll be stopping by the Restaurant.

Drew -- Dude, your boss has a Don-Johnson, mid-80s, absur 5:00 shadow. Dont' be your boss. Oh, and what's it like to be humiliated on national television when you're 20 years old? Congratulations, however, most people dont reach a such a high "prick" level until they get their JD or MBA.

The new waitress -- you're not hot enough to make up for being such an idiot. O.k., maybe you are.

[cinghiale]

Salon has an interview with "Reality TV's Intern from Hell".

Well, seems Drew ought to know from problems. The Moonlight Restaurant in New Hope, PA, which got a mention in the 8/2001 James Beard Foundation dateline on the occasion of its opening, had closed by 7/2003. Seems it got good reviews from local diners and featured an ex-Le Beq Fin at the stove. New Hope attacts moneyed diners. Wonder what happened?

As for the Pineville Tavern, I happened to have eaten there last spring (after plant shopping at Renny Farms in Wrightstown, PA). However, it doesn't seem to have quite the high-flying aspirations of the shuttered Moonlight (motto: "Join us and enjoy casual fine-dining with the real locals"). As I recall, I had a pasta dish featuring the self-acclaimed home made pasta from Drew's father, but it wasn't remarkable; my wife did enjoy her crab cakes. The joint offers essentially glorified bar food -- for the menu, click here. Now, just what is it about the "15 years of experience" in a tavern that qualifies Drew to "intern" at a high-pressure NYC eatery? Maybe it's the handmade meatballs that both places feature...

[Barb48]

Well I for one don't care about his legal shenanigans, though I'm sure you will all blast me for thinking that way.  I think he's a great chef, never looses sight of the average cook and a likeable cad with a boyish charm to boot!

So there.  I said my piece!...hey, what's a girl to do anyway.  He's cute and SEXY 

It's not so much that I just disagree as I find myself astonished.

Rocco looks like a bloated, paunchy coke freak to me.

But perhaps that's just me.

It is most definitely you, Jinmyo. He is not a bloated, paunchy coke freak.

He is a puerile, whining ninny. Let's keep it straight.

Paul

Edited for comedic effect.

...It's just you Paul...I still love you despite your shortcomings...

[bloviatrix]

Can someone please explain to me what the purpose of Tony, the chef visiting from Italy is? Is he there for comic effect? Assisting with recipe development for a menu change?

[Barb48]

I'd just like to clarify one thing here...I am a moral and upstanding citizen and don't believe anyone should hold themselves above the law.

I'm just a crazy mid-age foodie I guess with too much time on her hands! LOL

My teenage lust is running on overtime I suppose!

[glenn]

Now wait a second. To the best of my knowledge, it is not illegal to bartend at 20 years old in NY. Under age servers are allowed to serve drinks and I don't think there's any difference.

Also, did anyone else think it strange when Rocco tells his assistant, "Get my lawyer on the phone." I mean, who sez that? They say, "get me Tony Scalia" or Benny Cardozo, or whomever.

[daysee8]

Now wait a second. To the best of my knowledge, it is not illegal to bartend at 20 years old in NY. Under age servers are allowed to serve drinks and I don't think there's any difference.

Also, did anyone else think it strange when Rocco tells his assistant, "Get my lawyer on the phone." I mean, who sez that? They say, "get me Tony Scalia" or Benny Cardozo, or whomever.

In normal life, that's what you'd say. But when you're recording voiceovers for a show to help it make sense, you'd say what is scripted. You have to watch the way Burnett edits carefully ... 99% of the time if the mouth isn't shown moving, he's dubbing in a voiceover that was either recorded, or said at a different time.

[Carolyn Tillie]

Now wait a second. To the best of my knowledge, it is not illegal to bartend at 20 years old in NY. Under age servers are allowed to serve drinks and I don't think there's any difference.

I'm not sure about New York, but in California, if you are under 21 you can SERVE a poured drink, but you can't pour it yourself. That might be the fine line here... Drew was behind the bar, pouring drinks.

BTW, I have to add that I am loving every minute of it -- the cheesy show and our eGullet commentary! It is all fabulous!

[daysee8]

I'm surprised there hasn't been more talk here about the double dipping on plated food that Rocco did last night.

[jersey13]

THANK YOU!!! I was beginning to wonder if anyone noticed! I suppose it would be beneficial for the trollops in the dining room whining about not seeing Rocco,to know that while they didn't get to see Rocco, they still got a part of him in their meal.

[Tim D]

As an attorney, I love this show. It conclusively demonstrates that people in the restaurant business are way lower on the evolutionary chain than lawyers. (Sure, advertising, insurance, child pornographers and politicians are also beneath us.)

You just keep telling yourself that, it obviously makes you feel better.

[Rachel Perlow]

Sparkitus,

That's interesting...the other day Donald Trump said he was going to get a lot more money for another season of 'The Apprentice.'  So is Apprentice paid and Rocco's not paid?

There's a difference between getting paid and getting paid as an actor. If "The Apprentice" is produced by NBC News, Trump is free to work out whatever kind of contract he likes with NBC, as are the other people who appear on the show. If it's being produced as a dramatic series, the terms of the contracts would be governed by union regulations (meaning Trump would be deamed to be an actor), which include required residual payments, etc.

It's no wonder the networks love "reality" TV. No SAG to deal with, no AFTRA, probably no Writers' Guild. They've just removed a couple of layers of salaries.

According to the TiVO guide, The Apprentice is a game show.

[aliaseater]

I'm surprised there hasn't been more talk here about the double dipping on plated food that Rocco did last night.

Or how about Chef Tony directing his staff:

"Is the food hot? Stick your fingers in it! Is it hot?"

Makes me cringe...

[godito]

I was wondering why intern-boy didn't put the phone on hold as he handed it to his coworker

Because he's an idiot

I agree with the posts, JC is a total dirtbag, a comic book bad guy right out of Star Wars. Then, why can't I help but siding with him on this one? Well, maybe because Rocco claims to never have seen financial statements (because he's too busy flirting with every girl at book signings). Because he's never there (JC is there more than he is.... hell, Drew was there more than he was) Pretty much because he's an idiot. Only Drew was more of an idiot, so I was glad Rocco threw him out! And then Chodorow threw him out too That's it kid, your career is over. You disrespected everybody and kept talking about them respecting you. No, you're 20! You're the Intern Your nobody!

Me: Ask me who Drew is?

Somebody from the forum: Who is Drew?

Me: Drew is NOBODY

All in all, I'm very entertained by the show (I'm ashamed to admit to this) but without all the comments here, I probably won't even be watching the show! Thanks y'all!

[jhlurie]

I'm surprised there hasn't been more talk here about the double dipping on plated food that Rocco did last night.

Or how about Chef Tony directing his staff:

"Is the food hot? Stick your fingers in it! Is it hot?"

Makes me cringe...

I can't be completely happy about the WAY Rocco did it (I don't have the tape queued up here, but he took it off of a plated order, didn't he? And they certainly cut away too quick to tell if he washed his hands beforehand or afterwards), but tasting and touching food are all pretty constant and essential steps in preparation.

Presumably though, they have clean hands beforehand, are wearing gloves, and/or wash their hands again after touching the food.