Starts tonight! YAY!!!

Kitchen Nightmares

So here is the link for the show with some previews and clips.

Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares

Just wondered if anyone caught the first episode. I watched and really kind of liked it. I am just wondering if the real people, Peter specifically, are really the jerks they are portrayed on the show. Did bill collectors actually show up or was it a set up.

Did a bill collector actually shove the old man to the ground or was that part of the show?

I thought it was awesome the netword provided the restaurant with a new kitchen.

As for Peter's turn around in attitude over night ... that I am not sure I buy.

I did like the show, however I think I like Hell's Kitchen better. At least you get to know the people on HK and support or hate them. This show is very transient.

I'll keep watching though

Okay, I didn't see this so I did a new one. If there is a way to move that over here, please be my guest because I don't know how to move things.

I just noticed JB already started this subject .. if anyone can combine them please do.

OMG, someone needs to bring Peter into the 21st century. He reminded me of a pit bull, barking and barking and barking... and lunging at people. Jeez. He is the single biggest reason that restaurant was going down the tubes. Also I noticed some "creative editing" in the season previews earlier that made it look like Ramsay was going to get his butt kicked when in reality Peter was screaming at the bill collector. What a surprise...

I loved this show!!!

Awesome show, but I think it was way more staged than the original version. I am so scared to see the kitchen of next week's episode, with all the bugs!

This show is clearly heavily staged, which is a disappointment compared to the original BBC Ramsey's Kitchen Nightmares. While I am sure that Peter's is populated by characters, and that Peter himself is a piece of work, it was so over the top. Why was the server yelling at the head chef (no less) about the quality of food, saying that it embarrassd him? I think Chef Ramsey might know that servers are not responsible for food quality. (I wish a server would approach me--much less the executive chef!--like that about the food. You would see a show for real then.)
And what's up with the mini-episode of "GoodFellas" when these bill collectors showed up? I am sure Peter is a hothead, but a fight every time? And how about those guys. They didn't look like legitimate purveyors to me, more like a guy who knows a guy who knows a guy.
Roachy refrigerator or no, I hope the next episode is more real.

Gordon Ramsay is going to be on Larry King on CNN tonight at 9!!!!!

That kitchen made me ill! I think I'm off eating out for awhile. Oh who am I kidding--that comes with the job descip... in fact I'm eating out in about an hour... :(

The latest raunchy restaurant was an Indian restaurant located just a couple of blocks from Gordon's own, London.

This place was overrun by rats, roaches, flies, poor decor and way too many managers. The hamburgers were moldy and the vegetables were rotten.

This place actually made me ill to watch. It also made me wonder just how many 'classy' restaurants may be in this condition.

Gordon steam cleaned the kitchen which was a disaster. He had his crew remodel both the inside and out. An Indian speciality chef was brought in to condense the menus (which were numerous) into one managable menu with authentic Indian food.

He also took the owners, cooks and managers on a field trip down the street to London. The difference was amazing. I can say this, I'd never feel ill at ease eatng at any restaurant Gordon Ramsay might be involved with.

One manager was fired/quit when it became obvious he was out of his element and preferred to spend his time snoozing on one of the benches getting his head rubbed by a waitress or talking on his phone. With the loss of this deadbeat the owner decided to hire the Indian chef Gordon brought in as a permanent consultant. Revenues increased dramatically and formerly discontent customers loved the new look and the new menu.

Another success for Gordan Ramsay.

Do you find this show as compelling as the British version? I don't. I think this version seems too "staged" and less "real" for whatever that means. I'd be curious to know what others who have watched both think.

I have never seen the other version. The first episode seemed very "hollywood" but this one was a Little more believeable but still seemed too ... can't think of the word. I just enjoy watching Ramsay ... when he prayed before he ate, for God to save him ... it was pretty cool

The "real" Kitchen Nightmares is excellent in terms of seeing how he helped them get back on track, and also he returns later to see how they fared. The new one is entertaining, but feels more like a reality show, and by that I mean that the staging factor is obvious. I like them both for different reasons, but mainly because Ramsay makes good television. :P

Tonight was a good episode and more believable and felt less staged than the first two. Of course the manager was the big problem AGAIN.

This restaurant was not really in bad shape. The food was good and fresh, just heavier than Gordon preferred. The problem as mentioned was the know it all manager who really seemed completely inept.

The changes really only consisted of finding their place among 40 other restaurants that had popped up in their area and to update the decor and menu.

They decided to go 'healthy' and lighter. The manager who would give away 50% off coupons to customers just as they were ready to pay the bill, Gordon also discovered was a 'sign' fanatic.

It was funny when Gordon brought in a wood chipper and destroyed all the signs, much to the dismay of the teary eyed manager.

The decor was made over and I sort of laughed because last week Ramsay removed all the 'cloth' on the walls at the Indian restaurant but putting cloth ON the walls was part of the new design this time.

Another run at getting the owners to fire the manager lead to apologies and promised of better behaviour on the managers part and they decided to keep him for now.

With a glimpse at the newly designed restaurant and manager two months after the new concepts were implemented showed the restaurant to still be thriving and getting good reviews.

Another Ramsay success story .... are there any other kind?

Thanks for the post Chairo--I missed this too--I was watching Ghost Hunters. I wish they would wait longer to go back for an update. 2 months is hardly any time to fall back into "bad habits" if you know what I mean.

The latest kitchen nightmare was Seaside restaurant suffering poor management, an arrogant uncaring chef, a sous chef who seemed to prefer standing around and a mother's scathing tongue.

It appears Dad started the restaurant in 1962 and it was a great success. He was the chef and managed the restaurant. His son was never good enough and ended up with poor selfesteem and the inability to manage anyone.

Mom is one of those grating know it all who also felt son was a useless asset. Dad dies, son tries to run restaurant and fails miserably.

Enter Gordan Ramsay. He finds disgusting stuff in the kitchen as usual including moldy pesto which he had eaten when sampling the food. He found a miserable son, who wants the restaurant to work but suffers to often from self pity parties.

Kitchen is closed, cleaned, chef fired, sous chef fired and a new menu implemented. Ramsay takes the son to a gym and works on getting him to become aggressive and then brings in his own matre 'd to teach sonny how to manage a restaurant.

We have a success story. After a rocky start (of course) the new menu is well received and the patrons love it. Ramsay totally remodeled the interior to take it back to the elegance of the past and everyone loved that.

End of story ... another successful intervention by Ramsay. Jump ahead to 5 months later and the restaurant is still enjoying success but not under the managment of mom and son. Son received an offer he couldn't refuse and sold the restaurant. {Makes one wonder if this was the plan all along ... bring in the restaurant magician to clean it up, remodel and get it ship shape for sale ... makes you go mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm)

I'm barely watching this anymore... is anyone else?

It's so Ho-Hum for me...

It looks like I am LOL

The newest restaurant makeover was actually pretty interesting. I need to stop writing down the names of the restaurants because the one last night I think is one I'd like to visit.

A convoluted menu was overhauled and this became the towns only steak house. (They had been serving salad that had been first pressed into a funnel to make a cone shaped salad)

As usual after the changes, the opening night was shakey, and made even worse as the mayor was one of the customers waiting to get fed.

Also in this case the owner himself seemed to be behind most of the problems. Not able to deal well with people. Yelling and cursing seemed to be his way of getting a point across. If something was broken yelling at it was his way of fixing it.

Anyway ... as I said, this is a place I'd really choose to eat now. The meat is fresh and supplied by a local butcher Gordon discovered was anxious and willing to supply the frest meat.

This was an historical building and I love visiting old renovated places

We did not get a glimpse of where this restaurant was 5 months into the future but I'd bet it's doing well

I was watching, but work evenings. Now I can't find it anymore!!!

It's still on at the same time--9pm on Fox, Wednesday nights. I just don't find it very interesting so I don't watch. Last week I don't think it was on because of baseball though...

It has been off since the baseball playoffs. This week was a rerun. The new episodes resume next week

Since again, there seems to be no interest in this program I have stopped doing recaps. Last two shows were predictable. Problems with the chefs, problems solved, restaurant a success

Yeah it's losing steam with me. I may watch it just as filler between Kid Nation and Project Runway though...

This past show was probably one of the better ones, but even though Ramsay turned it around it closed it's doors after 5 months. The woman was so far in debt ... $65,000 to the bank and over 30 thousand to her sister, she couldn't catch up. Prior to Ramsay, everything was instant or frozen and one emploee was stealing her blind.

It actually looked like somewhere I'd go after Ramsay finished with it. I was actually sorry to see she couldn't make it work.

Looks like next week's show is a rerun, so maybe the end of this rip off show is coming to an end. I like Hell's Kitchen much better.

Last night Ramsay saved an Italian Restaurant. Owner hated him and was humiliated by him and wanted to kick him out ... then wave the magic wand and he loves him and is happy with all he has done and is now running a successful, money making restaurant.

These shows are just too corny and predictable. I still love looking at Ramsay though

I noticed that every week the owner hates Ramsey but then suddenly "gets it"--there must be some kind of disconnect in editing or something because I never see this big epiphany that happens. It's just like all of the sudden... "ah NOW I get it..."

I'm so hating this show and only watch it as filler until PR4. Although I have to say I DID think that drunk restaurant patron who was yelling at that bag who was complaining about the food was HILARIOUS. I think Ramsey was stupid to stoop to the level of that other complaining woman who obviously just wanted camera time. I wouldn't have given that old bag the satisfaction!

I agree .. the argument was funny. I also agree it surprised me when Ramsay tried to humiliate the customer. I didn't think that was his style.

This past Sunday I found the ORIGINAL Kitchen Nightmares and except for not being able to understand what most of the people were saying, I liked it a lot better than the funky version being shown in America. There is more variety in the British version and it seems less scripted.

So if you like the premise but hate the way it's done, catch the original on BBC America on Thrusday night