Most shocking Hell's Kitchen EVEH! (with spoilers)

[Firegoat]

Well, I certainly guessed wrong before tonight's show(s). I had Jason pegged for going home. Any clue why they are running two shows at a time? I don't mind, but it's going to make for a very short season. And am I the only one who is wondering if Ed still has a teaching job after this episode?

[cabking]

I thought it was interesting that GR dinged Fran for soggy bread (saying a good sandwich must never have this fault), but showcased the French Dip sandwich as a paragon of the genre. Which is odd because it has soggy bread.

Holli may be a stealth competitor. Not too many bad comments so far....

Oh, and when will the NSFW Ed outtakes hit the Web???

[dave_c]

What winery did the blue team go to after the sandwich challenge?

The cooking challenges seemed rigged to create drama.
Benjamin wins for the Red Team after moving over from the Blue.
Siobhan's sandwich was good (according to Ramsay) after her team sits her out.

[kprange]

He took apart her sandwich before he ate it. i bet each individual part of the sandwich was good, but the combo sounded too much.

[LindaWhit]

Except Siobhan's sandwich, upon Benjamin listing the ingredients, DIDN'T sound good. At least to me. Seared "ahi tuna" on CHallah, cheese, and some other ingredients that just didn't sound like they went together.

The winery - can't remember...started with an "R"? (not that that helps)

[dave_c]

I remember oranges where used... The more I watch HK. The more I feel that HK is as real as professional wrestling.

[LindaWhit]

Yes! First, the tuna-tuna on CHallah <grin>, cheese, oranges, and some type of spread? I remember wrinkling my nose at the combination.

And yet GR said it was good? And because the Red Team didn't put up her sandwich, they lost.

And I think you just hit the nail on the head: HK = professional wrestling in terms of "reality".

[phantomdoc]

Ramsey said that soggy bread from Fran was a major problem; right after dipped beef at Philippe. Idiot. In Tony Bourdain's new book he says that none of Ramseys restaurants run at a profit. The quarter million an episode from the show keeps them afloat.

[kprange]

Gee, with all the food waste we see on the show, it is shocking that his restaurants might not run at a profit.

[coney with everything]

I think that's stunt food :)

[HabaneroJane]

rosemount. and omg, CHallah. That killed me.

[Firegoat]

I have to admit. Being midwestern and non-Jewish, I didn't catch on at first what the problem was, because I've never heard anyone pronounce that word. I find most of my embarrassments at word pronunciation always seem to center around food.... wish I had taken French instead of Spanish in college. :(

[HabaneroJane]

They went to Rosemount.

[C. Hamster]

They had to, since it's pimped on the show

[Firegoat]

is that the wine they have behind the chefs in the confessionals this year?

[Firegoat]

The Salvatore/Siobhan interview
http://www.examiner.com/x-11363-TV-Ex...

[LindaWhit]

Interesting. Salvatore said "To me, the stronger cook was the Blue Team -- I thought this from the first day -- was Blue Jay."

Wonder if Jay's putting his stuff in storage yet. :-) (Not that Salvatore's a good judge of cooking! LOL)

ETA: But *I've* had Jay's cooking, and it's good. :-) Sorry Jason - didn't mean to initially seem to slam you there! LOL

[HabaneroJane]

"Matt: Salvatore, you were one of the most interesting contestants in the history of the show. "

really? One of the most interesting? Cutest maybe. Interesting, not so much.

[C. Hamster]

I thought he was a dullard, too

[Firegoat]

I do want to give a shout out to Jean Phillipe's elegant white coat.

[coney with everything]

Like Habanero Jane, I intensely disliked the fact that the one and only time the red team won, they got that stupid 50's diner "prize", but the blue team prizes have almost all been less sucky.

Don't know why they can't find competent women in the first place. Then I don't know why they game the process so even when the women do win, it's hardly worth the effort.

[Firegoat]

Even the blue team's kind of sucky prize -- the English pub -- they still got free cookware.

[Firegoat]

I do think watching the two shows back to back, that the red team got ripped off in their reward prize. I mean, going to a diner compared to flying in a private jet to wine country?

[LindaWhit]

I think because they're trying to get Master Chef into the late summer "season", they're doubling up on eps for HK.

I just LAUGHED at Ed's antics in the hot tub. Man, they all got schnockered on the wine tour! I wouldn't want to have been them the next day during prep.

Ben started out being a major tool, was then nice, and then became another major tool in the 2nd episode. I really disliked his smirk when Siobhan was sent home. He seems to get all nasty and tell Nilka to "get the eff outta here!" next week. Real good leadership there.

Fran's not long for this show. I can't see how she can make it much further. It probably should have been her - hasn't she been up there 4-5x? Disliked how GR gave the Blue Team the win in the one episode but then sent both Red Teamers back to their line and called up Salvatore as the worst chef in the entire kitchen. Yeah, he was (close on with Siobhan, IMO) but if their team won, shouldn't he have had immunity? Boo.

And Joanie? Jay (Santos) definitely smokes. :-) Perhaps we haven't seen it on the show, but he does. And so far, he seems to be the best and just might take it. I think he's only had one thing turned back by Chef Ramsay? But he's not really ever been screamed at on an individual basis that I can recall.

And we got our first "YOU DONKEY!" callout by GR this season. Surprised it hasn't come earlier. :-)

[Firegoat]

We also had him referring to someone looking like a quail. That was original.....

[HabaneroJane]

I wonder if he called Benjamin the quail. He does look like one. An injured one.
And how about the discrepancy between the winner rewards? One gets a trip to a Johnny Rockets wanna be and the other gets to fly to wine country.

[Joanie]

So that means every single chef smokes? I guess all the chefs in the world negate the drop in smoking by everyone else. Somehow I find it esp. gross watching them all smoke their heads off all the time.

[LindaWhit]

Huh? I didn't say that all chefs smoke. I just said I'm aware that Jay smokes outside his own restaurant. I don't like it either. But until it's illegal, not much we can do about it, right?

[HabaneroJane]

I think a prerequisite to appear on this show is that you smoke like a chimney! I did notice one chef standing in the background trying to avoid being suffocated. The black male chef who always seems like he's gonna go postal.

[Joanie]

No, I said they all smoked. Maybe there's one who doesn't but I was counting at one point and it seemed like everyone had a cigarette except Jay. Nasty esp. when they're all gathered in one room smoking away, then I think of the wonderful aroma that will follow them back to the kitchen.

[LindaWhit]

My bad. I thought you were asking me a question if everyone did. :-) And I thought I'd seen Jay with a cigarette at least once during the times they're up in the "outside" lounge area? I do think this group is the "smokingest" group they've had.

And I agree on the smell being brought back into the kitchen. But they're usually smoking after service, so hopefully they're not doing that.

[Joanie]

I saw about the last 30 min last nite and wondered is there one chef who doesn't smoke? I don't think Jason (aka Jay) does, he's the only one tho I think. It's really obnoxious and ugly looking. Plus dragging that stinky smell into all the kitchen stuff.

And what was the shocking thing? The guy dropping his pants? This show is still the silliest of them all.

[HabaneroJane]

When did this show become a lame attempt at an MTV dating show? That hot tub scene was so gratuitous. If I want to watch drunks in a hot tub, I will watch Jersey Shore.
This show has so jumped the shark.
That said, there is STILL no front runner like there previously has been,
I also just realized that this season (maybe last season too?) they don't announce the salary the "execu" chef will get at the Savoy. They used to do that.
The show has become a joke.
Ramsay has become a joke.
Even JP is laughing, I think.
In the meantime, I can't stand Benjamin. He is smug and not all that good. Ok, so he can take charge. So what. He still can't cook.

[coney with everything]

That bit with the "angry" customer was so freaking staged.

ITA, the show is beyond being a joke. What the HELL is up with Ramsay? Is he that desperate?

[HabaneroJane]

Coney--yep. That scene was absurd. Same with Ramsay kicking the chefs out of the kitchen all the time. I was kind of hoping that instead of two hour episodes every week to move the show along, Ramsay would just kick 'em all out---for good.

[LindaWhit]

Ahh, yes, but this show has *never* been anywhere near serious like Top Chef has tried to be (exception: TC2). So "jumping the shark" happened in the first season of HK.

[HabaneroJane]

But the first few seasons seemed to have legitimately competent competitors. Now it's just a calamity. Like that Wipe Out show , only in the kitchen!

[chowser]

We were saying Ramsey has become a parody of himself with his smashing food, kicking, spitting, etc. He used to do it on occasion when things really went wrong but now he looks for a chance to do it. EVERY chance he gets. And, even when he's complimenting, he starts off yelling like he's mad. Well, this whole show has become a parody of itself and not in a good way. It seems they intentionally pick "chefs" and "executive chefs" who are incompetent and think they're God's gift to the culinary world. I wonder if Ramsey knows what he's doing to his reputation. He's become a joke.

[HabaneroJane]

ah, yes, I completely agree. Absolutely. And yes, as I said before, Ramsay should be screaming at the casting directors first and foremost..unless, of course, he has his hands in that part of the show too, in which case, they should all take off their jackets..

[LindaWhit]

Well, having eaten one of this season's chefs' food, I can say that they're not ALL incompetent. :-) However, I do think they tend to make them look as foolish as possible.

However, I also think it's the style of someone calling out orders from the pass, as Ramsay does. I've not worked in a professional kitchen, but is that really the norm in most restaurants?

[Firegoat]

ooo who what where did you eat?
And I really don't think they are incompetent.... at least not the better ones. If I had a camera on me 24 hours a day and no sleep, you'd be amazed the stupid things I could do after the editing monkeys got ahold of it.

[chowser]

And, they also know the more outrageous, the more air time. Who remembers any of the older contestants, other than the craziest ones? I can't even remember the winners but I still remember Colleen who owned a cooking school but couldn't cook. I've always said the key to staying on reality shows is to be outrageous, at first, to get everyone's attention and ratings. Then, as things get tighter, up the game and start performing and being nice.

[HabaneroJane]

True, true. But the real question is, does the winner really get to be executive chef at the Savoy or just a glorified sous chef>?

[chowser]

With any of these reality shows, how many end up apprenticing for Donald Trump, getting happily married, working at the Savoy, etc.? At most, they're getting their 15 minutes and some publicity for the star. LOL, if they did end up executive chef at the Savoy, it would be a good reason to avoid it--even if they just ended up sous chefs there!

[LindaWhit]

Based on past history of this show, no way will the winner be EC at the Savoy in London. But being a glorified sous chef at the Savoy isn't a BAD thing to have on a resume, is it?

And Jay's not been shy about saying he wants the publicity in various press since HK7 has started. The guy known as Smurf and Bluebird or Bluejay has gotten some publicity. :-) But he's also kept his head down - at least from the editing we've seen - and has done well in the kitchen. Well enough NOT to have incurred the wrath of GR.

[LindaWhit]

EXACTLY re: the cameras. They're also awake for 18-20 hours and then up after a very short period of sleep to start the next challenge. So I'm not surprised at some of the things they say after being hammered at in the confessionals or do in the kitchen on no sleep.

Jay (a.k.a. Jason Santos) is chef at a restaurant in Somerville, MA - Gargoyles. He's been there about 5 years or so. Regularly changes the menu, but the duck entree (Hoisin & Honey Glazed Duck Confit with mango, sticky rice and cashews) has always been very good.

He worked for Andy Husbands from last season's HK prior to becoming EC at Gargoyles, and has cooked at a James Beard House dinner (friends attended and said it was excellent), as well as being invited to a recent molecular gastronomy conference, according to his press, where Wylie Dufresne and Grant Achatz and Jose Andres were also in attendance.

He ain't no slacker. :-) It's been awhile since I've been there for dinner, but it has almost always been excellent.

[chowser]

Jay has been out of the limelight there, I think for good reason. He hasn't been called out, hasn't done anything outrageous, just keeps his head down and performs, unlike Scott and Benjamin who are full of themselves.

[Firegoat]

But Ben got nekkid for us.... surely that counts for something :D

[chowser]

LOL, a termination from the school board? I asked my son in high school whether a teacher who did that would be considered cool or a moron. A moron.

Wait, I might be getting them confused. Is Ben the teacher? Or the chef on the women's team?

[Firegoat]

CRAP My fault. I meant Ed.

[LindaWhit]

Yuck...no he didn't. Ed did. Nekkid Ed = OK. Nekkid Benjamin - No Way, Jose.

ETA: Ahh, see you corrected yourself. :-)

[Firegoat]

I think he's been pretty impressive so far... and the other contestants seem to think he is the guy to beat.

[chowser]

LOL, as in "he's my major competitor..." even if they can't hold a candle to him.

[LindaWhit]

But has anyone other than Ben said that about Jay? I don't recall. And Ben and Jay know each other and have probably had each other's food, so the local competition within the show is natural.

[Firegoat]

Salvatore did in his post elimination interview. And I think Ed has.

[LindaWhit]

Forgot about Sal's post-elim interview. Sheesh. I even noted it below.

I'm so losing brain cells faster than they're generating. :-/

[Firegoat]

I'm wasting way too much time caring about this show, but it is pretty much the only tv I watch all summer... i need something to balance my NPR. Back in season 1and 2 when they had actual non trained cooks in it I really thought about entering. I think it is impossible now.

[LindaWhit]

:-) I know what you mean. I'm only watching this season because of Jay to see how he does and if he ever catches hell from GR. :-)

[chowser]

"I'm wasting way too much time caring about this show"

Me, too and wasted DVR space, too. I don't watch it all--thanks to the DVR.

[C. Hamster]

Ed's career mentoring high school kids may not look too bright now

[ChinoWayne]

"Even JP is laughing, I think."

All the way to the bank, as a cast member guaranteed a check every week, every season, and probably sharing in the residuals.

I have said it before, and I guess it bears repeating, this show survives from week to week, and is discussed here, and probably elsewhere, because as viewers, we are promised a smash bang train wreck every time we tune in.

And of course the formulaic scripting continues, whether it is hot tub follies, or ringers planted in the restaurant to get in to it with Gordon, drunk cheftestants, or Gordon’s Tirades™ all scenes we have seen in previous seasons, or every week in terms of Gordon’s Tirades™.

And although not scripted, the performance by Siobhan was a result of brilliant casting, she had a target on her forehead from day one.

The reward with an excursion, without Gordon, to Frisco's Fifties Diner was all scripted out. Friscos is a real Greek diner owned by real Greeks. I like their burgers, rings and chocolate cokes, and have extolled their breakfasts on the L.A. board. But it looks as if they closed the restaurant for the Hell's Kitchen filming, and moved some of the tables around, and the production company brought in the booze to juice up the cheftestants, because Frisco's does not serve alcohol. The decor and the roller skating waitresses are the real deal though.

[coney with everything]

Has anyone turned Gordon's trademarked Tirades into a drinking game yet?

It's RAW! (drink)
You DONKEY (drink)
Get OUT (drink)
EVERYBODY OUT (two drinks)

[LindaWhit]

FEEL it! (drink)
It's STONE COLD! (drink)

[ChinoWayne]

YOU come over here (drink)
WHAT'S THAAAAT (drink)

[LindaWhit]

"TALK to each other!" (drink)
"Awww, come ON!" (drink)
"Dear, oh dear!" (drink)
"PISS OFF!" (drink)

and the piece de resistance?

"SHUT IT DOWN!" (drink, drink, drink, drink, drink)

[Bob W]

LOL yes, "SHUT IT DOWN" should get max value!

[smartie]

it's RUBBERY - one drink
come HERE madam - one drink
all of you STOP what you're doing and COME HERE - 2 drinks

[Firegoat]

"Yes, Chef!" one drink

[chowser]

Hammered before the first commercial break!

[Firegoat]

Then you can watch naked, all the better to enjoy Ed!

[Bob W]

If everyone had to drink when something got bleeped, there would be a lot of deaths from alcohol poisoning.

[jujuthomas]

Ha Bob, I was just thinking that! :)

[dave_c]

<kick the trash can> (drink)
<throw food against the wall> (drink twice)
<when you ask yourself, "why am I watching this show?"> (drink the whole bottle and repeat)

[ChinoWayne]

Self correcting: Frisco's DOES now seem to have a full liquor license. But it just would not feel right ordering a drink, other than a chocolate coke at Frisco's

[Bob W]

I picked a good night to start watching this season!

Yeah, as soon as Ed dropped the trunks (and what the heck went on after the cameras turned away), my immediate thought was, "Um, isn't this guy a high school teacher?"

I cannot see Ramsay declaring the pompous butthead and crabcake wrecker Benjamin the winner, but stranger things have happened on "reality tv."

[Firegoat]

Altho it can't be good for his teaching career, I'm all for more Ed in the hot tub. As cheesy as the show is, I'm looking forward to next week already... I love the blind taste testing challenge.

[smartie]

I had the 2 episodes Tivoed so watched them back to back with no commercials, thought that Fran would have left but she hangs on by a thread. Jay looking like a possible winner.

[Fydeaux]

I missed the second half of the second hour. Can you tell me who got the boot?

[HollyDolly]

Siobhan got the boot.I hope I'm spelling it right.Yeah,was surprised to see back to back episodes too.

[Firegoat]

Fox also already has them up online so you can watch the ending.