The Plonker Club

It seems that all of the information about Gordon Ramsay on Hell’s Kitchen, his new cooking shows and a host of other dirt, has come from a single recent interview.

The interview comes from monsters and critics dot com and apparently featured a host of interviewers on a conference called posting questions.

The interview was criticised by one paper in particular for not asking the tough questions (about infidelity and his restaurants closing – but we all know, that caller would have been removed from the call and interviewers were probably warned before the event on what was and what was not appropriate).

The interview posed a few dull questions such as who would you like top prepare a meal for you (the answrs if you are interested include John George, Thomas Keller and a young California chef in Santa Monica called Melisse and why beef wellington has been pulled from the Hell’s Kitchen menu.

Here is a sample of my favourite quotes form the interview.

Gordon Ramsay on the Calibre of this years Hell’s Kitchen contestants:
I have to be honest, season five for me is: a) the most competitive; b) I will stick my neck out on this one and the top four contestants this year could have quite easily won in any of the previous years.

Gordon Ramsay on the elimination process in Hell’s Kitchen:
And I go through that shit fight for the first six or seven weeks and then I get rid of the sort of donkeys and I focus on the talent.

Gordon Ramsay on the Cookalong Live show in the US and the impossible limitation placed on him:
The live cook along, yes, it has been picked up and it’s going to be a huge excitement. I can’t wait to go live….. No cursing, that’s the deal. So I’m fucked.

Gordon Ramsay on the alleged feud between him and Mario Batali.
I’ve never met Mario Batali. Obviously the man’s a very talented chef…. but today I respect him, he’s an amazing chef, but as far as I’m concerned I haven’t been banned from his restaurants.

Gordon Ramsay comparing Hell’s Kitchen to Top Chef
It’s really funny, because there’s always, I get told by …I had one that didn’t get Hell’s Kitchen and ended up on Top Chef. So there’s obviously a huge competitive streak there.
Where I find my frustration with Top Chef is a challenge is a challenge. I put my contestants, my chefs under real scrutiny, that they’re running a restaurant because I’m giving the restaurant away. So the jeopardy is not because they’re a lot more important, but I put them through the paces and understand that it’s more of an entrepreneurial skill as well, not just dealing with the kitchen, the management, the delegations, the level of professionalism, but the overall aspect of it.

Gordon Ramsay on the credit crunch
So we’ve seen a downturn globally in terms of the recession, so everyone’s tightening their belts and even I’m tightening my belt.

Gordon Ramsay answering if he is still a chef:

Gordon Ramsay talking about his own Kitchen Nightmares
I had a situation in my own restaurant last week in New York where one of the line cooks got upset when he overcooked the New York Strip and his response was, he just put his head down. I said, “Listen, your response stinks. You’re standing there like a petulant teenager.
You’re 29 years of age. You earn $70,000 a year and you’re talking to me like you’re a baby. Get a grip.

If you want to see the full interview – go to http://www.monstersandcritics.com/smallscreen/features/article_1456611.php/Hells_Kitchens_Gordon_Ramsay_the_full_interview

David Driscoll
The Plonker Club
The Unofficial Gordon Ramsay Fansite
www.theplonkerclub.com

A few nights ago on Fox, as part of their ‘confuse the crap out of everyone’ or possibly using dartboard programming – a new episode of Kitchen Nightmares USA aired.

This episode was for Cafe 36 in La Grange Il.

Episode 11 of season 2 wasn’t bad – there are some things that Fox won’t do away with – like annoying spoilers throughout the show, and recaps after ad breaks – I’m sure these shows are about 30 mins of footage (the torrents I watch here in Australia are 42-44 minutes (no ads). As always Gordon Ramsay’s passion for change and want to help came through – and this one wasn’t a bad story. A sweet old couple with no experience, who put in over $1.1 million (plus not drawing paychecks since the business opened) at least this one wasn’t just one big fight.

Please bring on the new series form the UK and fix the US series.

There is the final episode in the series airing on Jan 22 in the US according to the Wikipedia entry for Hells Kitchen.

Bring on more ‘QUALITY” Gordon Ramsay.

David Driscoll
Chief Plonker at The Plonker Club
The Unofficial Gordon Ramsay Fansite

www.theplonkerclub.com

I just found these two videos on the web – they are very funny. If you are offended by the language, I wonder why you are looking at ANY videos on the topic of Gordon Ramsay. I think these guys are a special for the next series of the F-Word or Gordon Ramsay’s Cookalong Live!

Guys, your really need to upgrade from Singstar to Rockband II!!!

Here is part two of what truly is Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares – Normal Person vs Gordon Ramsay

The also have a cool website – www.kamikazecookery.com which includes videos for sale and other apparel.

Have fun, even if they are taking the piss out of Gordon – I’m sure Chef Ramsay would love to get them into Hell’s Kitchen!

http://www.kamikazecookery.com

David Driscoll
Chief Plonker at The Plonker Club
The Unofficial Gordon Ramsay Fansite
www.theplonkerclub.com

That’s right Gordon Ramsay and Jamie Oliver will be head to head in a much promoted stoush and it will be televised! Others big name foodies are also involved in the melee, including Hugh Fernley-Wernley and Heston Blumenthal.

The battle is of course the Great British Food Fight – to be seen over a two week period on Channel 4 in the UK. Rumours are that the show will be on late this month, although there is nothing confirmed on the Channel 4 website.

Here is the fantastic trailer that Channel 4 have put out, and it has been uploaded – just to tease everyone the world over. It is a very funny ad. Check it out!

Apparently Gordon Ramsay ‘s contribution will be a show called Gordon Ramsay’s Great British Nightmare and will feature one of the restaurants that is the subject of an upcoming Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares episode. The focus will be on encouraging patronage of local restaurants (I thought he wanted us back in the kitchen???) and tips or restaurants on how to be the current financial gloom and doom.

Ding, Ding – bring on Gordon Ramsay (and the other three as well!)

David Driscoll
Chief Plonker at The Plonker Club
The Unofficial Gordon Ramsay Fansite
www.theplonkerclub.com

While reading between the lines on some old google alerts, I was ecstatic to discover that new episodes of my favourite television show, Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares have already been made! Yes that is the UK edition and not the bastardised over-hyped, poorly edited, super predictable US version!

The report talked about how a restaurant that was ‘rescued’ four months ago had Gordon Ramsay there four months later (from mid-December) to shoot his part of The Great British Food Fight. the restaurant is Silversmiths Restaurant in Sheffield City.

I can’t wait until I can go back and see a Kitchen Nightmare where I can learn something about restaurants and maybe a recipe or two, not just hyped up confrontations, a contrived story line mixed with renovations and a happily-ever-after ending. Not to mention the editing of fights where the peoples clothes change colour as they appear to make a number of exchanges, just one – before the revalation occurs (midway through the final service). Add to this the American arrogance of inviting Gordon Ramsay to your restaurant, then telling him he can’t cook, doesn’t know what he is talking about and that there is no problems because all of the customers love whatever the offend dish/feature is.

I only really watch the show because I am a Gordon Ramsay fan, and occasionally the script isn’t followed to closely.

In case you can’t tell, I’m not a big fan of the cookie cutter US version, it is like a cross between Jerry Springer and a renovation show, with lots of spoilers and recaps to fill in the time!

I’ll email Channel 4 and Optomen to see if I can find out when we can expect this! There will definitely be a counter on The Plonker Club homepage for this one, similar to the one we have for Hell’s Kitchen USA Season 5!

2009 is already becoming a great year!

David Driscoll
The Plonker Club
The Unofficial Gordon Ramsay Fansite
www.theplonkerlcub.com