Hell's Kitchen continues to perplex me, truly it does. I still can't imagine wanting to eat at any of the restaurants that the chefs we've seen would end up running. I still can't imagine how Jen takes herself seriously. I still can't imagine what Matt is doing in the contest at all. It's all so greatly disappointing and mainly that's due to the chefs.
What I'd like to do today, is dissect last night's cooking challenge, to show just why I'm so very disappointed.
Prior to the challenge, Ramsay explained to the chefs that their timing was horrific, that they never communicated, that they couldn't figure out how to get multiple dishes ready at the exact same time. So the challenge had the chefs run a relay race of sorts, with each chef being allowed in the kitchen for six minutes and then handing off to another chef. At the end of 18 minutes the teams each had to have three dishes completed.
A great idea. I think it actually tested some skills and general chef-type knowledge (both of which have been crucially lacking this season). Unfortunately, it was all edited down to the point where we couldn't tell what was happening.
After the challenge, only one thing remained clear - Jen is not only incompetent, she's delusional too. She forgot to put sauces on two of the three dishes. The sauces were ready (though she claims she burnt one), but she didn't put them on before serving the dishes. She then, pointedly, said that she wouldn't apologize to her team for her mistake. She also, according to Ramsay, didn't cook the scallops. Her response? Quite simply that Ramsay didn't know what he was talking about, that the scallops were fully cooked.
Now, on the one side, we have Gordon Ramsay. He is, almost unquestionably, pompous, arrogant, more than a little bit of a windbag, and, a great chef. He said that the scallops were raw in the middle.
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Article comments
1 - Brandon Valentine
How is Jen so arrogant as a line cook! She is up against executive chefs (albeit not very good ones), and she thinks that she has more experience and expertise.
The only chefs with any potential or present talent are Corey, Kristina, and Bobby. Even so, I totally agree that I would not eat at any chef's restaurant. Sadly, none of these stack up to prior seasons of Hell's Kitchen. Even worse, not one comes remotely close to the caliber of candidates on Top Chef.
Forget Ramsey's bitching, and watch the classy cooking on Bravo.
2 - Matt
I must say, I live for Ramsay's bitching, myself! I can't sit through Top Chef--too boring. Give me hopped-up adrenal reality nonsense any day.
3 - Brandy
Nice article, good points.
I liked Jen a lot at first, but then I realised she was just playing everyone when she changed teams and had the same behavior. She is really good at blaming her screwups on her teammates.
Haven't we all worked with someone like her? Not qualified but wants to take over anyway. Tries to make the co workers look bad by making little digs in front of the boss - justified or not doesn't matter. And what's the capper? Most of the time those little digs are something the troublemaker actually did his or her self.
When she's caught out she never acknowledges it so she will never learn. On top of it all these types of people are always braggarts. I'm really tired of her too, at least Matt's wackiness is strangely entertaining. :-)
4 - KR
They only keep Jen for her over-the-top attitude and constant bitch.ing. She is a mediocre cook, makes many significant mistakes and is a total idiot as revealed in the times she talks to the camera alone. WOW, who will ever hire her? Also, she is a complete and TOTAL Cliche. Not to be racist but we've seen the "don't mess with me" loud mouthed black woman done before. Which is fine if that who she is but to then be criing when she was hoping Ramnesy would pick her was pathetic. Are you tough and don't care what anyone thinks including the Chef or sensitive Jen???