In This Section
TV Guide Spotlight
Also on TVGuide.com
|
« Hell's Kitchen
Episode Recap: Cooking School
As another chef leaves us, we're inching ever closer to this season's (possibly lackluster) finale. Tonight's episode started as many of the others have — with the entire team bashing Jen. But Jen also made it clear in her confessional (as she has in other ways) that she's not interested in making friends and that she feels she's more skilled than all the other competitors. That may be true, but that's not saying much.
For the first challenge tonight, Gordon taught the chef's a new lobster spaghetti dish, which they chefs in turn had to teach five cute but clueless housewives, one of whom even brought a dog into the kitchen. Bobby and Petrozza were distracted for obvious reasons, but Petrozza took it to a whole other level in assisting his student in putting her hair up and putting on her apron. Bobby's student was afraid to kill her lobster, Christina was afraid her student would cut herself and Jen couldn't keep herself from helping the student do all the work. Corey, however, seemed to have a good relationship with her student (who seemed somewhat competent), and thought she had a good chance at winning.
Win it came time to judge, Petrozza and his student were complimented on their seasoning and the cooking of the lobster, but their "pass-ta" was overcooked and rolled too thin. Bobby and his dog lover served a dish that looked more suited for the K-9 (and unfortunately, Gordon said it tasted like dog food as well) while Jen's student served a bland, sauceless dish that signaled to Gordon the student had never cooked a day in her life. On the other hand, both Christina and Corey's students prepared good dishes, but when the decision was made, Christina was named the victor.
For winning, Christina spent the afternoon with Chef Ramsay and famous chefs/restaurateurs Ben Ford and Mark Peel, tasting their signature dishes and "picking their brains." For their troubles, the students were each given a set of cookware. The rest of the gang spent their afternoons scrubbing the floors and ovens, and emptying/cleaning the fryers. Jen, however, managed to sneak into the kitchen being used for Christina's award and eavesdropped hoping to gain some tips. Then, she even ate the leftovers brought back to be cleaned so she could "take advantage" of every opportunity. Bobby found it gross — glad he and I finally see eye to eye on something.
During prep, Christina is chatty about all the new info she learned, and the rest of the team becomes annoyed quickly (surprise, surprise). Jen says she wants to "booty-bump her out of the way" while Corey just says she wishes she would shut up. Either way, the chefs had to prepare for a dinner service that would feature a table of 12. Gordon asked the chefs for the performance of their life, though I would think by now part of him knows he seen each of them at about as good as it gets. (One pre-dinner service note: JP running into the glass door was hilarious. I must have re-watched it about seven times. At least it gave Gordon something to smile about tonight!)
The night started with Gordon complimenting Christina for her work on the appetizer station (even though she was a little rock getting going) and questioning Jen's "flat-footed" slowness and Bobby's poor knife skills (he improperly butterflied a filet and failed to trim the fat off a beef wellington order). When Jen finally serves her fish (at first raw and then overdone and rubbery) JP tells the wait staff to push the meat. Then Bobby served some overdone meat (Gordon said he was "cremating everything"), JP was forced to push the chicken. Poor guy had a rough night!
Petrozza also got his share of tongue lashings tonight for being slow and failing to communicate from the vegetable station, however the most controversial thing he did came when he brought some fish to Gordon early, for which Chef Ramsay then blamed Jen. When Jen started to defend herself, it became a war of words which Jen chose to back away from (for a little bit). I felt bad for Jen because she clearly was not at fault, but it doesn't take a rocket scientist to know that Gordon doesn't like back talk. Either way, I was disappointed Petrozza didn't speak up, as he has for the most part been honorable throughout the show. Ultimately, Gordon kicks Jen off the station to complete an order, but she and Bobby and Petrozza get a rhythm together finally, serving all the entrees to the table of 12 Hawaiian Tropic girls (HK tried to sex it up tonight!) all together. (Corey and Christina managed the same sort of rhythm in order to serve the appetizers earlier in the evening, with Corey noting "We hate each other, but we work well together."
After the 12 top was served, the dinner service was complete, but Gordon was upset with the many "inconsistent" performances, remarking that at this stage, "it shouldn't have to be this painful." Christina, on a roll, was named the best of the night, and she was asked to nominate two chefs. Corey (brilliant two-face that she is) then became Christina's ally against Jen, talking up her nomination. Yeah, the same Corey who "hates" Christina. She also did some trash talk about Bobby, which must have gotten through as Christina nominated Jen and the General to be sent home.
After some bashing and case pleading (and some really terrible sucking up by Bobby), Gordon made his decision, sending home 'the Black Gordon Ramsay," though cleverly calling him General Bobby to throw everyone off at first. I honestly feel like Jen had a worse performance tonight (not to mention all the back talk), but I think Gordon has seen strokes of talent in her that Bobby hasn't shown. After all, he didn't win many challenges and always played it safe, so I guess I see the rationale in Gordon's choice.
So what did you think of tonight's show and elimination? Do you think sending Bobby home was a mistake? Are you excited for next week's "heart attack dipped in a stroke with a side of cardiac arrest?" (Thanks, Jen!) Share your thoughts and check back next week to see how the final four perform!
|
TVGuide Links:
|
|
|
|
Jun 11, 2008 12:45 AM
|
|
I was disappointed it was the 4 Star General Bobby who got sent packing. It should have been that big mouth-bad hair weave-cocky Jen. As for the housewives, they all look haggard and breasts were sagging. Zeus looked better than those ol' bags!!!
|
|
Jun 11, 2008 5:17 AM
|
What cracked me up the most about Jen's comment in the preview is that "heart attack" and "cardiac arrest" are the same thing. So, next week, we're really getting a heart attack dipped in a stroke with another heat attack on the side... just seems more amusing that way for some reason.
I suppose if you look at actual cooking ability, Jen is probably marginally stronger than Bobby, but she's SO much more annoying (and given that Bobby is annoying enough, that's getting pretty bad.)
I'm going to be SHOCKED if it isn't Christina or Corey who wins because near as I can tell, they're the only ones who really have any true skill AND the ability to be professional when necessary. I can't even begin to imagine a kitchen brigade responding to Jen as a leader. She'd have to earn their respect, and the way she acts now, that just isn't going to happen. Same with Petrozza, especially given how sloppy he tends to be. Either of the two C's, though, could be turned into a leader, I think. They seem to have the most potential, but this has got to be one of the sorriest crops of contestants I've seen on a skill-oriented reality show in a LONG time.
|
|
Jun 11, 2008 5:54 AM
|
I also was surprised that Ramsay sent Bobby home and not Jen. I have no idea why he kept Jen after having berated her so much. What, does she have provocative photos of Ramsay with children or something? Bobby never lived up to his own hype, and Corey called it when she said that he just coasts by, but at least they can work with Bobby.
My favorite moment was when JP walked face first into the door. I loved that they showed it in replay as well. And then Ramsay said, "Please don't head butt my door, you dumb Belgian (censored.)" ROFL!
As for next week, I don't think it's going to be celebrities dropping by as Jen was hoping for. They showed her speculating that it would be Beyoncé, Jay Z or 50 Cent. Ramsay said, "Very Special and Demanding Guests." Last year when Ramsay made a similar claim, the dinner guests were all children. I wouldn't be surprised if it wasn't something along those lines again.
|
|
Jun 11, 2008 7:05 AM
|
Darclyte - I agree with you about next week. My first thought when he said that was that it would be kids.
I thought Cory did a great job last night and never got yelled at so I was sure it would be her over Christina for best of the night. Chef Ramsey claimed last night he had no favorites, but he does seem to favor Christina when the two girls are in close contention.
As much as I can't stand Jen, she is entertaining so I was almost glad that Bobby went home last night. I agree with Cory that Jen is headed for a major blowup and I want her to stick around so we can see that.
I really think it will be Christina and Cory in the final unless one of them really screws up next week. I don't see either one of them stupid enough to leave the handle over a burning flame so I think they will both be safe.
|
|
Jun 11, 2008 7:27 AM
|
NEW INFO:
I got this on Vickie's HK community blog.
According to Gail Pennington, the TV Critic for the St. Louis Post Dispatch, she said that Ramsay explained the situation during a telephone news conference in March. He said that (and she quotes him here) “the position is not going to be the executive chef in terms of running it lock, stock and barrel. That’s can’t happen. You can’t put that kind of pressure on (him or her).”
He went on to say that the winner would “be an executive chef within the setup of my restaurant and will be responsible for the day-to-day running.”
It sounds to me to be a lower position than Executive Chef. Read on for more:
Ramsay just opened the restaurant that the winner of HK was SUPPOSED to become the Executive Chef at with a $250,000 salary. While the salary remains, the position apparently does not. The position is NOW called "Senior Sous-Chef."
Confirm here:
http://tinyurl.com/58g9ge
I did some checking, and found the usage of Senior Sous Chef tends to vary, as does Head Chef. In some places Head Chef and Executive Chef are synonymous, as is Head Chef and Senior Sous Chef, so I could be wrong and it could still be the Executive Chef level position. But why call it Executive Chef on the show, and Senior Sous Chef in the article if they were one and the same? In many cases, Senior Sous Chef appears to be the assistant to either the Head Chef, the Chef De Cuisine, the Executive Sous Chef, or the Executive Chef. So, in those cases, it is a lower position than Executive Chef. That makes the info from the St Louis Dispatch sound as though the position really has been reduced in rank and responsibility.
|
|
Jun 11, 2008 9:26 AM
|
|
Did anyone else notice when JP walked into the door and chef Ramsey laughed at him, it looked like JP was rubbing hid forehead, but if you watch it again closely, he really looks like he is flipping chef Ramsey the bird! It cracked me up.
|
|
Jun 11, 2008 10:02 AM
|
|
I believe I did read somewhere that it is the salary the winner gets. Gordon can change the position if he wants. I think the girl who won a few cycles back, didn't get the title that year. She was supposed to get her own restaurant at Red Rock resort, and I think ended up as a senior chef or something like that.
|
|
Jun 11, 2008 10:36 AM
|
NONE of the previous winners of HK are actually serving as a true Executive Chef anywhere. They may be working in the kitchens and have a shiny new jacket with their name embroidered on it, but pull up the websites for the restaurants and you will not see their names listed.
Rock is at Terra Verde - and if you go to their website, some Italian-speaking dude is on a video introducing himself as the Executive Chef.
If you noticed, Rock was wearing a jacket that said "Head Chef" at Terra Verde. That's the same title that Heather was shown with last season at a different restaurant. Her one year contract expired and she's no longer there
|
|
Jun 11, 2008 12:03 PM
|
That doesn't surprise me that non of the previous winners won what they were supposed to. You can't just stick them in that environment and expect it to happen. Oh well.. I am sad the Jen didn't get kicked out, I really cannot stand her. But Bobby is useless.
Poor JP! And poor Ramsey for putting up with this group!
|
|
Jun 11, 2008 12:32 PM
|
First - kriselda jarnsaxa - a heart attack and cardiac arrest are not the same thing. One can have a heart attack without going into cardiac arrest just as one can have cardiac arrest without having had a heart attack. Cardiac arrest is when all electrical activity ceases in the heart and it stops beating. That can be caused by any number of things from a lightning strike to resp. arrest. Anyway - at least in the instance Big Mouth Jen was actually right about something.
GR must really see something in her or the producers have got him to keep her around for the entertainment value. He would never put up with such disrespect or her lack of communication or her not following orders, etc. I cant see why else shes there. Now that we're down to these final four, less than impressive "chefs" I'm betting on Christina. I think she has just enough talent and personalitiy that GR feels he could mold her into a future chef. Petrozza has no PR value nor does Jen. Leaving it down to Corey or Christina...I choose Christina.
|
|
Jun 11, 2008 12:38 PM
|
Does anyone else wonder where they get these contestants to begin with? When compared to Top Chef, these idiots seem to be picked for their inabilities instead of being good. I suppose it makes for good TV, but that jen is a real pain...again, if they get rid of her, then who do you have left? Boring, boring and more boring.
this was not a good season. I think Chef ramsey should tell them all to go back to cooking school....
|
|
Jun 11, 2008 1:21 PM
|
Ðarclyte,
"I did some checking, and found the usage of Senior Sous Chef tends to vary, as does Head Chef. In some places Head Chef and Executive Chef are synonymous, as is Head Chef and Senior Sous Chef, so I could be wrong and it could still be the Executive Chef level position. But why call it Executive Chef on the show, and Senior Sous Chef in the article if they were one and the same? In many cases, Senior Sous Chef appears to be the assistant to either the Head Chef, the Chef De Cuisine, the Executive Sous Chef, or the Executive Chef. So, in those cases, it is a lower position than Executive Chef. That makes the info from the St Louis Dispatch sound as though the position really has been reduced in rank and responsibility."
Too much information to comprehend. I got dizzy half way through and couldn't continue.
Thank god Bobby got the boot. He was useless! Never stepped up to do a thing the whole season.
Granted Jen isn't much better, but Bobby should've been gone long ago.
I predict that next weeks guests will be family members (they did the kids angle last year). And that the family member will have to critique the dishes they eat without knowing if their child is the one who made it.
My prediction is that Christina will be the winner.
Hell of a chatter
|
|
Jun 12, 2008 12:55 PM
|
|
The "special" lunch guests next week are pregnant moms-to-be.
|
|
Jun 12, 2008 1:05 PM
|
Carol - thanks for the clarification on cardiac arrests vs heart attacks. I must have missed a few episodes of ER in there somewhere :D LOL!
Ðarclyte - so far, none of the contestants have gotten what the show said they were supposed to get. Season 1's Michael was offered the chance to work for Ramsay in England rather than getting his own restaurant and initially took him up on it, but later realized it just wasn't going to work for he and his wife to move to London, so they gave him all of the kitchen equipment that they'd used on the show instead, and then rented it back from him for the 2nd season. I vaguely recall reading or hearing an interview with him where he talked about finally winding up with about $75,000 out of the whole deal. He does, however, no have his own restaurant in LA, I believe it's called "Tatoo" (intentional misspelling there, IIRC)
Heather and Rock were each told they'd be getting "their own restaurant" at two different Las Vegas casino/resorts, but neither ever got that title. Heather was made a "Senior Chef" and I don't know Rock's title, but the Italian guy you mentioned is the one who is in charge of the restaurant.
So, seeing them change it from being the "Executive Chef" at Ramsay's new restaurant to being a "Senior Sous Chef" isn't at all surprising. I suspect he got one look at the candidates and just said "[bleep] this! I'm not letting any of THESE donkeys run my place!" - :D
|
|
Jun 12, 2008 2:29 PM
|
|
|
