If you’ve ever watched the TV show, “Hell’s Kitchen”, starring Master Chef Gordon Ramsay, you know that obviously all of us who cook even a little bit have got a lot to learn from good old Gordon, and I don’t mean just how to scream at everybody. Yes, this British bulldog is just as entertaining as he is talented.
Never seen the show? Well, basically a bunch of not-ready-for-primetime chefs from all over, like sous chefs, and line cooks, get stuffed into a dorm and endure Ramsay putting them through hell just for the possibility of landing an executive chef job in one of his many restaurants. Think “The Apprentice” only not quite as terrifying without Trump yelling “You’re fired!”, although that well-known Donald line has been replaced by routine tirades of profanity from Gordon Ramsay.
Besides learning how to make some pretty amazing gourmet dishes, like every manner of seafood imaginable and a dozen ways to cook them, sushi that nobody can pronounce, waffles and other breakfast goodies, amazing to-die-for desserts, and everything else from soup to nuts, we also managed to learn so much more. So, after watching some “Hell’s Kitchen” episodes, we’ve definitely learned a thing or two, including:
It’s Unhealthy as Hell
Not just the foods, which are mostly super-high in fat, that come out of the kitchen on the show are unhealthy. The show itself is decidedly unhealthy for all of the contestants. For starters, they’re literally pushed to the edge, both physically and mentally. There are many sleepless nights, not to mention Chef Ramsay constantly screaming at them for everything from a slight mistake to some pretty big ones. And, the constant scrutiny, cameras, and microphones that are their daily reality would drive anybody to drink and smoke. In fact, according to one of the show’s producers, Season 2 started with only two smokers among the contestants and, at season’s end, there were ten. So, what we learned from all this is that some things really just might not be worth what you have to go through to attain them.
Ineptitude or Tomfoolery?
The one thing that viewers can’t fathom, and neither could I when I watched the show, and that is why the contestants are completely unable to cook some of the show’s basic staples. The fact is that there are a number of specific dishes that are always on the “Hell’s Kitchen” menu no matter which season it is. They include Beef Wellington, scallops, and risotto. But, for some strange reason, the contestants constantly over or under cook them every time. So, what we learned from this facet of “Hell’s Kitchen” is that, either these supposed chefs are simply inept or there’s some sort of trickery going on there. Well, according to a former contestant, the truth is that the producers were often prone to swapping out some of the ingredients for the purpose of creating more drama on the show and to give Ramsay just another reason for blowing up and screaming at the contestants. For example, they would switch out the salt for sugar.
Would You?
All-in-all, the most significant takeaway from “Hell’s Kitchen” is that there are a lot of people out there who will do just about anything to get their 15 minutes of fame. This is evidenced by not only this particular show but also numerous other reality TV shows that seem to keep popping up daily. So, the question is, “Would you or wouldn’t you?”
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