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'Hell's Kitchen' and the spaghetti incident
After watching Monday (June 18) night's episode of Hell's Kitchen, I can't begin to fathom why anybody besides fame-hungry Los Angeles-area camera whores would ever go to a meal at the show's titular dining establishment. Yuck.
[Spoilers to follow.]
During the dinner service on Monday's show, the male team didn't get a plate of food out of the kitchen for an hour, the leader of the team (Brad) tried scraping off burnt pastry and serving overcooked Beef Wellington, another guy (Vinnie) tried passing off raw eggs with another appetizer and the team's seemingly most talented chef (Rock) cooked one-eyed with sweat streaming everywhere. Nothing they served looked even vaguely edible. And they were the winning team for the service.
That's because over on the female side, the stumbling was even greater. Only 10 percent of their customers got entrees, but maybe that's for the best. One chef (Joanna) was producing both mushy and over-salted risotto, which was less of a sin than the fact that she worked with rancid crab for an extended period without throwing out the offending shellfish (thankfully none was served). Another chef (Jen) managed to turn her Beef Wellingtons into charred blobs with gray rocks in the middle and that was less of a sin than the fact that she tried to fill a pasta order by going into the garbage, pulling out some previously disposed spaghetti and washing it off with the intention of replating and serving it (thankfully none was served).
If Hell's Kitchen were a show about cooking or food, the entire episode would have been disgraceful. Thankfully, though, it's a program in which bedlam, disharmony and general foulness are celebrated. That's why Monday's episode made for entertaining TV.
Anybody who has worked in the food service industry or read Kitchen Confidential knows that Jen's garbage escapades may be culinarily disheartening, but it's the kind of thing that happens with a regularity best not to consider on a regular basis. I don't want to imply that in my time as a short-order grill man I may conceivably have called upon the three-second rule with fumbled hamburger patties or slippery tomato slices. Heavens no. But if, hypothetically, I might have done something like that, if would have been while nobody was watching. I know Hell's Kitchen is a stressful environment, but for Jen not to have any sort of hesitation about scraping pasta off the top of the trash, knowing that the cameras are always rolling, was amazing. And for her to attempt -- at least twice -- to justify her actions by saying that washing the stuff at 212 degrees ought to kill off the bacteria? That's gross. And what's grosser-than-gross? That Jen didn't go home.
Chef Ramsay made the determination that potentially deadly negligence (Joanna's ignoring of the bad crab) was worse than potentially deadly willful disregard for customer welfare. I'm not convinced I agree.
Other thoughts from Monday's episode:
So what was wrong with Aaron? After experiencing early morning cramping and us usual ineffectiveness at breakfast, the husky, emotionally unstable retirement home chef passed out, was taken to the hospital and ultimately removed from the show after a conversation with Chef Ramsay. But what was wrong with him? All we heard is that he had an illness and couldn't continue. Now I figure there are two possible reasons for them not to tell us: The first, Aaron had something contagious and they didn't want to say on television what may have come in contact with the breakfast eaten by dozens of soldiers. I doubt that. What I suspect, though, is that Aaron had some sort of pre-existing condition that the show's doctors and insurance people somehow missed. Aaron was never right for a second and everything about his behavior spoke to problems both physical and psychological. What'd you think of this week's episode? Was Joanna's crime worse than Jen's? And what was up with Aaron?
Jen's behaviour was disgusting, but since she's technically correct-- nobody would have been made ill from the garbage spaghetti-- Joanna's mistake was worse. If you serve off-seafood to people, they're going to get deathly ill and a chef who can't smell rotten crab is not a chef I'd every want cooking for me. Hopefully garbage girl learned her lesson, although you can't help thinking, shouldn't that be a pretty basic lesson to already know?
Pepper99 | Jun 19, 2007 7:11:33 AM | #The more I watch this show; the more I'm convinced that Chef Ramsay is destined to be the first star of a reality show to die live on camera of an aneurysm. That or be killed by a kitchen-utensil-wielding contestant who just can't take any more of his abuse.
I know most, if not all of this show could very well be scripted, but if it's not, there's no wonder these wannabe-resteraunteurs "f**k" up so frequently and so thoroughly. Ramsay is a tyrant. A raving, maniacal tyrant. But there lies the dilemma: if he treated the contestants with any level of human kindness or dignity, the spectacle that is "Hell's Kitchen" wouldn't be nearly as entertaining.
That being said... "Thanks to all that is good in the universe that Aaron will not be returning to the game." My threshold of pain was weakening with every moment he was on-screen. And I can't help but wonder how he made it on the show.
John in T.O. | Jun 19, 2007 7:22:33 AM | #While Julia may not have the background of some of the other chefs on the show, she's also not making the rookie mistakes they are. Does she know what to order for a high class restaurant? No. Do I think she has the talent and ability to learn and become a great chef? I do. She certainly can't be worse than any of the other idiots they have in this round.
Brian | Jun 19, 2007 7:38:02 AM | #What I didn't understand was Bonnie running out of the shower saying she had conditioner in her hair or something like that and she said she looked like a drowned rat.We see her leave the room with dripping hair. Next scene her hair is all combed out and looked great. PLEASE!
Kate 2 | Jun 19, 2007 7:49:30 AM | #Aaron should have been cut from day one. He was both mentally and physically unstable. Melissa and Bonnie were stupid for showing their hands so soon. Chef Ramsey had praised Julia to the skies; what on earth made them think he would eliminate her?
Joanna has been a mess from the start. I do think she grew up just a little; she wasn't as foul-mouthed in the third episode as in the first. For me the highest rankers are Rock and Jen. Both have made huge mistakes, but they are true chefs. I like Julia, but she just doesn't have the culinary background, especially if she had to look up creme brulee. All the other men are truly bad, and, frankly, this show is starting to seem repetitious, and a bit boring as a result.
ms. place | Jun 19, 2007 8:06:36 AM | #Joanna's using the spoiled crab was worse than retrieving pasta from the bin. I cannot believe that Joanna didn't smell the rancid crab. . .don't they remember from previous seasons that there can be traps set for them? Though I was shocked that Jen did get the pasta from the garbage--cameras! cameras! Kudos to Julia for stopping her from serving it and not pointing fingers when asked how long for the spaghetti. How tempting would it have been for her to immediately rat out Jen to Chef Ramsay? I'll give some props to Jen for putting herself on the block for it and confessing to Chef Ramsay.
Am glad Aaron is GONE!! He was so weird and out there. Did he ever complete one dish? Am curious as to what his "illness" is also. Psychological, defintely. Physical, probably.
Wonder if the retirement home will keep him as an employee? I agree with John in T.O. how did he make it on the show?
I believe that Julia is a quick learner. I see no reason why she could not be the winner. She has the most class.
Trupen | Jun 19, 2007 11:38:56 AM | #Aaron's symptoms point to either diabetes or something to do with his heart, like Pickwickian Syndrome. Leg Cramps, Fatigue, Fainting. All not good. Why wasn't he on the chopping block earlier? I don't know - maybe pressure from the producers, which makes his emergency medical exit even worse. I doubt we will ever know for sure - it is a question of medical confidentiality.
Mark in Chico | Jun 19, 2007 12:32:27 PM | #"Julia just doesn't have the culinary background, especially if she had to look up creme brulee."
I guess there are more culinary snobs watching the show then on the show.
Julia shows all the requirements for being a great chef - desire, ability and integrity. The rest she can learn - not so for most of the others.
Jake | Jun 19, 2007 1:08:24 PM | #medical confidentiality?! I want to know what happened with Aaron. my friend who was in Outward Bound mentioned that he reminded her of people who, when the going got tough, collapsed under fake ailments rather than take on challenges. I disagree with Mark-- I think Aaron's problems are mostly psychological. he would crack up or look iffy, and then 5 minutes later after people stopped coddling him, he'd be on his feet whining again (if he wasn't napping). my theory is that we don't know Aaron's real illness because he is locked on a psych ward.
I'm pretty sure the soldiers/sailors called Ramsay "chef" and not "sir". It was still a weird sequence though.
Justin | Jun 19, 2007 4:25:36 PM | #Joanna deserved to go home, because she is a nasty hypocrite who would never be able to hack it in a professional environment because she has ghetto undertones to her personality which are just intolerable to most.
Jessicapomporanga | Jun 19, 2007 4:56:53 PM | #I believe Aaron has a physical illness like diabetes. I thought that from the first, or second episode, when he went without eating and become so ill. I wish he would allow them to tell us. He seems like such a sweet person. I hope he gets well soon.
Kim | Jun 19, 2007 5:31:30 PM | #OK, so taking pasta out of the bin is bad form. Serving up bad fish is also bad form, but a bit worse. I've dropped stuff on the floor before, washed it off, but only for myself. I've never given anything like that to anyone else. I am amazed at what I am seeing, the waste, overcooking, undercooking, the works. These people appear incompetent. There is no reason for the verbal abuse either. Gordon could get the point across just as well without the profanity. A long time ago, someone told me, that profanity is the refuge of the ignorant.
rowlfe | Jun 19, 2007 8:11:11 PM | #What a load of rubbish spouted by some Americans on here that their "sensabilities" are upset by Gordon's use of original English language words.
Wake up guys and girls, Gordons words are normal everyday life usage thses days in kitchens and workplaces all over the UK.
Words don't hurt, Bullets and bombs do.
Ask the Iraq civilians
Aaron is a fake, and not a very good one at that. A grown man whining and crying and faking at fainting (followed by a sly grin the first time). Just disgusting. But then Joanna and Jen both needed to go. Jen doesn't deserve her own place because if she lacks the intelligence to not serve food from the garbage in someone else's restaurant, then what the hell is she going to serve in her own restraint. Hmmm...road kill... you can't waste good meat! And Joanna, if she cant smell rancid shellfish then what kind of palette does she have!!
| Jun 21, 2007 4:36:00 PM | #while julia may not have the most experience or know all the technical terms, she shouldn't be immediately excluded from winning. i do know that if she won she'd be smart enough to surround herself with people who have expertise in the areas she lacks
megan | Jun 22, 2007 2:47:07 PM | #Neil Donaldson is a dumb wanker.
deisk | Jun 22, 2007 4:46:22 PM | #I am a cook myself and I'd like to know for one where are the plastic gloves and hairnets?? And I never see them washing their hands before touching the food. As for Aaron, if he does have a medical condition I hope he get's well soon. But his content complaining and crying got a little old . And he should have been let go when he wasn't helping out his team. Makes you wonder why Chef Ramsey never got on to him for it..
michelle | Jun 29, 2007 8:01:08 PM | #"plastic gloves and hairnets??" Michelle, you really ought to eat at restaurants other than Denny's.
Fred | Jul 23, 2007 7:06:25 PM | #Jeez guys - I'm not a doctor, but I'm guessing that Aaron probably had hypoglycemia/diabetes:
Mild hypoglycemia
Symptoms of mild low blood sugar usually develop when blood sugar falls below 60 to 70 mg/dL and may include:
Nausea.
Extreme hunger.
Feeling nervous or jittery.
Cold, clammy, wet skin and/or excessive sweating not caused by exercise.
A rapid heartbeat (tachycardia).
Numbness or tingling of the fingertips or lips.
Trembling.
Moderate hypoglycemia
If blood sugar continues to fall, the nervous system will be affected. Symptoms usually develop when the blood sugar falls below 55 mg/dL and may include:
Mood changes, such as irritability, anxiety, restlessness, or anger.
Confusion, difficulty in thinking, or inability to concentrate.
Blurred vision, dizziness, or headache.
Weakness, lack of energy.
Poor coordination.
Difficulty walking or talking, such as staggering or slurred speech.
Fatigue, lethargy, or drowsiness.
Severe hypoglycemia
The symptoms of severe low blood sugar develop when blood sugar falls below 35-40 mg/dL and may include:
Seizures or convulsions.
Loss of consciousness, coma.
Low body temperature (hypothermia).
In the show, on one day, he only ate an apple all day - probably exacerbating his condition, along with the stress of being on the show.
JB | Oct 5, 2007 6:49:14 AM | #
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