Tonight we were in Tuckahoe, NY, not too far from my hometown. And, more amazingly, we're at The Olde Stone Mill. Now, I can't be too clear on this: I have eaten at this restaurant. Again: I have eaten at this restaurant. Once more: I have eaten at this restaurant.

I'm both happy and sad at this turn of events. I'm happy because it makes me feel that much closer to being famous (like sitting in a movie theater and getting to chat with a former teen actor before the picture begins). I'm sad though because having eaten there, my main joy in Kitchen Nightmares, seeing a disgusting and horrifically dirty kitchen, is ruined. I would rather not know that I'd shared a meal with rodents or been served a moldy tomato. To this second point, thank goodness the dirty kitchen scene was absent from this episode. I'm going to say that means that the kitchen was absolutely spotless.

At his first meal at the restaurant Gordon picked on the chopped salad due to it's shape. It was conical. I really don't know why that's so horrible. I can't vouch for the taste of the salad, but I don't quite see why the shape was horrific. Gordon even went so far as to melt the funnels later in the show. Mike claimed the point was that the salad could be simple and didn't have to be overdone and fancy, but the vehemence Gordon displayed still surprised me. I don't remember what I ordered when I went to the restaurant, there may have been a chopped salad (I'm a fan), but I do know that I went with much of my immediate family. So, hi Grandma Ruth (sorry Grandpa Joe, you were out of town)!

Seriously though, here's my main question watching this episode: why should Mike, the chef, have to do everything in the kitchen? I saw another person in the kitchen who happened to be wearing a white coat. Actually it looked like an entire cook's outfit (and there may have even been a third guy too). Why was Mike doing everything? The show never made that clear. Perhaps the cook-looking person just did little bits and pieces, odds and ends if you will, he certainly didn't seem to be touching a pot or pan in the kitchen. Maybe he was the salad guy.

Gordon made a big deal tonight about not being able to find the restaurant, there being no big sign out front that would let people know it was there. As I recall, there was some sort of sign, but it was very much a "blink and you miss it" kind of thing, by no means a nice large blinky neon thing. You were never quite sure that you were at the right place until you had passed it. Gordon did fix that problem, but sadly the sign he put up was tasteful, not the large blinky neon thing I was hoping for.

Speaking of making things readily apparent, the show made it obvious from the start that much of the problem at the restaurant was Dean, the owner. He was scared of failure and was hemorrhaging money. It was stated early on tonight that Dean and his wife Barbara, were in a huge hole with the place. When the figure was revealed, I was astounded – they owed $500,000. That is a lot of money. A lot of money. To be precise it's round about a half million dollars, give or take. I wonder if Gordon could possibly just give them some cash. Surely he or the producers have that kind of money lying about.

Dean's main problem though seemed to be his attitude. He claimed repeatedly to have put everything he has into the place, and yet, according to Gordon, had neglected the menu completely. Once Gordon came up with his menu changes (Gordon wanted to make the place a steakhouse), Dean complained bitterly. He said that he didn't have the money to change directions. How did Dean not realize that by continuing on the path he was on he would certainly have to shutter the place. Plus, and correct me if I'm wrong, surely the show pays for a lot of the changes, don't they?

I think Dean may have been too much of a hot-head to be running a restaurant. I can't imagine that it was Chef Mike's fault that during the relaunch his computer and/or printer didn't work and that consequently he wasn't getting all the tickets for orders. The voiceover did say that during this same service Dean helped get things back on track, but the shots we saw didn't give that impression (we only saw the cursing). Magically, somehow, Dean got better. That bit of storytelling just doesn't work for me. Not without Gordon sprinkling some pixie dust. Even so, the restaurant seemed to be working out just fine by the end of the episode and the steaks looked pretty good.

Grandma (and Grandpa), if you're reading this, I'd love to check out the updated place when I'm back in town. I do like a good salad, and the way Gordon updated the funnel salad (de-funneling it) did make it look delicious.

Some random thoughts and quotes from tonight:

• Jeanie the hostess had this to say about the chef's ostentatious presentation of the food -- "Mike tries to presentate the food real nice."
• There was no shot of a half-naked Gordon tonight (the first time in the last three shows).
• In the next episode the show leaves NY and goes to Hollywood.

Grandma, and whomever else may be reading this, have you checked out The TV and Film Guy's Reviews, because you really should.

Comments

I just watched the ep a few hours ago and chef Ramsay definetly went topless, I laughed when he did, lol.

MIGurl | Oct 17, 2007 11:16:39 PM | #

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did he really? I missed it? How did I miss it?

Josh Lasser | Oct 17, 2007 11:20:43 PM | #

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I even rewound the part where he usually goes topless to make sure he didn't.

Josh Lasser | Oct 17, 2007 11:23:59 PM | #

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Yeah.. Gordon took off his shirt and put on his chef's coat. Shouldn't he be wearing an under shirt?

Sid | Oct 18, 2007 1:36:50 AM | #

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Gordon needs to wear an undershirt!

Matt | Oct 18, 2007 6:27:48 AM | #

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YES he DID go topless and I too thought...Oh no, not again! It's a weekly thing. (He looks cold without an undershirt). The thing I don't like about this show is the same problems I had with Nanny 911. TOO many recaps and the editing is terrible. I could have sworn at the very beginning when they showed the restaurant the NEW sign was out in front on the wall. And then at the END Gordon was talking to the owner at a table with the OLD table cloth. These kind of things bug me!!And WHERE do all these managers come from???

Kate 2 | Oct 18, 2007 7:10:57 AM | #

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Josh, pheonomonal summary! We all watched the show and are VERY APPRECIATIVE you didn't give a blow-by-blow recap! Plus, your personal experience at the restaurant is a nice touch :)

I love Gordon, but am feeling the show is way too structured, and that's repeated each week. Even down to the crab cakes.

Bruce | Oct 18, 2007 7:58:00 AM | #

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Bruce,

Thank you for the kind words. As for the crab cake thing I was already planning on doing a riff on that during the next episode.

Josh Lasser | Oct 18, 2007 8:21:44 AM | #

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can anyone explain his obsession with crab cakes?

tenley | Oct 18, 2007 8:59:26 AM | #

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I would guess the obsession with crab cakes comes from Gordon's insistence on things being made from fresh ingredients. Crab is an easy way to "vet" a waiter/chef/restaurants prep ability.

lon | Oct 18, 2007 9:14:15 AM | #

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The "person who looked like a chef" was there to expedite and prep. The pre-Ramsay Menu was TERRIBLE for a kitchen with just a Cook and an Expediter. And REALLY REALLY terrible anytime something had to be sent back.

Art the Troll | Oct 18, 2007 9:51:53 AM | #

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I find Gordon Ramsay and the show to be quite entertaining. I would, however, like to see them do an update at the end of each episode(i.e. go back several months later). I want to know if these leopards have really changed their spots, or reverted to their old ways.

Steve | Oct 18, 2007 10:25:27 AM | #

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Just to set the record straight, there is always a gratuitous topless scene in the original UK version as well. Clearly our Gordon has it written into his contract! :-)

Lee-UK | Oct 18, 2007 1:00:03 PM | #

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Steve,

That's sometimes included and sometimes not, but I agree, it should always be there.

Lee,

I think you may be right.

Josh Lasser | Oct 18, 2007 1:13:58 PM | #

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As long as Gordon doesn't got pantsless in the restaurant, I'll be happy. I just saw on Zap2it's TV page that "Kitchen Nightmares" has been renewed for another season, so we'll have more Gordon to love.

edonline | Oct 18, 2007 2:09:24 PM | #

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"so we'll have more Gordon to love."

Really? Are crab cakes bad for you?

Josh Lasser | Oct 18, 2007 7:15:09 PM | #

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The US version of kitchen nightmares, is down right awful. Everything from the editing, to the lame narrator, to the happy ending and the subtitles.

The BBC (british version) is much much better. I think they still taping it and it is in its 3rd season. In this show, gordon narrates, like he should. I guess the produces think that American's can't understand british english. I guess if you watch jerry springer that might be the case.

The UK show also doesn't repeat and cut like this one. The US editor should be fired, that would make an interesting show.

But the biggest difference is the substance of the show is much better. Gifts are not given away and the endings are not always happy. They show the details, like the struggle that the owners and chef goes thru to renew the restaurant. A fresh coat of paint and some new plates aren't going to make a restaurant successful done. The struggle is what we want to see. In the UK version, Gordon even shows up, a month later to see how the place is doing.

After watching the journey, why shouldn't the audience be rewarded with whether the owners actually got their shit together and made it successful. I guess the producers think that american's woulnd't make the connection that gordon wasn't responsible and that it might tarnish his reputation. That is some bollocks.

I can't understand why they think that the US viewers would want to see a dumbed down version.

I can't seem to find the UK version on a dvd anywhere, so you are left to watching bbcAmerica for the shows. All of gordon's other shows are very good, F word, Hell's kitchen UK version.

Gordon ramsay is probably the most entertaining of celebrity chefs. I mean, Emeril, Batali, or Flay don't even come close to the personality that Gordon has. I have eaten in two of his restaurants, his food is probably better also. I don't think it is show either. Ramsay is successful because he is a hard ass and is honest with people and himself no matter how much it hurts.

charlie | Oct 22, 2007 5:44:08 PM | #

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