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Gordon Ramsay to Bring Masterchef to America

YumSugar — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 10:15:19 -0800

Gordon Ramsay sure is busy. Besides joining Tony Bourdain on the animated series circuit, the reigning king of chef empires will play a key role in a new show, Masterchef, airing soon on Fox.

The Masterchef series was first a hit in the UK in 1990 and has recently garnered high ratings in Australia. It's being described as a culinary American Idol. The show goes on a "nationwide search for the best amateur chef in America." While Ramsay will coproduce and be on air, it's unclear what role he will play in the new show. Scheduling hasn't been announced. Precisely what America needs! Another amateur cooking competition.

Do you think the show will appeal to the mainstream? Or has the TV cooking space reached its saturation point?

Sideways Is Back, in Japanese Form

YumSugar — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 16:00:18 -0700

If you were stoked to hear about the release of The Ramen Girl, wait until you hear about the next big foodie flick. Oh, wait - you may have already seen it. Twentieth Century Fox is creating a Japanese version of Sideways, the Oscar-nominated comedy about four friends road-tripping through California wine country that became a runaway hit in 2005.

Given wine's increasing popularity in Japan, Fuji TV, one of Japan's biggest film producers, thought the movie would be an ideal candidate for a remake. But for its new film, tentatively also called Sideways, the company made changes to the storyline.Rather than drinking their way through Santa Barbara wine country, the group meanders through Napa Valley, a wine region that is better-known among the Japanese. The movie's two main male characters - named Michio and Daisuke, not Miles and Jack - drive up to Napa Valley from Los Angeles. “You can’t do a road trip in California without going over the Golden Gate Bridge,” said the director of the remake, Cellin Gluck.

At first, Napa Valley vintners were not too enthusiastic about the film, given that the original's Merlot-bashing lines led to a plummet in sales of the varietal. However, the new feature doesn't knock varietals of any kind and successfully managed to shoot at local restaurants, as well as winemakers such as Frog's Leap, Beringer, and Chandon.

I'd never have guessed that the Japanese would remake a movie like Sideways, with its focus on a specialized West Coast winemaking region, but I can see how the comedy has universal appeal. Do you like the concept, or should Fox have simply dubbed the original?

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Hell's Kitchen Recap 5.3

YumSugar — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 13:00:53 -0800

Last night's episode of Hell's Kitchen was very interesting. Ironically, it was both one of the most disgusting challenges and one of the most glamorous episodes. I can't imagine being the losing team - their punishment was so revolting that I felt sick watching them - and I envied the winners, who took an extravagant trip to Santa Ynez wine country via private jet. To read my opinions of the episode (spoilers ahead!), and share your thoughts, read more.

Would the two-part beef cut identification challenge have intimidated you?
Can you imagine how tired the chefs must have been? If I were operating on three hours of sleep, I wouldn't be able to think straight either! (I still, however, wouldn't have pulled a Lacey and labeled the front of the cow with the "bottom-round" cut.)
Which team have you been rooting for: red or blue? Which seems stronger to you?
Would you have done what Robert did and given up your wedding plans to be on HK?
Eating cow kidney, tongue, and liver after cutting apart a cow would have made my stomach turn, too. Would you have gotten sick like many of the girls did?
I think steakhouse vet Giovanni deserved to be nominated for his poor performance on the grilling station. Was getting rid of Charlie the right decision? Should Seth have gone home instead?
Who are the sharpest cheftestants? Which ones are your favorites?

If you didn't catch the episode, here are my favorite quotes from the show:

Gordon, on Seth: Where's the off button?

Colleen: Chef Ramsay's the arrogant, vicious attack dog.

Andrea, on Lacey: Oh, I sure have a bitch switch, and you f*cking hit it ever f*cking time . . . Couldn't Lacey have fell and twisted her ankle?

Gordon, on too-rare steak: It's still walking, that f*cking beef!

Robert, on the blue team: We've been on top of the world. It's time to get some humble pie.

Gordon, on Seth's ruined fillet: What are you going to do, get Daddy to buy you a new one?

Photos courtesy of Fox

Hell's Kitchen Recap 5.2

YumSugar — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 10:36:54 -0800

Last night was only the second episode of Hell's Kitchen, but I already feel disappointed by the turn of events: My favorite contestant went home. To hear what I thought of the show (warning: spoilers ahead!) and share your two cents, read more.

Did it surprise you that Coi apologized to Lacey?
How could you not laugh out loud when Colleen fell into putrid-smelling crate while bobbing for scallops?
I learned a lot from Gordon's scallop shucking 101. Have you ever shucked scallops?
Don't you wonder how Gordon selects people to sit out and/or to do dinner service?
Were you half expecting someone to cut himself during the shucking challenge?
Have the producers honed in on all of Lacey's bad moments? Only three of her six scallops passed, and she got the brunt of Gordon's beef - but just one out of 10 of Paula's made the cut! Does she have no work ethic, or simply not enough self-confidence? If it were you dealing with Lacey, would you have taken the Carol approach or the Ji approach?
Did you think it was creepy that Seth knew so much about Gordon's personal life?
Why would Gordon have Robert take the ferry to Catalina Island, only to have him turn around and go right back?
Do you think Colleen really is a cooking school teacher and owner? How is that possible?
Were Colleen and Lacey the right people to be up for elimination? What about Carol? Don't you think she came down a little too hard on Lacey, and not enough on herself?
Were you shocked when Ji sent herself home?

If you didn't catch the episode, here are my favorite quotes from the show:

LA, on scallops: I have no experience with scallops. I didn't know they came in shells.

Lacey, on shucking scallops: If the people on earth that ate scallops saw the scallop like that, they wouldn't eat 'em.

Gordon, realizing no one in HK had ever shucked scallops: Un-shucking-believable!

Gordon, to Colleen: You frazzle my mind. Every time I look at you, I think headache.

Photos courtesy of Fox

Hell's Kitchen Recap 5.1: 16 Chefs Compete

YumSugar — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 13:00:45 -0800

We recently introduced you to the contestants on the new season of Hell's Kitchen, and many of you said you were excited to watch the season premiere. After watching the first episode last night, it's safe to say that this season, there'll be lots more of Gordon Ramsay in store. To hear my first impressions and discuss the episode (warning: spoilers ahead), read more.

Don't you wish the show told you which restaurants the chefs came from?
It bugged me when Lacey presumed others think, "Here's another pretty girl trying to be a good cook." Did her comment get to you as well?
Isn't it strange that Colleen didn't get high marks for her dish and isn't trained formally as a chef, yet she charges so much money to train other people how to cook? Wasn't it awkward when she offered to serve Gordon a bite? And what was up with him not being able to pronounce her name?
Did Gordon make the right decision by choosing the winning team based on dining room service?
Is it just me, or does Lacey seem immature, Seth like a Gordon groupie, and Giovanni mean, unskilled, and a little shady?
Was Wil stupid or respectable by nominating himself for elimination?

If you didn't catch the episode, here are my favorite quotes from the show:

Gordon to Robert: This dish is clumsy. Like you.

Gordon on Colleen's signature dish: You seriously charge $300 to teach people how to make that crap?

Giovanni on cooking: It was an easy way to get a girl to my house. Instead of taking them out to dinner, I could bring 'em home . . . then you move on to the next level.

Lacey, on the girls' canned team name: Not everyone wanted "Spice Rack," because not everyone has a spice rack.

Seth on Gordon calling him "Forrest": [Insert Forrest Gump accent] Gordon and I will be like peas and carrots once again.

Photo courtesy of Fox

Will You Watch Hell's Kitchen 5?

partysugar — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 06:45:06 -0800

The new season of Gordon Ramsay's cooking competition, Hell's Kitchen, premieres tonight at 9 p.m. on Fox. Are you excited? Will you be watching?

Photo courtesy of Fox

Can You Name the Hell's Kitchen Contestant?

YumSugar — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 06:45:21 -0800

Set your TiVos, everyone: Hell's Kitchen starts next week! Party's already introduced you to the new season's 16 contestants, but as devoted Hell's Kitchen viewers, I thought I'd test your loyalty with a quiz about the past two seasons we've covered - seasons three and four. You may consider yourself a fan of the show, but can you really remember all of the details? The only way to find out is to take the quiz!

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Take the quiz

Meet the Contestants of Hell's Kitchen Season 5

partysugar — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 05:30:23 -0800

Although it doesn't begin until January 29th (at 9 p.m. on Fox), I've got the inside scoop on the participating contestants of Hell's Kitchen Season 5. Sixteen aspiring chefs will have the chance to win a "head chef" position at Borgata Hotel Casino and Spa in Atlantic City, New Jersey. The only thing that will stand in their way is the formidable Gordon Ramsay. Interested in getting to know the contestants? Start clicking. Photo Courtesy of Fox

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Who Is Your Favorite Food Reality Contestant of 2008?

partysugar — Thu, 04 Dec 2008 06:45:24 -0800

What would the food industry be without reality TV food competitions? 2008 was filled with interesting characters, odd-ball personalities, and plenty of heat in the kitchen. We covered the three main shows: Top Chef, Next Food Network Star, and Hell's Kitchen. While we love Stefan and Fabio from Top Chef 5, we thought to be fair, the poll should include only contestants from completed seasons. So as part of our ongoing Best of 2008 coverage, tell us: which cheftestant is your fav?

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Have You Ever Made Cheese?

partysugar — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 10:30:06 -0700

Last night we got a double dosage of Kitchen Nightmares. First Gordon Ramsay fixed up Trobiano's and afterward he headed to the Black Pearl. My favorite part was when Ramsay taught the chef and owners of Trobiano's how to make homemade mozzarella. I started thinking and realized I've never made cheese! How about you?

Photo Courtesy of Fox.