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Most Restaurants on Kitchen Nightmares Are Now Closed

partysugar — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 11:33:25 -0700

Ever wonder what happens to a restaurant after Gordon Ramsay whips the staff into shape and redesigns the dining room on Fox's Kitchen Nightmares? Well according to Scottish newspaper, the Herald, more than half of the eateries have closed or been sold. Of the 20 restaurants that were featured on the US version of KN, 10 are now closed; 12 out of the 22 UK establishments faced the same grim fate. Restaurateurs blame a range of reasons for shuttering, from high costs of fresh local produce to a decrease in customer counts due to the recession. Others even begrudge Ramsay saying that the show is clearly a joke.

In some ways, I have to agree. A quick makeover from a celebrity chef and appearance on a reality television show isn't going to make thousands of dollars in debt disappear. The harsh truth is that for a restaurant to succeed, it needs diners, and not even Gordon Ramsay can guarantee that an establishment will be full each night.

What do think of the news? Are you surprised to learn that so many of the eateries have shut down?

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Would You Rather Watch Kitchen Nightmares or Hell's Kitchen?

partysugar — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 01:30:10 -0800

Photo Courtesy of Fox

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.

Would You Ever Open a Restaurant With Your Family?

partysugar — Fri, 19 Sep 2008 11:45:23 -0700

Last night's Kitchen Nightmares was all about one family's struggle to run a restaurant. The overbearing dad has diabetes, the son feels like he's never good enough, and the mom is stuck between the father-son battles. Although Gordon Ramsay manages to piece the family back together, the emotional episode made me wonder how I would feel if I worked in a family-owned restaurant. How about you?

Photo Courtesy of Fox.

Gordon Ramsay Has More Brewing With Fox

YumSugar — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 14:00:11 -0700

In a deal between Fox and star chef Gordon Ramsay, the chef has signed on for at least two more seasons of Hell's Kitchen and Kitchen Nightmares, a live cooking special, and - get this - yet another series.

Ramsay's third show will be based on his current British series Man Camp, a sort of boot camp for men, who are put through physical and intellectual challenges.

The live cooking special will encourage "young, vibrant, and tenacious" viewers to cook a meal with the chef at home. Says Fox programming executive Mike Darnell: "He's been unbelievably good to this network. He's as much a staple for us now as Simon Cowell or Hugh Laurie."

Ramsay's secret to television success? "I try hard to keep it real, and I'm someone who takes all this very, very seriously." Are you excited to hear of this new development for the sharp-tongued chef? Will you tune in to watch Ramsay's new show, which seems to be less focused on cooking?

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Did You Watch Last Night's Kitchen Nightmares?

partysugar — Fri, 12 Sep 2008 10:31:42 -0700

Last night on the second episode of the new season of Kitchen Nightmares, Gordon Ramsay was on a mission to turn Long Island's Handlebar around. With a chef who doesn't like to cook, an unmotivated owner, and an emotional train wreck of a wife, the restaurant was a complete disaster. I've always liked the concept of Kitchen Nightmares more than Ramsay's other television show, Hell's Kitchen. I greatly enjoy watching him transform the restaurant and feel so happy when, in the end, it succeeds. How about you? Did you catch it?

Photo Courtesy of Fox.

Gordon Ramsay to Open Second Restaurant in New York

YumSugar — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 10:17:44 -0700

With a handful of hit shows, an international restaurant group, and 12 Michelin stars to uphold, Gordon Ramsay keeps piling more on his plate. The chef announced he will be opening a second venture in Manhattan, his US version of a laid-back, relaxed gastropub.

The casual concept, Ramsay defends, isn't due to the failing economy: "It's not because of the credit crunch or holding back. I just love that kind of alternative."

Gordon Ramsay at the London, his first stateside spot in midtown Manhattan, opened in 2006 to mixed reviews from critics, but the restaurant has proved resilient, earning two Michelin stars.

No word yet on when the café is set to open. Ramsay does have other things going on, after all: The new season of Kitchen Nightmares premieres tonight on Fox.

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2007's Favorite Male-Celebrity Chef Is . . .

YumSugar — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 16:20:18 -0800

This morning, as part of our Best of 2007 coverage, we revealed our favorite female-celeb chef of 2007. Well, now it's time to reveal our favorite male-celebrity chef. The readers' choice mimicked my own and it was a close race between Alton Brown and Anthony Bourdain; in fact, they're currently tied at 23 percent each. However in the end, I'm going to have go against my heart and go with my brain. Our choice for male-celebrity chef of the year is Gordon Ramsay.

This year Ramsay really dominated his category. He had two successful US television shows - Hell's Kitchen and Kitchen Nightmares - several interesting shows on BBC, a video game in the works, two more Michelin stars, a new cookbook, and he found time to run a marathon. Not to mention he did all this even with burned bits down under.

Say what you will about Ramsay, but he is a successful - if not awfully busy - bloke and 2007 was really his year.

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What Did the Secret Garden Look Like Before Ramsay's Transformation?

partysugar — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 11:01:18 -0800

After such a rewarding episode a few week's ago, last night's Kitchen Nightmares was a disappointing season finale. It was your typical kitchen nightmare with an egocentric French chef unwilling to take Ramsay's suggestions, a filthy kitchen full of rotting vegetables, moldy shelves, and an outdated, horribly-decorated dining room. The restaurant was so ugly Ramsay said it reminded him of a funeral parlor. I thought it looked like a dusty, old antique shop. What did you think? What did The Secret Garden look like before Ramsay's modern transformation?

Photo Courtesy of Fox.

What Was Your Favorite Foodie Reality Show of 2007?

YumSugar — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 09:13:31 -0800

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