Cafe 36 - Chicago

[Irish Stu]

Just watched 'Ramsey's Kitchen Nightmares USA' (as opposed to 'Ramsey's Kitchen Nightmares' which is filmed in the UK). I believe it's a Channel 4/Fox co-production. Anyway, our boy Chef Ramsey 'rescued' failing Chicago restaurant Cafe 36 in the usual Ramsey way... lots of swearing, a new menu, a makeover, lots of exasperated pieces to camera and generally picking on the head chef, in this case a guy named Pinto who he accused of singlehandedly trying to put the joint out of business.

Anyway, the problem with these shows is that you don't get a follow-up so you can see how the lucky owners/hapless fools are doing once Ramsey and the TV crew have cleared off in their Winnebagos to set up camp in another restaurant's parking lot to repeat the whole process.

So Jake (or Chris or Anita) is there any chance of you popping along for a spot of lunch, or maybe an early dinner, and letting me know if the place is heading back down the shitter again, or if Ramsey's magic has got longevity?

Oh, and I'm also curious to know if Chef Barney, who stepped up to the top job when Pinto left at the end of filming, is still there (he's the dude that looks like a young Bif/Jef).

Many thanks in advance

Simon (who has a friend that Ramsey came out of the kitchen of his London restaurant Petrus to personally abuse and swear at for complaining about his entree)

[Chicago Jake]

I'd never heard of that restaurant (or that show) and had to look it up. The joint is way out in the Western burbs (LaGrange), and I'm unlikely to ever find myself anywhere near it. Sorry, Simon!......Jake

[Irish Stu]

Surely Chicago can't be that big. Maybe you could take a stroll out there one evening...

Simon

[nolaflacav]

I watch all of Ramsey's various shows. He is hilarious but the scenarios become very repetitive.

I have seen several UK Nightmares where it looks like they re shot about five minutes of the ending to actually do a revisit several months later to follow up and see if Ramsey's ideas are still being followed. In most cases I think the owners were still hanging in there and making progress.

[Irish Stu]

I love his shows, and his brutal honesty with some of the idiots in these restaurants. But as you say, the scenarios do become repetitive. That said though, the fun is in all the drama he creates when he's trying to sort out the mess he's walked into.

There doesn't seem to have been a British series for a couple of years now, they seem to be concentrating on the USA version which to be honest I have found more entertaining. Maybe because Ramsey is more of an unknown entity there some of the people featured are more inclined to rise to the bait he throws at them, hence creating the drama that the show is after.

Chef Simon

[nolaflacav]

Apr 24, 2009 5:14:27 GMT -6 Irish Stu said:

I love his shows, and his brutal honesty with some of the idiots in these restaurants. But as you say, the scenarios do become repetitive. That said though, the fun is in all the drama he creates when he's trying to sort out the mess he's walked into.

There doesn't seem to have been a British series for a couple of years now, they seem to be concentrating on the USA version which to be honest I have found more entertaining. Maybe because Ramsey is more of an unknown entity there some of the people featured are more inclined to rise to the bait he throws at them, hence creating the drama that the show is after.

Chef Simon

You are dead on. Now go piss off!

[Irish Stu]

Bollocks.

Chef Simon

[Cherbunny]

Chef Ramsey is more known (I think anyhoo) with Hell's Kitchen. It's down to the top 3 chefs to battle it out over who gets the $250,000 a year salary and runs the kitchen at his new restaurant at the Borgata in Atlantic City.

I'm hoping Danny wins it.

www.fox.com/hellskitchen/

[Christinko]

I live near it I suppose (maybe 15-20 min. away by car, my being in the near western suburbs), but haven't ever heard of it. I have SO many restaurants in my direct 'hood that I can't keep up with them as it is...but I'll keep it in my mind in case! But then again, I'll only live here till mid-July....wa-hoo!