16 April 2008

Cooking world clue! - Get One

I was watching Gordon Ramsey’s Hell’s Kitchen last night. Admittedly I have a slight crush on him, except for last night. I couldn’t have been more disappointed and disgusted with a reality TV show. I could barley tolerate the annoying contestants and their whining! I know reality TV lacks substance and integrity. It thrives on its vapidness. I however expected more from the cooking world. Mr. Ramsey is known for his dirty mouth and in his other shows he has kept it down to a tolerable level. Yet the ridiculous amount of foul language spread to the contestants and even their behavior was in the gutter. I understand this is a competition but have a little class please! One “top chef” wanted to “use her body” to distract one of her male competitors! GROSS!!! REALLY REALLY GROSS!! These people are not top chefs!! Why has this type of attitude spread into the “popular” cooking world?
When did cooking and sharing the experience of food become about swearing at each other and other unspeakable grossness! I have worked in restaurants for years and have never experienced such appalling manners! Now, it is not like those words are never spoken in the kitchen away from the ears of customers. When a glass is dropped, a knife slips or crunch time arrives you can hear a S or F word spoken but never towards fellow comrades. Those who have worked in well run kitchens know that it is with positive communication and team work that create a successful night.
The experience of sharing a meal should be a pleasant one for everyone involved, the kitchen staff, wait staff and customer. Negative energy that happens in a kitchen is too easily transferred into the dinning room and that is the last thing a true restaurateur desires. This new line of vulgar cooking has left a bad taste in my mouth and I hope everyone gets over it soon!