| By chefgbs on Saturday, February 10, 2001 - 02:42 pm: Edit |
Has anyone seen the TV show "When Chefs Attack-America's Filthiest Restaurants"? It aired on 2/9 in New York City on channel 9. It was the most appalling show I've ever seen. It was taken from video cameras in restaurants and showed urinating, vomiting, sexual acts, etc. and other nauseating things that even in my worst nightmare I never thought could happen. Please tell me it's not that bad. I realize that the show was only interested in the shock value, but c'mon. Say it ain't so.
| By Cheftim (Cheftim) on Saturday, February 10, 2001 - 07:02 pm: Edit |
If you take a look at some of the "bitter server" websites I think you have to assume that some of these things do happen.
I didn't see the whole show, I have a low tolerance for sensationalism, but I question several scenes in the show. The looked put up and contrived. Specifically there was one scene were a cook was making sandwiches and putting under arm hair in them. (gross) yet there was no other mis en place or knives or any tools what so ever on the cold table he was working at. The angel of the camera made it look as if this was the only piece of equipment set in a room. There were a few other scenes just like this.
This kind of cheep titillation produced and served up to the public as journalism is just so much bread and circuses.
| By W.DeBord on Sunday, February 11, 2001 - 08:34 am: Edit |
My husband kept switching back to that show....it bothered me! But now that you mentioned how staged things looked Cheftim I really believe your correct!
What I saw didn't really look right as far as the setting and utensils...for gross kitchens most of the ones I saw didn't have much happening in the whole room but the idiot. No produce boxes, no real equipment, etc...not even messy.
I feel better now.
| By Peachcreek (Peachcreek) on Sunday, February 11, 2001 - 01:19 pm: Edit |
The restaurant that I currently was previously operated by some really bad folks. The place was filthy, and the food and service matched the surroundings. They went bankrupt and deserved it. To overcome the stigma that was attached to the location, I opened up the kitchen. The doors to the kitchen were removed, the line was set out for the world to see. As I tell the staff, today "If you drop it on the floor, EVERYONE will see". Customers routinely tour the kitchen. Our health inspections are perfect. I use the sensationalism of those kinds of television shows to my advantage. Is there any way to get that program on network primetime? Even if its fake, I could use the free advertising! Its just another was to differentiate the good guys from the bad.