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Gordon Ramsay broke the news: Kitchen Nightmares No More
In 2004, Gordon Ramsay propelled to instant fame as the often put upon chef trying to help turn around UK restaurants in Kitchen Nightmares. 2007 saw the formula move from the UK to the US-and a whole lot more curse words added.
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I’m breaking my own news today! I’ve decided it’s time to bring Kitchen Nightmares to a close. Been 10 great years http://t.co/p24rIRyryi Gx— Gordon Ramsay (@GordonRamsay) June 23, 2014
Ramsay broke the series ending news on his website on Monday, June 23.
“I’m currently filming 4 new episodes, Costa Del Nightmares, for Channel 4 which will be my last.” Americans saw the ending of the show in April and /4/of this year. Perhaps a follow-up episode will follow suit later on, as with previous seasons.
In the past decade, he filmed in over 100 restaurants in countries across the world.
And sometimes the Scot failed at his attempts.
During the UK run, help arrived on the doorstep of Paris, France, and Nerja, Spain, but neither owner took the advice seriously and ended up closing. And they weren’t the only ones.
From the seven US seasons of Kitchen Nightmares, Amy’s Baking Company of Scottsdale, Ariz., springs to mind as the most obvious major failure. Social media blew up and tipped over like a lopsided cake when Amy would not and could not take criticism. Even the follow-up showed an unrepentant owner.
While the chef doles tough love, ultimately the real talk is meant to help the struggling businesses. Sadly, most owners are unwilling to accept true accountability and the business folds. Black Pearl, anyone?
But Ramsay doesn’t find the experience harmful at all.
Discussing the experience, he says that “meeting and trying to help or in some cases failing to help, some of the most weird and wonderful people.” Just because Amy and Samy Bouzaglo refused to face the severity of a financial chopping block, he still considered “the lovely sisters at La Galleria and Momma Cherri’s” to be good experiences.
Now that Gordon Ramsay has gone through and cleaned up all those kitchen nightmares, it’s safe to go out to eat again, right?— Bill Deger (@muwxguy) June 24, 2014
And occasionally the staff of doomed restaurants found a try-out in one of over 20 restaurants owned by the Michelin star.
He picked up India Innes in Paris and she trained at London’s Claridge and Boxwood Café. Currently, she’s the head chef at Jeremiah’s Taproom, says Andy Gemmell of Scotland’s The Herald.
With 150 territories buying rights, he won’t be disappearing from the small screen anytime soon.
Not to mention, the brash man with a 10,197 swear word count in twelve seasons says Kitchen Nightmares was produced locally in 30 territories. And U.S. networks use the formula well.
Spike TV’s Bar Rescue follows a similar style with Jon Taffer’s experience in the food and beverage industry. Plus Food Network’s Restaurant: Impossible, a spin-off of Robert Irvine’s Dinner: Impossible, where restaurants and menus are transformed. Ramsay influences are obvious in both series with a series of quirks to set them apart.
Ramsay won’t be running off television, either.
Fox still produces Hell’s Kitchen, MasterChef, MasterChef Juniors, and Hotel Hell.
Gordon Ramsay’s best insults as we mourn Kitchen Nightmares @Thrillist http://t.co/FVjIJziuD4 I’m gonna miss this show @GordonRamsay— James McDonald (@Chefjamesonmaui) June 24, 2014
Gordon Ramsay’s putting the closing sign up for Kitchen Nightmares, but he’s not going anywhere.
Sources: Gordon Ramsay, The Herald