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I think Ramsey is a real jerk. I was watching an episode of "The F Word" on BBC America. During the opening he introduced the two new chefs in the kitchen. One he described as " ...a 22 year old American girl from Los Angeles". Then, right after saying that, one can hear Ramsey's voice overdubbed saying "Unfortunately". Like the jerk added the insult in the editing room!

I thought about if for a second and then deleted all his shows from my DVR, and all future recordings. If the Scottish twit wants to pick on American girls, he can kiss my ass. What a freakin' loser.

I don't think people quite understand. I think it's reasonable to believe that Gordon is a an ass in HIS kitchens and is also a proper, decent human being outside of them. I don't think these are mutually exclusive. If you read Marco Pierre White's memoir, White states with certainty that the environment inside of top kitchens is not friendly or politically correct, and may be considered darwinian if nothing else.

What about those of us who enjoy the stronger, sharper coffees? :(

I visited today (big splash day) and tasted the Pike offering. It's nice. It's pretty mainstream. But Sbux always had lighter brews!

I'll miss my Yukon, Gold Coast, Sumatra and beloved Espressos (Italian and French) that they used to brew for the "bold" selection. I understand that Sbux will be running the "bold" brew until 12:00 noon each day, then go to the Pike for the only brewed coffee available during afternoon and evening.

If I get in the mood for a strong brew in the afternoon, I can always have an Americano.

So... let me get this straight. Gordon, in the UK, does a television show where there are real restaurant people in a real restaurant and he lets the real Gordon come through. Here in the US he does a television show with actors pretending to be restaurant people, on a set pretending to be a restaurant and Gordon pretends to be a screaming asshole. This is supposed to make us like him and his US show because.... they think that Americans are just to friggin' STUPID to watch the real thing? No wonder it's on a FOX network: the think that we're all dumb enough to swallow whatever shit they shovel our way.

Oh, and Gordon... you want to be taken seriously AND play a clown at the same time? Yeah. Right. Sure thing, you pathetic Bozo. You own how many successful restaurants yet you act like an asshole on American TV for what? More money? Your screaming idiot act is a kick in the teeth to the real Chefs of the world who spend the time:
1 working their way up through the ranks, confident that they really know their craft
2 hire good people with good skills and work ethics
3 take the time to instruct their staff in how they want the dishes prepared
4 get the right equipment & supplies for their staff to do their jobs
5 hire a dining room manager who knows how to pace the reservations so that the kitchen doesn't get so slammed that they can't do their jobs well
6 leading by example... not by posing for a camera and screaming.

He's funny on Hell's Kitchen. Love the show.

The F Word is also a favorite.

He may be a jerk but he also has a point. I think everyone knows that tv is about the DRAMA. i must have nonstop drama on tv or i may read a book(god forbid). i think it is sad that we see 2 different personas when i like him on bbc. I watch so much bbc my son started sounding british. He is never mad, he is cross- and other words.

What a great thread. Everyone is absolutely right about the "stealing the reservation book" story. I just flat out mis-remembered. Everyone has me jazzed about watching The F Word and the British Kitchen Nightmares on BBC America.

The F Word - best food show on right now besides No Reservations. it comes on for me at some wacky time like sundays at 11am on BBC america

Kitchen Nightmares is edited to maximize the drama, you really can't take the story line at face value. If you read between the frames you can see that he is has an excellent business sense and good advice.

Remember that Purdue chicken commercial? "It takes a tough man to make a tender chicken", this could be GR's motto as well.

He is presented in a different (and not better way) on American television. He can be rather a softie on the British versions of his show. He can be caring, warm, funny. This really comes through on the F-Word where you can see him with his kids and with the animals they raise.

No, he has no patience for someone who's not interested in trying, but he becomes genuinely invested when someone wants to try or learn.

I could be wrong, but I believe he stole his OWN reservation book, not Marco Pierre White's, and merely cast blame upon White for the theft. I think I read it in the New Yorker, and this seems to confirm that:http://www.caterersearch.com/Articles/2007/04/05/312687/marco-pierre-white-to-sue-gordon-ramsay-over-book-theft.html

Psst, it's posted on Salon.com, not Slate. Show the love...