Real Time Web Analytics Foodie Gossip: January 2011

Sunday, January 30, 2011

Gordon Ramsay Tossed to the Sharks (Warning: Contains graphic photo)

Gordon Ramsay celebrates capturing and killing a rare shark
(Courtesy of the Daily Mail)
Looks like celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay is taking another hit. When will he ever learn…

This time Ramsay has been caught in the act of hypocrisy to the fourth power by the UK’s Channel 4. The TV network just learned that Gordon Ramsay went shark fishing only 18 months ago, just before filming “Gordon Ramsay’s Shark Bait”, a show about the potential extinction of sharks.

In photos, provided by someone in attendance during Gordon Ramsay’s shark hunting expedition, Ramsay is shown (shirtless) celebrating his capture and kill of a rare shark.

The Shark that Gordon Ramsay Killed
 Just when you thought Gordon Ramsay couldn’t sink any lower, he surprises you with a more horrific act. Well, Channel 4 isn’t having it. Apparently, this was the straw to break the camel’s back. Ramsay's £5million deal with Channel 4 ends this June and insiders say he has “no chance” of getting a similar big-money contract again.

While I’d like to believe Ramsay could learn his lesson from this, I know it’s about as likely to happen as it is for me to sprout wings and fly.

Visit the Daily Mail for more info on this story. See the new post below for the video - but just a warning, it's very disturning.


It looks like Gordon Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares isn’t just about the restaurant anymore. According to The Daily Mirror, the Kitchen Nightmares’ star and executive producer has added a number of irrelevant questions to the Kitchen Nightmares contestant application. How much a contestant weighs, as well as their height, eye and hair color are just a few of the questions that have been added. But my favorites of all of them are these:
  • Have you ever had a restraining order filed against you?
  • Does your family have a history of depression?
  • Are you easily upset?

Actually, the one regarding a history of depression seems to be fair.

A friend of mine had filled out an application for Chef Ramsay’s Hell’s Kitchen (as a joke) and told me that they had similar questions on the application he filled out, which he thought was strange. Considering that Kitchen Nightmare’s is supposed to be focused on the restaurants and not the contestants, asking such personal questions doesn’t seem right.

Moreover, Chef Gordon Ramsay should be focused more on cleaning up his muddied image instead of adding to his laundry list of drama and evil doings.

Are those questions even legal? But then again, does he really care?

More on Gordon Ramsay and Hell's Kitchen:
The Sharks that Gordon Ramsay Killed: The Movie (warning: video contains graphic violence)
Gordon Ramsay Tossed to the Sharks (Warning: Contains graphic photo)

Friday, January 28, 2011

Blender Booze: Crack Open an Ice-Cold Can of... Whisky?

Blender Booze: Crack Open an Ice-Cold Can of... Whisky?: "Scottish Spirits' can of Scotch WhiskyNot sure why anyone would think whisky in a can would be a good idea, but apparently someone does – an..."

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Tucson Restaurant’s Lion Tacos are a CATastrophe

An African lion cub. Does this look like dinner?
Last week a Tucson, AZ restaurant that specializes in exotic meats announced that it was taking pre-orders for African lion tacos that would be officially added to the restaurant’s menu in mid-February. Frog legs, turtle, alligator, kangaroo and python are just some of the exotic meats that can be found on Boca Tacos y Tequila's menu.

 “I’m doing the African lion to get my name out,” Bryan Mazon, owner of Boca Tacos y Tequila, told the Arizona Daily Star. According to the New York Times, Mazon’s promotional efforts were a success: word spread at lightning speed and his story was picked up by a number of nationwide media outlets.

But public response wasn’t as favorable as he had hoped. In place of the throng of pre-orders, Bryan Mazon and his family received a bevy of threats and insults instead. Some went so far as to deliver threats directly to Mazon’s home.

What did Mazon expect after broadcasting his plans to serve up an endangered species at his restaurant? I’m surprised he didn’t find his front yard covered in very used kitty litter. But maybe he will. There’s still time. Just kidding – sort of…

Monday, January 24, 2011

Kitchen Nightmare's Gordon Ramsay Explains His Puffy Face

Fox Network's Kitchen Nightmares and Hell's Kitchen star, Gordon Ramsay, finally addresses the rumors regarding his facial swelling back in December. Rumors that the celebrity chef had undergone cosmetic surgery have been abundant.



Whether Gordon Ramsay's story is true or not, hopefully we can lay the entire plastic surgery tale to rest and move on to more interesting gossip. Like...

Which Top Chef is starring in Rachel Kramer's sexcapades (thefrisky.com)?? Dirty bastard... =)


It looks like Gordon Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares isn’t just about the restaurant anymore. According to The Daily Mirror, the Kitchen Nightmares’ star and executive producer has added a number of irrelevant questions to the Kitchen Nightmares contestant application. How much a contestant weighs, as well as their height, eye and hair color are just a few of the questions that have been added. But my favorites of all of them are these:
  • Have you ever had a restraining order filed against you?
  • Does your family have a history of depression?
  • Are you easily upset?

Actually, the one regarding a history of depression seems to be fair.

A friend of mine had filled out an application for Chef Ramsay’s Hell’s Kitchen (as a joke) and told me that they had similar questions on the application he filled out, which he thought was strange. Considering that Kitchen Nightmare’s is supposed to be focused on the restaurants and not the contestants, asking such personal questions doesn’t seem right.

Moreover, Chef Gordon Ramsay should be focused more on cleaning up his muddied image instead of adding to his laundry list of drama and evil doings.

Are those questions even legal? But then again, does he really care?

More on Gordon Ramsay and Hell's Kitchen:
The Sharks that Gordon Ramsay Killed: The Movie (warning: video contains graphic violence)
Gordon Ramsay Tossed to the Sharks (Warning: Contains graphic photo)

Sunday, January 23, 2011

Dubai Opens the 'World's Highest' Restaurant: AT.MOSPHERE

Burj Khalifa, the world's highest tower
If you ever find yourself in Dubai, make sure to spend a meal in the sky at what's being titled the world's highest restaurant.

At.mosphere Bar & Grill is located 1,350 feet (that’s four football fields) high in the sky. An express elevator whisks patrons up to the 122nd story of the Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest tower, standing more than 2,700 feet above ground.

At.mosphere is "one of the finest luxury dining and lounge experiences in the world," said a rep from Emaar Hospitality Group, an arm of giant property developer Emaar.

At.mosphere sports a modern European “grilled cuisine” menu that showcases light-styled dishes, created by their executive chef, Dwayne Cheer. Chef Cheer has spent more than 13 years working in Michelin star restaurants.

At.moshphere Restaurant, in the Burj Khalifa Tower, Dubai
But if you do find the opportunity to dine at At.mosphere, be prepared to put a small dent in your credit card. The dining experience will be at least $122 (U.S.) per person.

Restaurant officials at At.mosphere plan to apply to Guinness Book of World Records for the “world's highest restaurant” title.

For more information go to:


Saturday, January 22, 2011

Bravo TV's Top Chef NOW CASTING: Top Chef 9, Top Chef: Just Desserts 2, Love Calling

Bravo TV's Top Chef Casting Call 2011
For all of you celebrity chef wannabes out there, here is your opportunity to shine! Bravo TV just opened their casting call for Top Chef season 9 and Top Chef Just Desserts season 2.

Top Chef is looking for chefs with a passion for food, ingenuity, a thorough knowledge of cooking techniques and trends, and oodles of charisma.

If you want to be considered for Top Chef Season 9, please email casting@magicalelves.com, with the subject line “TC9 Casting”; include your name, age, phone number, city you live in, a recent photo and a paragraph about why we should choose you for the show.

Top Chef Just Desserts wants bold, ingenious pastry chefs who can build visually stunning pieces and impress the judges’ palates. Are you one of them?

If you want to be considered for Top Chef Just Desserts Season 2, please email casting@magicalelves.com, with the subject line “TCJD2 Casting”; include your name, age, phone number, city you live in, a recent photo and a paragraph about why we should choose you for the show.

For more information on casting for Top Chef and Top Chef Just Desserts, visit BravoTV.com.



More on Top Chef:

Top Chef All Stars' Marcel Raps: He Cooks For The People

Marcel Vigneron of Top Chef and Top Chef All Stars cooks for the people and has become a rap star over night! Nah, just kidding. But Marcel's rap remix is hillarious!

The video could have been cut better, but you'll still enjoy watching Marcel rap about cooking for the people! I know I did...






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Friday, January 21, 2011

Gordon Ramsay: Shark Bait is Worth the Watch

Gordon Ramsay, from "Gordon Ramsay: Shark Bait"
I just watched “Gordon Ramsay: Shark Bait” and boy do those Brits know how to rip out your heart and turn it into sashimi. I had been somewhat aware of the “finning” issue, where sharks are hunted for their fins. But I found myself in tears for sharks around the world when I watched Ramsay’s Shark Bait.

Gordon Ramsay is passionate in his mission as he travels from London to Taiwan to Costa Rica. The world-wide demand for “shark fin soup”, a dish known for its status, but not necessarily its taste, is rapidly growing, especially in Asia. But the acts that are committed in order to supply this demand are horrendous.

Shark poachers around the world catch their prey, cut off their fins and then discard the rest of the shark’s body or use for bait.  The show had a gruesome scene where a hammer head shark’s fins were cut off as it flopped around, and then it was thrown back in the water, mutilated and helpless. I’m not Miss Green Peace, but I was mortified.  Sharks have always been seen as powerful and majestic creatures.  To watch such an amazing animal treated so inhumanely is just so... wrong.

Thanks for the nightmares, Gordon Ramsay. No – sincerely, thank you. I may just go out and join Greenpeace (or at least become one of their biggest advocates).


It looks like Gordon Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares isn’t just about the restaurant anymore. According to The Daily Mirror, the Kitchen Nightmares’ star and executive producer has added a number of irrelevant questions to the Kitchen Nightmares contestant application. How much a contestant weighs, as well as their height, eye and hair color are just a few of the questions that have been added. But my favorites of all of them are these:
  • Have you ever had a restraining order filed against you?
  • Does your family have a history of depression?
  • Are you easily upset?

Actually, the one regarding a history of depression seems to be fair.

A friend of mine had filled out an application for Chef Ramsay’s Hell’s Kitchen (as a joke) and told me that they had similar questions on the application he filled out, which he thought was strange. Considering that Kitchen Nightmare’s is supposed to be focused on the restaurants and not the contestants, asking such personal questions doesn’t seem right.

Moreover, Chef Gordon Ramsay should be focused more on cleaning up his muddied image instead of adding to his laundry list of drama and evil doings.

Are those questions even legal? But then again, does he really care?

More on Gordon Ramsay and Hell's Kitchen:
The Sharks that Gordon Ramsay Killed: The Movie (warning: video contains graphic violence)
Gordon Ramsay Tossed to the Sharks (Warning: Contains graphic photo)

Thursday, January 20, 2011

Top Chef All Stars: Dale vs. Marcel. Marcel, Please Pack Your Knives and Go!

Farewell to Top Chef All Stars' Marcel Vigneron
I know Marcel Vigneron isn’t the most popular guy, but his “white man ghetto” speak really cracked me up this season. Particularly, in last week’s  Top Chef All Stars episode, where we watched Marcel throw back a bottle of gin and go into a drunken-dale-hating-rant, with hand gestures that were very reminiscent of Vanilla Ice. I’m not saying I like the guy – but he’s been damn funny to watch.

And given his treatment of Dale Talde last week, how could anyone be surprised when Dale, after winning the Quickfire and was awarded team lead, picked his nemesis, Marcel, to lead the other team. It was clear from the start that Marcel had zero leadership skills and his team didn’t respect him. He micromanaged everyone into a tizzy and in the end, his team fell short at his hand. Marcel’s last words:

“I’m the most notorious diabolical contestant of Top Chef History. But I’m also the most misunderstood. I’m actually a nice guy and I’m a personable likeable person”.

I had a feeling that he would be the one eliminated, but wasn’t completely convinced – his cooking skillz were da bomb (yes, I’m whipping out the early 90’s lingo). But his level of arrogance seems to have morphed into a disease that is eating away at his brain and is probably the cause of some schizophrenic symptoms, which has made it impossible for Marcel to grasp reality. Therefore, instead of improving upon his craft, his cooking abilities are declining because his disease prevents him from accepting that he could actually be capable of creating anything less than perfect food. This disease is known as “God Complexism”.

The definition of God Complexism: While God Complexism is more commonly found in men, this disease can infect both men and women and is very difficult to cure. God Complexism may be contagious and should be treated immediately by a shrink and lots of meds.

I digress.

Even though we’ve seen some bad behavior from Marcel, we’ve also seen the kinder side. And let’s give him credit for not throwing a temper tantrum and leaving the Top Chef competition with his head held high. He even gave Dale a hug on his way out.

So, with Jamie Lauren and Marcel gone, who will step into villain’s shoes for the remainder of the Top Chef All Stars season? Angelo is a possibility – he’s been known to sabotage other chefs’ dishes. But I think I’ll put my money on Dale. He’s the only one left, of the remaining chefs, with a mean-streak.

Top Chef All Stars Episode 7: RESTAURANT WARS RECAP!

Top Chef All Star's Marcel
This week on Top Chef All Stars…

Opening: Carla is happy she won the elimination round last week, but bummed to see Tiffani Faison and Jamie Lauren depart. Now there’s only 3 girls left. But she thinks they’re all strong: “Go girl power!” Antonia was nicknamed the “Black Hammer” in her season because every person who worked on a team with her ended up going home. This season is deja vu. Could Antonia be a jinx? Keep reading…

10 chefs remain. Who will survive? And Who will pack their knives and go? (I just love saying that)

This week’s Top Chef Quickfire challenge
- Anthony Bourdain takes the chefs to Le Bernardin : The best seafood restaurant in America
- The chefs have to butcher one cod and one flute to Le Bernardin standards in 10 minutes, two minutes longer than it takes Justo Thomas. At least they gave the chefs a fair shot this time.
- Butchers two fish in clean, perfect, quick portions in 8 minutes

Who is the guest judge?
- Justo Thomas (Justo who?): He wakes up every day and butchers at least 700lbs of fish each morning. It takes 3 chefs to do his job when he’s on vacation. Justo, get a website – or at least a Facebook page. You have no internet presence, Chef Justo Thomas.

Quickfire Happenings

- Fabio cuts his thumb and says “I’m not Jamie, I’ll take it like a man”. Jamie Lauren will never live that episode down, but just for the record, Fabio, Jamie isn’t a man. Are you saying she took it like a woman?
- Tiffany owns a seafood restaurant, but doesn’t typically butcher so quickly. She cuts the fish the wrong way. Woops.
- All the ladies struggled
- Richard used to work at McDonalds as the Filet-o-Fish chef! He sent his first batch of Filet-o-Fish out without the top bun – so avant garde…
Who was on the bottom? Fabio, Carla, Angelo, Antonia, Tre and Tiffany. That’s a lotta bottoms.

Who was on the top? Dale, Marcel, Richard and Mike. These top 4 had 45 minutes to create a dish of made up of leftovers form their butcher job.

Who won? Dale won immunity. He cooked two dishes: Fluke Back and Bacon Dashi.

Top Chef Elimination Challenge:

What is the challenge? Restaurant Wars!!! The chefs are split into 2 teams and must create a “pop up” restaurant that offers a short term menu. The chef’s pop-up restaurant must be a fun, one of a kind experience. And the diners will decide which restaurant wins.

Team 1: Marcel, Angelo, Mike, Antonia, Tiffany
- They name their restaurant “Etch”
- Marcel is leading the team
- Tiffany takes on the front of the house
Team 2: Dale, Richard, Tre, Fabio, Carla
- They name their restaurant "Bodega"
- Dale is leading the team
- Fabio takes on the front of the house

What is the prize? The winning chef will walk away from the elimination challenge with $10,000

Who is the guest judge? Chef Ludo Lefebvre, owner of Ludo Bites 5.0 in Los Angeles, a pop up restaurant.

The actual Elimination Challenge

Bag of Potato Chips with Fried Herbs and Sea Salt
Bodega: Opens up with a bag of chips, Richard asks “What would your redneck cousin do if he won the lottery? He would dip his caviar in ranch”. This is how the unconventional style was thought up.
-     Bodega’s menu: Bag of chips, Bacon egg and cheese, canned tuna, chicken fried sauerkraut, braised pork shoulder, and cheese cake
-     Tom calls it “A Bodega in someone’s fantasy world.”
-     Dale goes postal on the wait staff. Fabio is trying to protect the wait staff from the angry-man (Dale).
-     The team is only nervous because there are no arguments
-     Bodega has that fun “pop-up” feel that a pop-up restaurant is supposed to have.
-     Restaurant Bodega ran like a well-oiled machine after a shaky start
-     Fabio directs the wait staff like a pro and the judges are impressed
-     The diners love it and the judges do too (has that EVER happened in a Restaurant Wars competition??)
-     Anthony Bourdain says, “I’d be very happy to have this restaurant pop up in my neighborhood”
-     Richard isn’t too optimistic, but Fabio is (when is Richard EVER optimistic??)

Etch: Mediterranean food
-     Team Etch decides to go with a Mediterranean theme.
-     Etch’s menu: 6 minute egg, octopus, monk fish, lamb and cauliflower, oxtail
-     Marcel is telling Tiffany how to cook an egg and the process goes all wrong. She has to change the dish, but she is managing the front of the house. Tiffany says “Shoulda just cooked the eggs the way I knew how to freakin’ cook the eggs”
-     Antonia is over-confident because her dishes are full, but the diners don’t like the egg, they feel Antonia’s lamb is under-cooked and they send the plates back
-     Marcel is bitching at Mike and Mike bites back. Go Mike Isabella!
-     The waiters aren’t getting enough direction from Tiffany. Tiffany is being social, but does not know how to work the front of the house beyond socializing.
-     Diners have complaints about the plates and all the food is cold.
-     Marcel's Monk fish is called "Baby Food" by the judges.
-     Dana Cowin from food and wine magazine made an appearance and was not impressed.
-     The boys are arguing and it’s getting worse. Marcel is a rude, mess
-     The dessert presentation is spot-on, but the taste isn’t up to par
-     Antonia becomes realistic and Marcel is blindly optimistic. Antonia says Marcel is on drugs. That could be very likely. We know he’s an alcoholic.

The Elimination
-     Bodega wins Restaurant Wars (Dale, Richard, Tre, Fabio, Carla). The judges loved the potato chips, Fabio’s service was fantastic and Anthony Bourdain said Dale’s Breakfast was “stoner food at its finest”. Compliments all around.
-     Richard wins this episode of Top Chef All Stars and $10,000 for his concepts and techniques that impacted the whole team.
-     That means Etch failed Restaurant Wars (Marcel, Angelo, Mike, Antonia, Tiffany)
-     Etch was least preferred, only 17 out of 76 diners preferred them. But they had no game plan, none of their dishes were up to par, no one liked their dessert and Bourdain said “it was a thumb in the eye”
-     Moreover, the front of the house was a mess, arguments in the back made everything worse, Marcel sucked as a leader. “It was a shit show”. Anthony Bourdain says, “Prison breaks are organized with more efficiency and team work”

Owch.

Marcel is Eliminated from Top Chef All Stars
Who had to pack their knives and go? Marcel

Why? Marcel was a terrible leader who no one respected, he made a dish that tasted like baby food and he made a desert that was all presentation, but a total flop. Marcel says, “I didn’t really make any mistakes per say, besides picking the wrong team”
He says about himself “I’m the most notorious diabolical top chef. I’m a personable likable person”.

Marcel, stop smoking crack and check yourself into rehab. You are seriously clueless, dude.

And let me just add: It probably didn’t help that Marcel was on the same team as Antonia.

Preview for next week
Fabio feels like the Godfather is walking in. The theme screams Italian. We get a glimpse of Fabio struggling a bit too. Don't crack under the pressure!


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