Okay I’m a food show junkie. I can never get enough of someone like Jamie Oliver showing me just how to cook an "easy peezy" meal. Never mind that he is funny, charming and cute…the guy can COOK! Need I say more? Yes…there are lots of reasons to watch cooking shows ; – P! I’ve watched The Naked Chef, The Surreal Chef, Bobby Flay, Barefoot Contessa, Chef at Home, Chef at Large, Nigella Bites, Iron Chef…you name it. So it seemed natural that I would be attracted to the series "Hell’s Kitchen" with chef Gordon Ramsay. I’d seen how well, how should I put it, how totally mean and awful the guy could be on an English program called "Who’s Coming to Dinner" that featured celebrity chefs that came to your house to show you how to cook a meal. At that time I didn’t know who he was, but he stuck in my head since he was calling the poor guy on the show every name in the book and was just plain nasty. Flash forward a few years and he is ultra popular and the star of Hell’s Kitchen where he is basically the meanest drill Sergent of the kitchen I have ever seen. Given the fact that he is very skilled in the kitchen I like to try to overlook his obvious flair for being the over dramatic scream queen of the kitchen and just look at it as entertainment. He "trains" sous chefs that are willing to put up with his incessant insults, yelling and humiliation just so that they can get a chance to have their own restaurant and be around the bully 24/7 (are they nuts?) Let’s just say…he is no Jamie Oliver.
This past week I have to say that I think he finally went too far. He actually made a very rude comment to a woman who was a guest eating that the restaurant on the show. The comment was about woman’s breasts! Like WHAT????? What does that have to do with the kitchen? I was stunned. So was the woman on the show since she decided to pick up a plate and toss in on the floor, food and all. I have to say I applauded her. Just who does that guy think he is? Okay it’s a show but REALLY…would he have said the same thing had it been a man there with a large chest? "Excuse me Monsieur…your very large strong masculine lean chest is blocking my view!" The obvious sexist chauvinist remark is a disgusting commentary on what has become acceptable in today’s society and an extension of just how far a chauvinist PIG can succeed and continue to behave that way in the year 2006. Riveting TV or shock value. Who knows? All I know is that So You Think You Can Dance is on tonight and I’ll be there watching…oh did I mention…I’m hooked on that reality show too?