Is the TV Show "Hell's Kitchen" Accurate?

[Mermaid]

It follows a show we watch regularly so we've been sucked in. But it makes me wonder if this is what happens in restaurant kitchens? Some of the time none of the time all of the time??

I am amazed that anyone can cook without a recipe in front of them. It never occured to me that that's how they did things in a professional kitchen. How many dishes a chef has to memorize!!!!

 

[Smiling JOe]

A cook uses a recipe, but after you make something a time or two, you don't need a written recipe to cook it right. I spent more than ten years in and out of kitchens, and I'd see the Chef or cooks looking for inspirations in cook books, and once, I saw a cook pull out a recipe to make a particular vinaigrette, but that is it.

 

[scooterbug44]

My brother is in culinary school and they are taught and tested on basic sauces, recipes, and techniques, then there is a lot of practicing and memorizing and working in restaurants to learn. Sometimes they just give them a list of ingredients and they have to make a recipe in a set amount of time.

Pretty cool to watch him clean all the leftovers out of the fridge and come up with palatable food or slice and dice.

 

[Will B]

The interesting thing to note about that show is that the diners eat for free and are paid 50 bucks to be on the show. If Gordon Ramsey trashes the food, the guests don't eat!

 

[InletBchDweller]

Besides remembering how to make all the single entrees what was interesting to me is how they could make a BIG quantity of something and have it taste the same everytime.

On NFL Sundays I used to love it when the "chefs" would come to our house. I would "clean out my fridge" and end up with a gourmet meal!!!

 

[John R]

Sometimes they just give them a list of ingredients and they have to make a recipe in a set amount of time.

one of the exercises in the certified master chef program, for the american culinary federation, administered at the CIA. They get a basket and need to make a multi-course meal.

 

[Indigo Jill]

It follows a show we watch regularly so we've been sucked in. But it makes me wonder if this is what happens in restaurant kitchens? Some of the time none of the time all of the time??

I am amazed that anyone can cook without a recipe in front of them. It never occured to me that that's how they did things in a professional kitchen. How many dishes a chef has to memorize!!!!

Yes, that is how it is in Europe. In America - usually only in kitchens with European-trained chefs.

In a professional kitchen, there is no such thing as a recipe UNLESS you are a pastry chef - pastry is a true "science". Professionals in the culinary industry use cookbooks for inspiration, like graphic designers look at other websites for inspiration or photographers look at other's pictures for inspiration.

 

[Mango]

Pretty cool to watch him clean all the leftovers out of the fridge and come up with palatable food or slice and dice.

I do this before we leave Sowal. Can't say that it's palatable though.

 

[oli]

It follows a show we watch regularly so we've been sucked in. But it makes me wonder if this is what happens in restaurant kitchens? Some of the time none of the time all of the time?

Hi Mermaid,wifey and i are big fans of Ramsey but i seriously doubt that he build is empire abusing people like he does on the show,it's so over the top it takes away from the "reality show" aspect in my opinion,few people could withstand such an environement,maybe last century in Europe somewhere...
A show we really liked is "Gordon Ramsey's kitchen nightmares"on BBC America ,check it out

 

[Matt J]

Kitchen nightmares is definitely not something to be watched during or before a meal. Probably not even shortly after. It's interesting to see how run down someone will let their own life's dream get. I just feel sorry for the people that dined at those places before they were "fixed".

Oli he also does one on Fox in the U.S.