"Can you cook well despite never having been formally trained? Gordon Ramsay (the asshole British celebrity chef behind Hells Kitchen and Kitchen Nightmares) and the producers of The Biggest Loser are looking for the best amateur chefs, passionate foodies and the ultimate dinner party hosts and hostesses to participate in an “inspirational” new TV series, “Masterchef.” If chosen for this show, you’ll get to develop your cooking skills while mentored and encouraged by the judges ala The Biggest Loser (so we hope Gordon keeps his mouth shut) The Masterchef series was first a hit in the UK in 1990 and has recently garnered high ratings in Australia. It’s being described as a culinary American Idol. The show goes on a “nationwide search for the best amateur chef in America.” The San Francisco casting call takes place at Sur La Table on Maiden Lane in San Francisco on January 24, 2010 from 11am to 4pm. Fort he audition you’ll have to bring one prepared dish to serve to the judges at room temperature. Applicants must be 18 year or older and not a chef who works in a professional kitchen. Full details here." http://www.3ballproductions.com/masterc... - Richard Walker

I've always wanted to catch this old season of the UK Masterchef, as described here: http://aidanbrooks.blogspot.com/2008... - Andrew C (see frenf.it)

That does look amazing, Andrew! She's got me convinced. The guy who trained Ramsay - Marco Pierre White, did a short reality show featuring team pairs and a pair of restaurants. He was pretty fair - and not obnoxious as Ramsay can be. - Richard Walker

Y'know, I meant to catch that and never did. The original UK version ("The Restaurant", retitled "Last Restaurant Standing" for BBC US) was pretty good too. Although, my strongest memory from that show was when the remaining contestants were assigned the task of selling fresh live eel, and one of them just flat-out refused to kill, clean, and prepare the eels. (Luckily for them, their assigned sous-chef stepped up.) - Andrew C (see frenf.it)

And while we're speaking of British food-related shows given US remakes, Kitchen Nightmares is amazing. The first episode ("Bonapartes", if I remember right ) has a 21 year old "chef" who practically *defines* "gormless". - Andrew C (see frenf.it)

I'm quite fond of Kitchen Nightmares, although a wee bit skeptical of the familiar sequence 1) admit failure and defeat 1a) possibly shutting down the restaurant for code violations 2) acknowledge your new savior Ramsay 3) be thrilled with the new design and conception 4) everything's come up roses -- although that one idiot who had the "franchise concept" with horrible food and a bizarre menu that took 10 minutes to explain -- couldn't be helped. At all. - Richard Walker

On balance though, it did seem like he really did help the poor people, and not only because he can generate a buzz for the grand re-opening. - Richard Walker

Oh, there's a lot of fakery, though not everything. Like, they're not allowed to shine the place up for TV, it's got to look just like it regularly does. But on the other hand, Gordon Ramsay doesn't come up with this stuff in a week; restaurant consultants swoop in long before he arrives and do a thorough analysis of what's wrong and design a proposed fix, all offscreen, which Ramsay then delivers as if he came up with it. BTW, I once read a bit of a British message board where people who owned the spaces used in Last Restaurant Standing mentioned they'd also been contacted by Kitchen Nightmares... they indignantly refused. (I gather that their businesses weren't circling the drain, unlike some of the horror shows on KN.) - Andrew C (see frenf.it)

At least he doesn't pretend he "worked all night long" and did the construction. He does take all the credit for the work done by the consultants. I wonder if they are even listed in the credits, and if they can be hired directly? Or is it part of the deal - the restaurant mgmt. equivalent of ghost-writers. - Richard Walker

Bourdain talks about restaurant consultants - something like "they arrive just before the repo men." =) - Andrew C (see frenf.it)

Restaurant consulting is like, the worst job EVER. Chefs are sooooo hard to work with, their egos are as big as Hollywood stars! #FACT - Mona Nomura

Sing it, Mona! I know you love food, so will you put up with an outrageous ego if the food is really spectacular? Or do you just stay away from the kitchen? - Richard Walker

And Mona if you're still here -- what was that food spotting service you gave us beta invites to? I finally have a decent camera and with any luck may have occasion to celebrate... and take pictures of yummy food. - Richard Walker

I stay away from the kitchen - those celeb chefs are only good from afar (unless they're Japanese...sounds really stupid but since I am Japanese and speak Japanese, I bond with the chefs. i.e. Masa-san of Masa and Urasawa-san of Urasawa. I've even met Morimoto who is more hyper than a hamster on crack.) In NYC, I've had the honor of meeting Thomas Keller, Mario Batali, and a few others. I saw / heard things I wish I didn't. And we'll just leave it at that. FoodSpotting is now open to the public! - Mona Nomura

My friend G (a top-notch, good-looking waiter) worked for this dude [elided]... one night he comes up to G and says "my friend really likes you -- here's some blow and the keys to my Jag. Show him a good time, all right?" Needless to say my friend was a little surprised to be pimped out like this. Absolutely scandalous. Same dude who had buttons made in support of his decision to fire someone with a serious health problem. Check the bit.ly and do the math... I hope people learn they can't get away with this stuff, no matter how "celebrated" -- and thanks, Mona! [edited] - Richard Walker

Oh look, Mona! Dude is associated with Batali ! - Richard Walker

Gordon Ramsay needs to go on The Apprentice and learn the business end of running a food empire. - Aryn Corley

he comes clean about the "research team" for Kitchen Nightmares in this clip http://www.hulu.com/watch... and here's season 3 ep. 1 http://www.hulu.com/watch... - Richard Walker

*waves to Gordon* http://twitter.com/G_Ramsay <-------------- me - Richard Walker

Rochelle loves Gordon convo. from last March http://friendfeed.com/lovefes... - Richard Walker