# Gordon Ramsey's Masterchef **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [July 28, 2010, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gordon-ramseys-masterchef/548257 "2010-07-28T02:10:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Aestivalis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Aestivalis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aestivalis)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2010, 4:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gordon-ramseys-masterchef/548257/21 "2010-07-31T04:36:17Z")
Anybody else think that the Asian guy with the duck dish is a ringer? “Server” my ass. I bet he works in the family restaurant, and cooks as much as he serves. ---
**Author:** ![MTCicero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a4c791/32.png) [@MTCicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MTCicero)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2010, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gordon-ramseys-masterchef/548257/22 "2010-07-31T14:16:18Z")
So, when’s this thing on? I’d like to set up my DVR to record it so’s I can check it out. (Though it being Ramsay + Fox, I don’t hold out all that much hope for it being actually watchable.) ---
**Author:** ![joebuck20](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/74df32/32.png) [@joebuck20](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joebuck20)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2010, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gordon-ramseys-masterchef/548257/23 "2010-07-31T15:19:44Z")
I read somewhere that the guy who made the runny potato casserole owns a barbecue restaurant. Wouldn’t that violate the amateur cook rule? ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2010, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gordon-ramseys-masterchef/548257/24 "2010-08-03T18:12:22Z")
> [@MTCicero](#): > > So, when’s this thing on? I’d like to set up my DVR to record it so’s I can check it out. (Though it being Ramsay + Fox, I don’t hold out all that much hope for it being actually watchable.) The next episode is tonight. 8pm is _Hell’s Kitchen_ (which I think is a horrible train wreck of a show) and 9pm is _Masterchef_ (which I’m tentatively willing to give a shot). ---
**Author:** ![Staggerlee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/staggerlee/32/3134_2.png) [@Staggerlee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Staggerlee)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2010, 9:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gordon-ramseys-masterchef/548257/25 "2010-08-04T09:10:39Z")
> [@Ogre](#): > > I’d love to punch Gordon Ramsay in the throat. Me too, but I reckon he would then batter me to within an inch of my life with a cast iron pan. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2010, 11:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gordon-ramseys-masterchef/548257/26 "2010-08-04T11:31:50Z")
I was impressed with that guy who did the Italian… whatever it was. The semi-surf-and-turf thing. It might not have been to their standards but I’m glad they gave him a chance. Same with the woman they sent out to get some inspiration and cook. A definite sign of Ramsay’s appreciation for ‘authentic’ home-cooked food, rather than something tarted up to look fancy. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2010, 12:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gordon-ramseys-masterchef/548257/27 "2010-08-04T12:05:37Z")
I gather that the US version is based on the Australian version rather than the UK original. It is like Big Brother with cooking except devoid of conniving and backstabbing. The contestants lived together in a large Sydney house and over the course of several months were whittled down to two finalists. Over the course of the series viewers come to know the contestants quite well and start to pick favorites. The show is on 6 nights a week and I don’t think a week went past that it wasn’t a regular topic of conversation at work. The two series have been phenomenally successful in Australia. Every daily newspaper has articles about the eliminated contestants. The final of series 2 was the highest rating, non-sports event, in Australian TV history. ---
**Author:** ![MTCicero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a4c791/32.png) [@MTCicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MTCicero)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2010, 12:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gordon-ramseys-masterchef/548257/28 "2010-08-04T12:35:58Z")
> [@Baron\_Greenback](#): > > > [@WolfpackJeep](#): > > > > I saw another Chef Ramsay show advertised on BBC America – Escape, or something like that? Anyone know anything about it? > > Is it Great Escape? That was pretty good - came out a year or two ago. He goes to India and it’s part cooking/ part travel documentary. So, kind of like Gordon Ramsay’s version of **No Reservations**? Now, I wonder which of the two shows is superior? ---
**Author:** ![MTCicero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a4c791/32.png) [@MTCicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MTCicero)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2010, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gordon-ramseys-masterchef/548257/29 "2010-08-04T12:38:57Z")
> [@ArchiveGuy](#): > > > [@MTCicero](#): > > > > So, when’s this thing on? I’d like to set up my DVR to record it so’s I can check it out. (Though it being Ramsay + Fox, I don’t hold out all that much hope for it being actually watchable.) > > The next episode is tonight. 8pm is _Hell’s Kitchen_ (which I think is a horrible train wreck of a show) and 9pm is _Masterchef_ (which I’m tentatively willing to give a shot). Thanks. I gave it a shot, and I’ll continue watching for the time being. Also, regarding the whole punch-Gordon-in-the-throat issue: I’d reserve my ire, and throat punch, for Mr. Joe Bastianich. Cock. ---
**Author:** ![MTCicero](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a4c791/32.png) [@MTCicero](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MTCicero)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2010, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gordon-ramseys-masterchef/548257/30 "2010-08-04T12:43:28Z")
> [@don\_t\_ask](#): > > I gather that the US version is based on the Australian version rather than the UK original. It is like Big Brother with cooking except devoid of conniving and backstabbing. The contestants lived together in a large Sydney house and over the course of several months were whittled down to two finalists. Over the course of the series viewers come to know the contestants quite well and start to pick favorites. > > The show is on 6 nights a week and I don’t think a week went past that it wasn’t a regular topic of conversation at work. The two series have been phenomenally successful in Australia. Every daily newspaper has articles about the eliminated contestants. The final of series 2 was the highest rating, non-sports event, in Australian TV history. Is that the show which has/had John Torode as one of the judges? Because he was an excellent judge, whereas Gordon Ramsay’s, well, fairly keen on exhibiting the Americanized, Fox-ified version of himself (as stated previously), much to the show’s detriment. Oh, well. Anything to keep Fox’s trailer trash viewership engaged, I suppose. ---
**Author:** ![AClockworkMelon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aclockworkmelon/32/10803_2.png) [@AClockworkMelon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AClockworkMelon)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2010, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gordon-ramseys-masterchef/548257/31 "2010-08-04T13:00:46Z")
Ramsey’s Kitchen Nightmares is one of my favorite shows. I’m a big Ramsey fan because of it. But after watching the first episode, I’m definitely going to take a pass on the rest of the show. ---
**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2010, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gordon-ramseys-masterchef/548257/32 "2010-08-04T14:21:03Z")
So far it has been American Idol with more contrived drama, not a good combination. I hope it gets better as it moves into phase two of the competition. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2010, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gordon-ramseys-masterchef/548257/33 "2010-08-04T15:14:28Z")
I hate the Fox/American reality show trappings. I know they’re trying to cash in on reality show audiences (here and on Hell’s Kitchen (US)) and hoping that fans of Ramsey from other shows will stick with them, but it’s really grating. I refuse to watch these live, and have been watching from DVR. I’ve gotten very good at figuring out when the next commercial break is due and tend to just hop past a lot of the fake drama pausing that comes right before and after those. ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2010, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gordon-ramseys-masterchef/548257/34 "2010-08-04T15:17:53Z")
I also find myself wondering what it’s **really** like there. Do they have the group that they know is going to get the aprons regardless, and then the “get out of here, you suck” candidates like those weird ones on American Idol that they throw in for drama/[del]Simon Cowell[/del]Joe Bastianich to bitch at? Or do they have a cattle call of the whittled-down contestants that might have talent, and once all the aprons are handed out, “so sorry, go home, we’re all done here”? Because I’d be pissed if I was a good home cook and some of these yahoos got in ahead of me for reasons like having a good sob story. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2010, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gordon-ramseys-masterchef/548257/35 "2010-08-11T16:57:42Z")
I watched it for the first time last night. I could never really get into Hell’s Kitchen because Ramsey was so loud and yelly and they are doing stuff that is way over my head. I’m new to cooking and hoping to learn something from watching the show (and I did already - how to cut an onion.) Overall I really enjoyed it. Dunno who the guy’s name is, but the one who did the poached egg with steak and mashed potatoes – you could tell Ramsey likes him and was giving him a hard time specifically to push him. I had a feeling he was going to be good just because he seemed so confident in what he was doing. You could also tell they liked the girl who did an open-face BLT. I feel like they’re rewarding originality and risk which is good. It seems life a more warm and fuzzy version of Hell’s Kitchen. Think I’ll continue watching. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2010, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gordon-ramseys-masterchef/548257/36 "2010-08-11T18:42:02Z")
> [@olivesmarch4th](#): > > I’m new to cooking and hoping to learn something from watching the show (and I did already - how to cut an onion.) FYI you can find out how to do that and a lot more with the internet. So far I have never been disappointed when looking for a video on how to cut an onion or chiffonade or even a good way to get at pomegranate seeds. Most anything you could think of. Theses shows help with some ideas and such which is good but as a way to learn how to cook not so much (although from Hell’s Kitchen you will nab little tidbits on rare occasions). ---
**Author:** ![zoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zoid/32/336_2.png) [@zoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zoid)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2010, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gordon-ramseys-masterchef/548257/37 "2010-08-11T18:47:28Z")
Honestly I think Graham Eliot is the most entertaining person on the show. I’m sick of GR’s shtick and Bastianich is just annoying. Plus I’ve eaten at Eliot’s a few times and he really can cook. Maybe Gordon can too but I’ve never had the pleasure. ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2010, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gordon-ramseys-masterchef/548257/38 "2010-08-11T20:42:01Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > > [@olivesmarch4th](#): > > > > I’m new to cooking and hoping to learn something from watching the show (and I did already - how to cut an onion.) > > FYI you can find out how to do that and a lot more with the internet. So far I have never been disappointed when looking for a video on how to cut an onion or chiffonade or even a good way to get at pomegranate seeds. Most anything you could think of. > > Theses shows help with some ideas and such which is good but as a way to learn how to cook not so much (although from Hell’s Kitchen you will nab little tidbits on rare occasions). Oh, yes, I am having great fun with internet how-to videos. The other day I learned the proper way to cut a bell pepper. I’m making a garden harvest soup this week and it’s going to take twice as long as usual to make because I’m going to make sure I cut up all those veggies good and proper! It’s crazy how good some of these people are at being creative with cooking. Like the 30 different ways people came up with for presenting an egg. That’s sort of the stuff I’m hoping to learn from the show – different ways to cook. Like it would never occur to me to try to make a poached egg, but now I want to learn. I only started cooking last year and I’m still in that ‘‘following the recipe’’ phase, trying to become more independent and creative in the kitchen. So any kind of exposure to cooking shows in general is probably going to help me. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2010, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gordon-ramseys-masterchef/548257/39 "2010-08-11T20:53:39Z")
> [@zoid](#): > > Honestly I think Graham Eliot is the most entertaining person on the show. > I’m sick of GR’s shtick and Bastianich is just annoying. I agree although it seems to me that Eliot follows Ramsay’s lead. Maybe cuz he is the young guy (although certainly accomplished in his own right). I liked that he liked the beer cheese soup which the other chefs panned. Eliot needs to stick to his guns more. No idea how that beer cheese soup was but I have fond memories of a fantastic beer cheese soup at a place I used to stay in the north woods in Wisconsin. It can be very tasty and nice. Ramsay is, well, Ramsay. I do not think it is a schtick. I think that is him being himself. He can be an ass to be sure but when not browbeating wannabe chefs with his high standards he seems an ok guy. Bastianich just annoys me to no end. His smug, supercilious attitude just drips off him (willing to throw narcissism in there too but would need to hear more from him to be sure). It is rare I have such an instant and powerful dislike for someone without having met the person. Bastianich is one such person. I am nearly positive I could not stand hanging out with that guy for more than 30 seconds. ---
**Author:** ![SmackFu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/53a042/32.png) [@SmackFu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SmackFu)\ **Post date:** [August 12, 2010, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gordon-ramseys-masterchef/548257/40 "2010-08-12T16:47:22Z")
It’s interesting how little it has to do with the UK version. Just completely different. It’s much more of a Food Network type of show, and runs everyday, and only 4 competitors compete at once. It also gets people into real restaurants to see if they can cut it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gordon-ramseys-masterchef/548257.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gordon-ramseys-masterchef/548257.md?page=3)