Hell's Kitchen

Yeah yeah I know... reality shows. We've all seen them and we all hate them at some point or another. Hate is a strong word but sometimes it fits - After all what are we on now? Survivor 24? Anyway, that's not the point of tonight's blog.

Tonight's blog comes on the heals of the season finale of Hell's Kitchen. YEAH! I'm so glad Christine won! I was rooting for her or Corey. Love this show. If you haven't seen it before - keep an eye out for next season. You've got an AMAZING world renowned chef who worked his way up through the kitchen to his culinary/tv career that is continuing to go through the roof... on this show he brings in anyone who has a passion for cooking and of course some skill. It's a competition, these people have to be able to cook amazing meals that are up to his standards. Through the sometimes painful and/or obvious process of elimination... some one is crowned the winner. This season's winner is Christine - a culinary student - whose prize is executive chef at his new restaurant "Gordon Ramsay at the London West Hollywood" plus $250,000. What these people go through to get there blows my mind. It's quite a process. In watching this and Ramsay's reputed foul mouth (bleeped of course), I used to think "it's not worth it"... not to have to work for someone like this. He's comes off as such a (keeping it clean) jerk. A pompous, arrogant, brutal, verbally abusive jerk. I know some of it is for show but seriously... you start to wonder. I can sort of understand where he's coming from because the winner will be representing him/his name. I believe he came up through the kitchen ranks himself so he's not asking them to do anything he has not done himself but there are times you just want to kick him and tell to knock it off.

Since watching tid-bits of the first season, I have caught episodes of Ramsey's other show on BBC America and soon to be on Fox - Ramsey's Kitchen Nightmares. This shows a softer, more compassionate, and patient person. Confirms my thought that the bulk of his attitude being all for show. On Ramsey's Kitchen Nightmares - he goes in to restaurants that are on the verge of closing. Restaurants in need of SERIOUS and immediate intervention. He's it. He eats what they currently offer, works the kitchen, observes and offers all sorts of help short of giving them money to get these places back on their feet and moving forward. Very little "beeping" on this show ;) He's met with resistance but tries to get things going is a better more workable direction. In the few I've seen all the way through - on the follow-up visits, be it a month or a year later, they have all prospered from his help and implemented his suggestions.

So - catch either program - it's not all about the "beep".

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WALL*E

This movie was adorable. Pixar has done it again. Fabulous movie. Lovable characters (even the cockroach! Oh he was so cute!), above average animation, laughs, good story. There is very little spoken story line in this movie. It's all actions and movement not unlike the silent movies from the days of old. I'm not sure about taking little little kids to this movie just because I'm not sure at what age they'd be able to interpret and understand the sometimes subtle actions/reasoning of what the characters are doing... The story flows smoothly, but I'm not sure little kids would get it and be able to sit still for the hour plus length of this movie. It's worth seeing even if you don't have kids. Get there early... don't forget all Pixar movies have a short animated film first and this is no different... it was hilarious... I was thinking the short was worth the price of admission alone... and then the feature film was icing on the cake. Go see it! Yes, I did say a cockroach was cute... sweet even especially with Twinkie creme on his antenna. One of the best movies I've seen in a while. Can't wait for it to be on DVD so I can buy it already.