The Restaurant 2009

There's cameras so they've stayed for the entertainment of how much mess there is ?! When the camera goes off they all snak sandwiches out their handbags lol
 
Yes, a bit like the two blonde girls. In the fast food show blonde FOH was being marvelled at by the judges for how great she was, by the end of the next episode everything had mysteriously gone ridiculously and horribly wrong for them ( plus the fact their restaurant seemed to be situated in the middle of nowhere ) .... hmmm... ;)
 
Agree with all your points. I still love this show but it's so frustrating to see the life sucked out of it, and what was once a lively and clever format reduced to little more than a tacky game show. Hope if it comes back next year they find the cash to do it properly.
 
I imagine him barricaded in his office, staff battering desperately at the door as Raybo, naked except for a pair of Eiffel Tower underpants and fluffy elephant slippers, comfort eats from a huge pile of returned Le Maison Blanc pastries whilst Cher
 
Morning all, didn't have time to come on here last night but have enjoyed reading all your comments, great fun as ever.

I thought it was a shame Mummy & son went home, at least her food looked edible. Mamma Babas were rightly shown the door, far more interested in Mama's hair and their logo than understanding even the basics of food prep.

I liked Bodger & Badger & think they will be very entertaining. Silly business with the stock, a potato might have worked but you can't really reduce a shop bought stock without just being left with a heavy concentration of additives. I'd have grabbed a bottle of red wine and reduced that instead. Looking forward to Badge's unique take on customer services.

The W*nkers/Picnic Ponces/ Duran Duran boys (I can't decide what their forum title should be...!) will be fun but I don't think they can cook at all and expect most of their dishes to be like their signature dish; a small snack plus a large cocktail.

The Spooky Married Twins look promising. He can cook. Not sure about her though, well meaning but a bit naive.

The Nigerian girls (Mutton Dressed as Lamb?) - like the idea but the food didn't sound that appealing. Don't think it will be Raymond's thing either. Shame, they seemed OK.

The two girls with the peas won't last long. Nice idea but They Haven't Thought It Through. a) They don't know how to cook fresh produce & b) if they try to source everything locally they will be serving nothing but twigs come December.

The Gravadlax couple seem a bit too full of themselves and too unwilling to adapt. That starter was so poor, 5 mins prep and off to the pub?! She could have at least marinated or dressed the salmon.

I liked the Rags to Riches LaRAB. Shame he was a bit over ambitious and messed up a fiddly, time consuming main course. What he served up looked nice though. They seemd nice, genuine guys.

Is that everybody?

Looking forward to next week. Tickets backing up everywhere, chefs failing to produce orders while their hassled front of house partners try to explain it away...(we could script this ourselves by now but its still such fun!) I just hope nobody upsets Badger.
 
I must say the posts here tonight are much more entertaining than the actual programme was! I've had a good laugh reading them:)

Can't believe that I'm actually saying this after my initial loathing of them but I think the Bros Winkers are now my favourites just because all of the others THINK they can cook but are actually the pits. At least the JJ Winker knows he's crap... I think that their concept strangely intrigues RB (can't see myself ever sitting in the freezing cold with a tartan blanket round me as I wait a couple of hours to be served a wet scotch egg to be honest).

Really disappointed that we no longer have a proper "shallenge" and can't believe that RB will touch any of these with a barge-pole.
 
It was a pathetic reflection of its former self. And it used to be good. As a comedy it sort of worked for a short while but it died. Funniest thing was seeing Raymond Blanc taking it seriously but eventually you just had to have pity on him and wonder about how much he was being paid to keep a straight face.
 
I get the feeling a lot of the Beeb's progs are being dumbed down/adjusted for US audiences. EggheaRAB - a lot easier and more US questions than in previous years, JRoss - format changed for US viewers, News 24 - a lot more coverage of US issues. Restaurant - is it possible that the format has changed to appeal to US audiences (fewer rounRAB - what happened to the two weakest couples doing another challenge?) - and poorer contestants? - they already think we cannot cook over here!). Am just speculating and am probably wrong but we seem to be increasingly joined at the hip with the US in terms of broadcasting/tv with stars going back and forth along with shows. I know that a lot more of our shows are now exported to the US - perhaps there is some US sponsorship behind it.

But if the reason for the changes this year is due to cost-cutting then it's unacceptable. I'm sure they would have found more able contestants than the joke that this year's lot have been. Truly cringeworthy viewing.
 
I agree. The "winkers" appear to be the only pairing with any real business acumen. Neither of them can cook, but they seem able to delegate, and they also have the ability to think on their feet and come up with last minute solutions. But I thought they already had a couple of wine bars ?.. they could extend their ambitions in that direction. Why even bother trying to open a dedicated restaurant with some crazy "picnic food" theme.
Chris would be fine working for someone, I'm not sure he has the entrepreneurial skills to actually run a successful restaurant just yet..and certainly not with the dreadful Nathan.
The married couple would probably be ok running a little restaurant in some seaside resort, plain and simple grub at a fair price. I can't see them competing in a busy city centre, trying to offer a fine dining experience. But don't they run a successful florists ?..why bother with the hassle if they are currently making money out of doing something that they presumably enjoy ?
 
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