The Restaurant 2009

Long time lurker, first time poster. Owing to work and, erm, golf commitments I had to watch the first episdode in 20 minute chunks over the past 5 days and had to avoid my Mum ringing up to tell me what happened. Hope you don't mind but I put down some thoughts about the whole series, how the first episode went and how it might pan out.

Episode 1 (part 1): It
 
I don't think they are all hopeless. It seemed a task designed to make them struggle, to see how they coped. The group in the sushi restaurant had the hardest task, I thought, because none of them claim to have any experience in sushi and they did OK at lunchtime. They made a key error in understanding what would happen if they focussed on orders instead of stocking the conveyor belt, but it was something the manager could have told them and a mistake that once learned they wouldn't necessarily make again - and all of them seemed genuinely distressed that the night had gone so badly.

JJ can't cook, which I suppose might not be an issue in whatever a 'picnic restaurant' is but stuffed him up here, especially as he was in the kitchen with by far the best cook, who seemed to shine from what we saw. JJ is an unlikable idiot, but I did start to feel sorry for him with 10 minutes to do 17 dishes and when RB was standing over him. JJ's friend seemed worse because as long as he thought he was being charming he didn't really seem to care that the customers weren't being fed. But I am quite curious to see what special hell a picnic restaurant is so I'm not sorry they stayed.

I don't understand why the Pizza express one was so difficult - I'd expect both those women to be able to cook pizza and salad more than I'd expect the 3 in the sushi place to cook sushi first time. Maybe I'm missing something but I couldn't see why it would be so hard?

I thought the right couple went. They messed up hopelessly and they didn't care about the customers at all. I thought he'd had more than one Guiness by the time he came to make that speech. They weren't serious about a restaurant at all - none of the sushi couples deserved to go before them.
 
The impression I got was that the front of house guy was great with the customers but thats about where it ended. He wasn't good at the other bits and I think the guy in the kitchen just had enough. They'd not known each other for long remember.. and I think they just fell out.
 
Thanks. :D

And I'd like to add, in no way was my letter abusive, before I get accused of it. :rolleyes:

It was polite and well reasoned and just explained that I, as a customer of his, was surprised at the choice of JJ and James as business partners. I also asked him to explain a couple of his stranger statements.

I doubt I'll hear anything, but I feel better for saying it.

Just to add: I just looked at twitter and did a search on Raymond Blanc, there are 12 pages full of people shocked/upset/annoyed at his decision!
 
I just watched the 'final' on iplayer and I couldn't believe Sarah Willingham saying "she would always choose them" after what she had said about them before - thanks for posting the relevant parts so I can continue to shake my head in utter astonishment at the decision made.
 
I would have loved to have seen it back on TV... When I think of The Restaurant I always think of the Cheerful Soul's series, and not the Winkers'! Theirs almost feels like it was just a filler year, and not a 'real' series.

Come on BBC, bring the real Restaurant back! :(
 
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