IT'S BEEN A YEAR
SINCE CHEF GORDON RAMSAY
CRISSCROSSED THE COUNTRY TRYING TO SAVE RESTAURANTS
ON THE BRINK OF DISASTER.
PLEASE HELP ME!
ALL THE TIME.
WE'RE DONE. GET THE CAMERA OUTTA HERE.
THEY WERE CLEARLY IN DESPERATE NEED OF HIS HELP.
I'VE TRIED EVERYTHING.
TONIGHT, FIND OUT
THE ANSWERS TO THE QUESTIONS EVERYONE'S ASKING.
ARE YOU CASHING YOUR CHECKS, MILLION-DOLLAR QUESTION?
WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE BASEMENT?
ARE THE BILLS GETTING PAID?
WHAT HAPPENED TO THE RESTAURANTS
CHEF RAMSAY TRIED TO SAVE?
WE'LL SEE WHAT BECAME OF THAT CHAOTIC
LONG ISLAND EATERY, THE MIXING BOWL.
THAT'S IT! I'M PISSED OFF!
NOT MY FAULT!
BILLY, THE OWNER,
WAS BARELY HOLDING ON.
YOU LOOK LIKE A MAN THAT'S DYING TO BE PUT OUT OF HIS MISERY.
WE'LL CHECK IN ON THE OLDE STONE MILL.
A YEAR AGO, DEAN, THE OWNER,
WAS MAD AT EVERYONE.
IT'S THE LAST TABLE!
AND NEARLY CAME TO BLOWS WITH GORDON.
WELL, YOU'RE A FAKE. WHAT?
DID I STUTTER?
AND WE'LL CHECK OUT PETER'S.
FUGGETABOUTIT.
LAST YEAR, IT WAS UNBELIEVABLY EXPLOSIVE.
GIMME THE SALAD!
AND IT WAS EXTREMELY INTENSE.
COME ON, YOU FAKE GANGSTER!
I'M A YEAR OLDER. AND A YEAR WISER.
AND YOU'LL FIND OUT
WHAT BECAME OF THAT FEUDING FAMILY
AT FINN MCCOOL'S.
GET OUT OF HERE.
YOU'RE SO FULL OF CRAP.
THEIR FOOD WAS TOTALLY INEDIBLE.
THAT'S DISGUSTING.
OH, NO.
AND WHAT ABOUT NEW JERSEY'S CAMPANIA?
IT'S NOT PARTY TIME. THIS IS SERIOUS TIME.
JOE, THE OWNER, WAS DROWNING IN DEBT.
THIS IS WHERE HIS $80, 000 DEBT IS.
STUPID.
AND DIDN'T EXACTLY
APPRECIATE GORDON'S COMMENTS.
YOU GETTING UPSET NOW? YEAH, I'M GETTING REAL UPSET.
FINALLY, WHO CAN FORGET DILLON'S?
IT'S COCKROACHES.
LOOK AT THAT!
THE WORST NIGHTMARE OF THEM ALL.
IT'S ROTTEN!
WHAT DO WE NEED, A DEATH IN THE RESTAURANT
BEFORE SOME GETS A GRIP?
THIS IS THEIR ONE BIG LAST CHANCE
AT GETTING THIS THING RIGHT.
TONIGHT, YOU'LL HEAR IT ALL.
WHO TURNED THEIR KITCHEN BACK INTO A NIGHTMARE,
AND WHO REALIZED THEIR DREAM?
I'M DYING TO FIND OUT WHAT'S GONE ON.
LAST YEAR, GORDON ATTEMPTED
TO TURN AROUND RESTAURANTS
ALL ACROSS AMERICA.
IN A MOMENT, YOU'LL HEAR
HOW SOME OF THEM ARE DOING TODAY.
BUT FIRST, A LOOK BACK AT WHAT FINN MCCOOL'S WAS LIKE
WHEN GORDON ARRIVED A YEAR AGO.
FINN MCCOOL'S IS A FAMILY-RUN RESTAURANT
SET IN THE HEART OF NEW YORK'S
EXCLUSIVE BEACH RESORT, THE HAMPTONS.
IT DIDN'T TAKE LONG FOR GORDON TO SEE
THIS IRISH PUB HAD LOST ITS WAY.
GOSH. IT'S SO GRIM.
BUDDY, THE PATRIARCH,
STRUGGLED TO KEEP HIS BUSINESS TOGETHER.
WE'RE IN TROUBLE RIGHT NOW.
AND HIS SONS WERE READY
TO TEAR EACH OTHER APART.
YOU DON'T LISTEN TO ANYTHING I WANT TO SAY.
YOU ALMOST WANNA TELL HIM TO SHUT UP.
WHILE JASON TENDED THE BAR,
BRIAN THE CHEF WAS DRUNK WITH POWER IN THE KITCHEN.
ENOUGH. GET OUTTA HERE.
MELISSA, JASON'S WIFE,
WAS CAUGHT IN THE MIDDLE.
BRIAN AND JASON BUTT HEADS A LOT.
MY PROBLEMS ARE MORE MY BROTHER.
CAN I HELP YA? GET OUTTA HERE.
I WOULD DEFINITELY NOT RECOMMEND WORKING WITH FAMILY.
HELLO.
AS SOON AS GORDON STEPPED FOOT
INTO FINN MCCOOL'S, IT WAS CLEAR
THIS FAMILY WAS IN MAJOR TROUBLE.
SO... WHAT'S THE PROBLEM?
OH, BOY.
THE FAMILY FEUD WAS TAKING A TOLL
ON BUDDY AND HIS BUSINESS.
WE JUST DON'T HAVE ANY MONEY.
BUDDY IS IN DEBT
SOMEWHERE IN THE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS.
A RETIRED COP,
HE POURED HIS LIFE SAVINGS INTO FINN MCCOOL'S.
AND WATCHED IT GO RIGHT DOWN THE DRAIN.
IF THERE IS NO SIGNIFICANT IMPROVEMENT,
HOW LONG COULD YOU AFFORD TO STAY OPEN FOR?
WE'RE IN TROUBLE RIGHT NOW.
YOU KNOW, WE'RE PROBABLY I WOULD SAY
$5, 000 A WEEK UNDER WHAT WE NEED TO SURVIVE.
SO 20 GRAND A MONTH.
I HAVEN'T TAKEN A CHECK YET.
AND YOU CAN'T CASH THEM?
NO.
WE NEED THIS FOR OUR FAMILIES.
I'M WORRIED-- EVERY NIGHT GOING TO BED,
ARE YOU GONNA BE ABLE TO PAY THIS MORTGAGE?
I CAN'T DESCRIBE TO YOU HOW STRESSFUL THAT IS.
THE DEBT AND FAMILY FIGHTING
WERE DRAGGING FINN MCCOOL'S DOWN.
AND THE FOOD, UNFORTUNATELY, ONLY MADE MATTERS WORSE.
HERE YOU ARE.
SOME SPRING ROLLS WITH COLEMAN'S MUSTARD.
WOW.
ARE THEY POPULAR ON THE MENU?
UM... PEOPLE REALLY LIKE THEM.
NO DOUBT HALF THE CUSTOMERS ARE DRUNK.
THEN, THE ONE DISH
AN IRISH PUB SHOULD BE KNOWN FOR, SHEPHERD'S PIE,
SENT GORDON OVER THE EDGE.
IT'S JUST A BIG BALL OF GREASE.
THAT'S DISGUSTING.
TOILET? SECOND DOOR ON THE LEFT.
OH, NO.
OH, MY GOD.
HAVING BARELY RECOVERED FROM THE SHEPHERD'S PIE,
GORDON DECIDED IT WAS TIME CHEF BRIAN
HEARD THE PAINFUL TRUTH.
WHEN A CHEF CAN'T MAKE A SHEPHERD'S PIE,
IT WORRIES ME.
WAS THAT YOU AT YOUR BEST?
WHATEVER HE HAS TO TELL ME,
I DON'T REALLY CARE.
TO OBSERVE THE STAFF OF FINN MCCOOL'S IN ACTION,
GORDON INVITED THE LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT.
IT'S JUST DRY.
BUT THE BRIGADE WAS LESS THAN IMPRESSED.
IS THERE SOMETHING WRONG? NOT HOT ENOUGH.
BACK IN THE KITCHEN,
GORDON WAS NOT HAPPY
WITH THE AMOUNT OF FROZEN FOOD BEING USED.
WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU GOT FRESH VEGETABLES IN THE HOUSE?
LAST SUMMER.
LAST SUMMER?
I JUST CRINGE WHEN I SEE THEM, THAT'S ALL.
AND ONE SHOCKING SHORTCUT
LEFT GORDON IN DISBELIEF.
FRANCIS. FRANCIS.
YOU TOOK IT OFF THE FLOOR, PUT IT IN THE FRYER,
AND THEN BACK IN THE SAUCE.
I'VE NEVER, EVER, EVER SEEN ANYTHING
QUITE EXTRAORDINARY AS THAT.
YEAH, WELL, THE FRYER IS GONNA, UH...
IS GONNA TAKE ANYTHING THAT COME OFF THE FLOOR
IS GONNA--
AND THAT CLEANS IT? THAT CLEANS IT.
STERILIZES IT.
STERILIZE IT? YEAH, A LITTLE.
ME.
THAT NIGHT, BUDDY THE OWNER
AND BRIAN THE CHEF NEARLY CAME TO BLOWS...
I'M NOT KIDDING. I SAID ALL RIGHT.
OVER HOW BRIAN WAS RUNNING THE KITCHEN.
STANDING RIGHT HERE AND DOING WHAT I GOTTA DO.
GET OUTTA HERE. WATCH YOUR MOUTH.
GET OUTTA HERE-- WOULD YOU CARE
TO TAKE CARE OF THIS TICKET, THEN?
I DIDN'T EVEN WANT TO BE HERE ANYMORE.
I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW IF I WANTED TO BE IN THE KITCHEN ANYMORE.
NEVER MIND HERE.
YEAH, I'M OUTTA HERE.
I'M DONE WORKING HERE.
BRIAN REACHED HIS BOILING POINT,
LEAVING FINN MCCOOL'S WITHOUT A CHEF.
IF HE WASN'T MY SON,
I'D HAVE FIRED HIS ASS OUT OF HERE.
WITH NOWHERE ELSE TO TURN,
BUDDY AND JASON...
IS THAT OTHER SHEPHERD'S PIE FOR SIX COMING FOR THEM?
FOR 'S SAKE.
... WERE LEFT RUNNING THE KITCHEN.
AND NOT DOING A VERY GOOD JOB.
BUDDY, BUDDY, BUDDY. NO, NO, NO.
START AGAIN.
WITH THEIR CHEF GONE,
FOR THE FIRST TIME, BUDDY AND JASON
REALIZED THE STRESS BRIAN WAS UNDER.
YOU GET A RENEWED RESPECT
FOR WHAT BRIAN HAS TO GO THROUGH.
IT'S A TOUGH JOB.
ALL THESE TIMES
THAT I'M HARD ON MY BROTHER,
AND WE FIGHT ABOUT STUFF,
AND I COULDN'T DO WHAT HE DOES.
NO WONDER BRIAN'S A CRANKY BITCH.
THE NEXT DAY, GORDON GAINED VALUABLE INSIGHT
INTO THE PRESSURES BRIAN FACED.
THERE'S PARTS OF ME
THAT FEEL FOR YOU IN A WAY THAT I...
I STARTED TO UNDERSTAND WHAT'S ON YOUR SHOULDERS.
HAVE YOU THOUGHT ABOUT QUITTING AND SETTING UP ELSEWHERE?
CONSTANTLY. YEAH.
YOU'VE GOTTA HANDLE IT A DIFFERENT WAY.
IN A WAY THAT YOU BECOME THE RESPONSIBLE ONE.
OKAY? GOOD MAN. THANK YOU.
CHEF RAMSAY DEFINITELY KICKED ME IN THE ASS.
GOT ME EXCITED TO DO WHAT I'M DOING.
THE FOLLOWING DAY, GORDON IMPLEMENTED
SOME ESSENTIAL CHANGES, BEGINNING WITH
A FRESH NEW LOOK.
WELCOME TO FINN MCCOOL'S, YES?
LOVELY.
ALL RIGHT. WOW.
ISN'T THAT BEAUTIFUL?
THAT IS GORGEOUS.
OH, MY GOSH.
YOU WALKED IN AND YOU FELT
LIKE YOU WERE IN YOUR HOME.
IT WAS-- IT WAS SO COMFORTABLE.
HOLY MOSES.
WOW. I'M IN SHOCK.
IT WAS VERY COOL SEEING THAT, JUST THE LOOK ON HIS FACE
WHEN WE WALKED IN THERE.
WOW.
I'M HAPPY.
BUT GORDON'S KEY CHANGE, NOT SURPRISINGLY,
WAS THE MENU.
THE FIRST THING I DID WAS GOT RID
OF 2/3 OF THE MENU, BECAUSE IT WASN'T FRESH.
WHAT'S THE POINT OF HAVING IT ON THERE?
GORDON EVEN TAUGHT BRIAN
HIS OWN FAMILY RECIPE
FOR SHEPHERD'S PIE.
DRAIN OFF THAT FAT.
TO THINK THAT WE ARE FORTUNATE ENOUGH
TO BE SCHOOLED BY A MAN LIKE CHEF RAMSAY,
BOY, YOU'D BE A FOOL NOT TO, UH, NOT TO JUMP ON THIS.
MM.
NEWS OF THE RELAUNCH
SPREAD THROUGHOUT THE HAMPTONS.
AND FINN MCCOOL'S WAS PACKED.
FIVE WITH A HIGH CHAIR.
FIVE AND A HIGH CHAIR.
THIS IS THEIR ONE BIG LAST CHANCE
AT GETTING THIS THING RIGHT.
WE OPENED UP THE FLOODGATES.
ALTHOUGH IT WAS
THEIR BUSIEST NIGHT EVER...
I WANT TO SEE YOU WORK ON THIS.
THE MAZIO FAMILY CAME TOGETHER
AND PROVED THEY HAD WHAT IT TAKES
TO RUN A RESTAURANT.
AT LEAST FOR ONE NIGHT.
YAY.
GOOD JOB.
GORDON RAMSAY, YOU KNOW, MADE ME FEEL
LIKE, UH... I WANTED TO COOK AGAIN.
THERE WAS A BUZZ.
EVERYBODY FELT IT.
YOU KNOW, AND WE WERE A FAMILY AGAIN.
WE APPRECIATE WHAT HE DID.
ALL THE WORK THAT HE DID DIDN'T FALL ON DEAF EARS.
I WAS PROUD.
REALLY PROUD.
A YEAR HAS GONE BY.
NOW LET'S SEE HOW FINN MCCOOL'S
IS DOING TODAY.
I ARRIVED AT FINN MCCOOL'S OVER A YEAR AGO
TO A FAMILY IN ABSOLUTE TURMOIL.
I'M DYING TO FIND OUT WHAT'S GONE ON.
ARE THEY STILL ARGUING? ARE THEY STILL FIGHTING?
HAS BUDDY CASHED HIS CHECKS? COME ON.
HO HO!
HEY. HOW ARE YOU DOING?
LOOK AT YOU.
HEY. HOW ARE YOU?
WHAT'S GOING ON? HOW ARE YOU, BUDDY?
I'M WELL. IT'S NICE TO SEE YOU.
WHEN CHEF RAMSAY ARRIVED TODAY...
HEY! LOOK AT YOU.
I THOUGHT HE WAS GONNA BE HAPPY.
AND I WAS GLAD THAT HE COULD SEE THAT HIS WORDS
AND HIS ADVICE DIDN'T FALL ON DEAF EARS.
MELISSA. YO.
GOOD TO SEE YOU. NICE TO SEE YOU.
WHEN GORDON RAMSAY FIRST CAME IN,
I WAS ACTUALLY EXCITED, BECAUSE
I KNEW HE WAS GONNA BE PROUD OF US.
GOOD TO SEE YOU.
SO I DIDN'T FEEL NERVOUS LIKE I DID LAST TIME.
WHERE'S THE ARROGANT? WHERE IS HE?
HEY, BRI.
HEY.
BOY, CHEF RAMSAY... YOU HEAR HIS VOICE,
AND IT'S JUST, LIKE, YOU GO "UH-OH."
HOW ARE YOU, MY MAN?
ALL RIGHT. GOOD TO SEE YOU. GOOD TO SEE YOU TOO.
LIKEWISE.
I WANT HIM TO SEE THAT I LISTENED
TO WHAT HE TOLD ME,
AND HOPEFULLY MAKE SOMEBODY,
LIKE, OF HIS STATURE PROUD OF ME.
AM I GLAD TO BE BACK HERE. YOU KNOW THAT?
HUH? I HOPE SO.
LAST TIME I SAW YOU,
I LOOKED AT A CHEF THAT WAS PISSED OFF
AND DIDN'T WANT TO BE HERE. RIGHT.
YEAH, I'M OUTTA HERE. I'M DONE WORKING HERE.
ARE YOU BUSTING HIS?
YES, CHEF.
NO, NO. "YES, CHEF."
WHOO-HOO! I LIKE THAT.
UH... YEAH, HE'S STILL AN ARROGANT BASTARD.
BUT HE'S MY ARROGANT BASTARD AND I LOVE HIM.
BUSINESS. HOW'S IT BEEN FOR THE LAST 12 MONTHS?
WE ARE UP,
AVERAGE ACROSS THE BOARD, 35%.
GREAT.
ARE YOU CASHING YOUR CHECKS? MILLION-DOLLAR QUESTION.
OH, YEAH.
CHEERS, EVERYBODY.
WHEN I FIRST ARRIVED,
LOSING 20 GRAND A MONTH, YEAH?
THERE'S NO LOSSES PER MONTH? NO.
ARE YOU MAKING MONEY? YES.
WE'RE AT A POINT RIGHT NOW WHERE I DON'T OWE A DIME.
IT'S NICE TO GO HOME AND KNOW
THAT YOU CAN PAY YOUR BILLS
AND WAKE UP IN THE MORNING AND GO TO WORK
AND YOU'RE GONNA MAKE SOME MORE MONEY.
IT'S A PRETTY GOOD FEELING.
WE ARE JUST HEADS AND TAILS ABOVE WHERE WE WERE.
AND I OWE THAT TO CHEF RAMSAY.
HOW HAVE YOU BEEN? EH, HAD A LITTLE GLITCH THERE
FOR A LITTLE BIT. WHAT HAPPENED?
I HAD A HEART ATTACK. YOU WHAT?
YEAH, YEAH.
MY DAD'S HEART ATTACK WAS A--IT WAS A--
A VERY TRAUMATIZING EXPERIENCE
IN A LOT OF DIFFERENT WAYS.
AND IT WAS BAD, YOU KNOW?
THE DOCTOR TOLD ME HE COULDA-- HE COULDA DIED.
THAT WAS A VERY SCARY TIME.
WHO'S GETTING THE PRIME RIB?
REALIZING HOW CLOSE WE WERE TO LOSING HIM.
IT WAS BEYOND SCARY.
I WAS DOWN FOR A FEW WEEKS, ACTUALLY.
AND I WAS SHOCKED.
THE THREE OF THEM STEPPED UP,
TOOK THE BULL BY THE HORNS.
AND WHEN I CAME BACK, EVERYTHING WAS PERFECT.
I DON'T THINK LAST YEAR WE COULD'VE DONE IT.
IF THIS WOULD'VE HAPPENED BEFORE RAMSAY CAME,
I THINK THAT FINN MCCOOL'S WOULD'VE BEEN
DOORS LOCKED, DONE.
BUDDY, GOOD TO SEE YOU NOW.
YEAH? HONESTLY.
GREATEST HANDSHAKE, I SWEAR TO GOD.
HONESTLY, I FEEL LIKE YOU CRUSHED MY FINGERS OFF.
TAKES THREE DAYS FOR THE BLOOD TO GO BACK.
SINCE CHEF RAMSAY WAS HERE,
WE LEARNED A LOT OF REALLY VALUABLE LESSONS.
WHEN WE ALL WORK TOGETHER, IT RUNS SMOOTH.
YOU KNOW, I'M SO HAPPY
TO SEE MY SON ENJOY WHAT HE'S DOING NOW.
GOOD.
BRIAN'S PASSION FOR COOKING HAS COME BACK,
AND IT'S STRONGER THAN EVER.
I FEEL A LOT BETTER. UH-HUH.
YOU GET GOOD FEEDBACK, WHICH MAKES YOU
WANNA GO TO WORK THE NEXT DAY.
AFTER CHEF RAMSAY LEFT, BRIAN WAS A CHANGED PERSON.
YOU KNOW, JUST A NEW MAN WALKED INTO THE KITCHEN,
AND THE FOOD THAT HE'S PUTTING OUT IS--
NOT ONLY IS IT BEAUTIFUL,
IT TASTES WONDERFUL.
WE HAVE PEOPLE COMING FROM ALL OVER
AND THEY'RE BLOWN AWAY BY HOW GOOD THE FOOD IS.
LAST TIME, THERE WAS SO MUCH FROZEN FOOD HERE, YEAH,
I GOT UPSET WITH YOU. YES.
WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU GOT FRESH VEGETABLES IN THE HOUSE?
LAST SUMMER.
HOW MUCH OF YOUR PRODUCE IS FRESH NOW?
ALL OF IT. ALL OF IT?
SHOW ME YOUR FREEZER, YEAH? PLEASE.
CHEF RAMSAY DEFINITELY SET THE BAR HIGH
AS FAR AS STANDARD-WISE.
BUT, YOU KNOW, HOW DO YOU NOT LISTEN
TO WHAT CHEF RAMSAY TELLS YOU TO DO?
FRESH MEAT?
FRESH MEAT. FRESH VEGETABLES.
THAT WAS CHEF RAMSAY'S THING, YOU KNOW.
HE WAS LIKE, YOU'RE AN ISLAND. YOU KNOW, WE'RE LONG ISLAND.
MONKFISH, CALAMARI.
SO IT WAS CRAZY NOT TO HAVE FRESH SEAFOOD.
THAT'S THE MARINADE FOR THE CHICKEN?
FOR THE WORLD FAMOUS CHICKEN WINGS, YES.
DELICIOUS.
DOES FRANCIS STILL COME IN
AND PICK THEM OFF THE FLOOR?
HE'S MOVED ON TO OTHER THINGS.
HE'S GONE, YES? YES.
AH, RIGHT. WHAT'S THE SPECIAL TODAY?
UM, TONIGHT WE'RE, UH,
A NICE FRIED LOCAL CALAMARI.
WE'RE DOING A LITTLE, UH, ROASTED PEPPER REMOULADE
WITH THAT. LOVELY.
SHEPHERD'S PIE.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, WE'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT
A WAY TO MARKET, 'CAUSE I'M GETTING
PHONE CALLS FROM ST. LOUIS FOR SOME.
FROM ST. LOUIS? ST. LOUIS.
FOR SHEPHERD'S PIE? YEAH.
THAT'S GREAT!
YEAH, I CHANGE IT DEPENDING ON SEASONALLY
WHAT KIND OF VEGETABLES WE'RE GOING WITH.
SPRING ROLLS. ARE THEY HERE?
YES.
OH,.
BY POPULAR DEMAND, WE DID HAVE
TO PUT THE SPRING ROLLS BACK ON THE MENUS.
SPRING ROLLS. WHAT HAVE YOU DONE WITH THEM?
LAST TIME WE WERE USING CARVINGS
- FROM THE ROAST BEEF. - YEAH. BITS.
RIGHT. NOW-- NOW THEY'RE FRESH.
THE CABBAGE IS STEAMED DIRECTLY FOR THAT.
YOU SOUND PROUD OF THEM.
THEY'RE NICE. AND THE PEOPLE LOVE THEM.
I'D LIKE TO TASTE THEM AGAIN. IF YOU'VE REINVENTED IT.
WONDERFUL.
YOU SOUND SO CONFIDENT, BRIAN. YOU KNOW THAT.
WE'RE HAVING FUN.
IT'S REFRESHING. IT'S GREAT.
MY BROTHER'S ATTITUDE'S CHANGED COMPLETELY.
IT REALLY HAS. I MEAN, HE'S A CHEF.
CHEFS ARE CRAZY. THEY'LL ALWAYS BE CRAZY.
BUT HIS ATTITUDE'S SO MUCH MORE POSITIVE.
IT MAKES THE WHOLE FAMILY DYNAMIC A LOT EASIER.
HERE YOU GO, CHEF.
THANK YOU, MY DARLING. SEAFOOD CHOWDER.
LOVELY, THANK YOU.
AND OUR FAMOUS SPRING ROLLS.
I THINK THEY'RE GOOD, BUT NOT ONLY
DO I THINK THEY'RE GOOD, THE CUSTOMERS LOVE 'EM.
IT'S KIND OF OUR SIGNATURE THING.
MM-HMM. THEY ARE NICE.
THAT... IS DELICIOUS.
THANK YOU.
FOR SOMEBODY OF THAT STATURE TO COME IN
AND COMPLIMENT YOU ON THINGS, IT'S AMAZING.
TASTY. ABSOLUTELY TASTY.
WE STUCK WITH WHAT HE SHOWED US HOW TO DO.
WE'RE REAPING THE BENEFITS BECAUSE WE DID.
HE MADE US WHO WE ARE RIGHT NOW.
WE DID EVERYTHING HE SAID.
AND HE WAS SPOT-ON.
WHAT HE'S DONE HERE HAS, UH, IT'S HAD A LASTING EFFECT.
AND IT WILL. IT'S--IT'S, UH--
HE'S HELPED US GO IN A POSITIVE DIRECTION.
THIS IS 1, 000 MILES AWAY
FROM WHAT I TASTED LAST TIME.
MORE IMPORTANTLY, OVER THAT,
YOU GUYS LOOK HAPPY.
SPRING ROLLS.
CAN I HAVE THE RECIPE?
NO.
YOU SELFISH BASTARD.
TO FINN MCCOOL'S FAMILY RESTAURANT, YES?
AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, BUDDY'S HEALTH.
YES?
GOOD HEALTH. BEST WISHES.
THANKS.
BRIAN..
DISGUSTING.
I KNOW.
THAT'S MY BOY.
THAT IS ONE VERY HAPPY FAMILY.
AND IT'S SO NICE TO SEE
BECAUSE THEY'RE BACK IN LOVE,
THEY'RE BUSY, AND THEY'RE MAKING MONEY.
GAME OVER.
COMING UP...
YOUR FOOD'S CRAP.
THE OLDE STONE MILL.
DEAN, THE DEFIANT OWNER,
WAS OUT OF CONTROL.
READ THE TICKET!
NOBODY WAS SAFE, NOT EVEN GORDON.
OH, YOU'RE A FAKE. WHAT?
DEAN'S WIFE WAS REDUCED TO TEARS.
AND HIS CHEF HAD LOST HIS PASSION.
IT'S NOT EASY GETTING KICKED IN THE
EVERY DAY AND BEING TOLD THAT YOU SUCK.
DID DEAN STICK TO GORDON'S PLAN?
THIS PLACE OOZES STEAKHOUSE.
OR DID THE OLDE STONE MILL GRIND TO A HALT?
COMING UP ON
GORDON RETURNS.
LAST YEAR, WHEN GORDON RODE IN
TO TUCKAHOE, NEW YORK, A WEALTHY COMMUTER TOWN
OUTSIDE OF MANHATTAN,
HE WAS AT FIRST INTRIGUED
BY THE OLDE STONE MILL.
BEAUTIFUL.
WHAT A BEAUTIFUL BUILDING.
WHAT SCARES ME IS WHY NO ONE'S EATING HERE.
I'M ABOUT TO FIND OUT.
BUSINESS AT THIS UPSCALE RESTAURANT
HAD GROUND TO A HALT.
THERE WAS DEAN, THE COCKY OWNER...
I DON'T BELIEVE THERE'S A BETTER OPERATOR
OR RESTAURATEUR THAN ME.
WHO WAS DESPERATE TO SUCCEED.
READ THE TICKET!
WHILE MIKE, THE CHEF, HAD LOST HOPE.
DO I STILL HAVE A PASSION FOR FOOD?
NO.
BARBARA, DEAN'S WIFE,
WAS A NERVOUS WRECK.
THIS RESTAURANT
ISN'T JUST A RESTAURANT.
IT'S OUR LIFE, IT'S OUR FUTURE.
IT'S OUR CHILDREN'S FUTURE.
SIX YEARS AGO, DEAN BOUGHT THIS 200-YEAR-OLD MILL
WITH THE DREAM OF TURNING IT INTO A RESTAURANT.
I HAVE A REOCCURRING NIGHTMARE
THAT I'VE HAD FROM DAY ONE.
WHAT HAPPENS IF I OPEN UP, STAFFED UP,
FOOD READY,
AND NO ONE DECIDES TO COME HERE?
WELL, IT HAPPENED. THIS YEAR.
- OH, DEAR. - GORDON!
HOW ARE YOU? I'M DEAN MARRAZZO.
NICE TO SEE YOU. VERY NICE TO SEE YOU.
NO MATTER WHAT YOU SAY, THE GUY'S A WINNER.
HIS MICHELIN STARS ARE LIKE WORLD SERIES RINGS.
HE'S GOT THEM.
BUT IT DIDN'T TAKE LONG
FOR DEAN TO CHANGE HIS TUNE ABOUT GORDON.
LOOK AT THAT.
WHAT'S THAT SQUASHED INTO?
OKAY, THAT'S IT THERE.
RIGHT, THAT SITS ON TOP.
WAS THE CHEF A MECHANIC?
YOU KNOW, THIS IS MY HOUSE.
HE WAS IN MY HOUSE, AND HE WAS EMBARRASSING ME.
OKAY.
AND IT ONLY GOT WORSE WHEN GORDON TRIED
ONE OF THE SPECIALTIES OF THE HOUSE.
IT'S GROSS.
LOOK AT IT-- IT LOOKED LIKE
IT'D COME OUT OF A BABY'S DIAPER.
HONESTLY, YOUR FOOD'S CRAP.
I WAS PISSED.
I WANTED TO TAKE THE PLATE AND SMASH IT
ON TOP OF THE CHEF'S HEAD.
AFTER BEING WOUNDED BY GORDON'S CRITICISM
OF THE FOOD,
THERE WAS MORE PAIN WHEN GORDON DELVED
INTO THE RESTAURANT'S FINANCES.
ARE YOU AWARE OF THE CURRENT FINANCIAL SITUATION,
BARBARA?
UM, HE KIND OF KEEPS ME IN THE DARK A LITTLE BIT.
I DON'T WANT HER TO WORRY.
IF WE HAD TO CLOSE,
YEAH. TONIGHT,
WHAT WOULD WE OWE?
HALF A MILLION.
HALF A MILLION?
YEAH.
GOT MONEY TIED UP IN THE HOME.
MORTGAGE-WISE? OH, SURE.
I JUST CHOOSE NOT TO DEAL WITH IT RIGHT NOW.
I'LL LET HIM DEAL WITH IT.
YEAH, BUT IF THE HOUSE GETS TAKEN AWAY,
AND YOU LOSE THAT,
THEN YOU HAVE EVERY REASON TO BE WORRIED.
A FINANCIAL CRISIS AND BAD FOOD
WEREN'T THE ONLY PROBLEMS PLAGUING THIS RESTAURANT.
EVERYTHING OKAY? YEAH...
ON WEEKENDS WHEN THE RESTAURANT WAS BUSY,
DEAN TENDED TO OVERSTAY HIS WELCOME AT THE TABLES.
JUST OKAY?
JUST OKAY. JUST OKAY.
AND IN THE KITCHEN,
HE SEEMED MORE CONCERNED ABOUT THE SPEED OF THE COOKING...
I NEED A RISOTTO AND A TILAPIA.
AND THAT'S DONE.
THAN THE QUALITY.
GOT ME VERY FRUSTRATED.
LET THE CUSTOMER WAIT.
IF HE WAITS 20 MINUTES AND HE'S HAPPY,
OR HE WAITS 20 MINUTES, GETS CRAP, WHAT'S WORSE?
DOES IT MAKE YOU FEEL BETTER IF WE RUSH IT TO THE TABLE?
NO.
I'M AMAZED, YOU KNOW THAT, MORE THAN ANYTHING.
I DON'T KNOW-- I DON'T KNOW WHAT--
I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU WANT ME TO SAY TO YOU.
YOUR RESTAURANT IS ON THE ASS.
AFTER A DISAPPOINTING DINNER SERVICE,
GORDON CONFRONTED DEAN OVER HIS LACK OF COMMITMENT
TO MAKE REAL CHANGES.
I THINK YOU'RE TREATING THIS LIKE A GAME.
HOW DARE YOU ACCUSE ME OF NOT HAVING A COMMITMENT--
DARE YOU? I DON'T HAVE TO DARE YOU.
I'M TELLING YOU.
YOU'RE NOT TELLING ME ANYTHING.
THIS IS YOUR OWN FIGMENT OF YOUR IMAGINATION
THAT I DON'T HAVE A COMMITMENT TO THIS PLACE.
YOU JUST GIVE ME TWO MINUTES,
YOU GUYS, DO YOU MIND?
YOU FLOAT ON THE CUSTOMERS
COMING 'ROUND, BLOWING SMOKE
UP YOUR. THAT'S RIGHT, I DO.
WHEN I ASK PEOPLE HOW THEIR FOOD IS
AND THEY TELL ME IT'S GOOD, IT MAKES ME FEEL GOOD.
I DON'T GROVEL 'ROUND MY CUSTOMERS,
KISSY, HOW WAS IT, PLEASE TELL ME.
YOU DON'T GO TO THE TABLE AND ASK PEOPLE HOW THEIR MEAL WAS?
OH, NO, YOU PROBABLY PAY TEN PEOPLE
TO GO TO THE TABLE--
I LISTEN TO THE PHONE EVERY MORNING
TO SEE HOW FULLY BOOKED I AM.
THIS IS WHAT I GET PAID TO DO.
TO STAND IN HERE--
THAT'S WHAT I GET PAID TO DO,
TO STAND HERE NEXT TO PEOPLE
AND GIVE THEM A GOOD EXPERIENCE.
- THAT'S WHAT I GET PAID TO DO. - AND WATCH COME OUT?
NO--THAT'S YOUR OPINION.
AND THEN FEEL GOOD ABOUT IT?
NO, I DON'T FEEL GOOD ABOUT IT. THERE YOU GO AGAIN.
THAT'S MY OPINION. I DON'T FEEL GOOD ABOUT IT.
YOU DO. THAT'S WHAT I GOTTA DO.
THAT'S WHAT I DO. YOU'RE A FAKE.
YOU. YOU'RE A FAKE.
IS THAT HOW YOU'RE GONNA ACT, WALK AWAY?
CAN YOU NOT FACE IT LIKE A MAN?
THE NEXT MORNING,
UNDETERRED BY DEAN,
GORDON CANVASSED THE TOWN TO SEE
HOW THE OLDE STONE MILL COULD CARVE A NICHE
IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.
THIS PLACE HAS GOT EVERY CHANCE
OF BECOMING A PHENOMENAL STEAKHOUSE.
DEAN, STILL RELUCTANT TO CHANGE,
WAS NOT CONVINCED.
I'M FUMING.
THAT WAS YOUR RESURRECTION OF THE PLACE?
HEY, I'VE GOT 12 SUCCESSFUL RESTAURANTS,
HIGHLY PROFITABLE, AND YOU,
MY MAN, MISSED OUT ON THE TRUTH.
YOU'VE GOT SOME SERIOUS THINKING TO DO.
BEFORE GORDON COULD
CONVERT THE OLDE STONE MILL INTO A STEAKHOUSE,
HE KNEW HE HAD TO WORK WITH CHEF MIKE
TO GET HIS PASSION BACK.
FIRST BIG CHANGE, PRIME RIB. PRIME RIB.
GORDON'S IDEA OF A STEAKHOUSE WOULD REALLY WORK HERE.
HE'S 100% RIGHT THAT THERE IS NOTHING ELSE IN THE AREA.
GORDON ADDED A NUMBER OF EXCITING MEAT DISHES
AND SAID GOOD-BYE TO SOME OLD STONE MILL CLASSICS.
LIKE THE FUNNEL SALAD.
MELTDOWN.
YES?
OH, JUST THINK OF THE COMPLAINTS.
WHAT? YOU'RE NOT STUFFING MY SALAD IN A FUNNEL?
AFTER REENERGIZING MIKE,
GORDON KNEW HE WOULD HAVE TO GET THROUGH TO DEAN
IF THERE WAS ANY HOPE OF SAVING THE OLDE STONE MILL.
THE FASCINATING THING ABOUT YOU, DEAN,
IS THAT YOU'RE... YOU'RE SCARED OF FAILURE.
WALK A MILE IN MY SHOES AND THEN WE'LL TALK.
I FAILED BEFORE IN BUSINESS.
WHEN?
WHEN I OPENED A RESTAURANT UP IN MY HOMETOWN.
THINKING I WAS THE DOG'S BOLLOCKS.
AND IT MADE ME THE PERSON I AM TODAY.
DON'T BE SCARED.
YOU CAN'T KEEP ON SIDESTEPPING PROBLEMS.
YOU'RE RIGHT.
I GOTTA IMPLEMENT CHANGES
TO MAKE THIS WORK THIS TIME.
I CAN'T WAIT ANY LONGER.
NOW CONFIDENT THAT DEAN WAS READY TO ACCEPT CHANGE,
GORDON UNVEILED HIS PLAN,
BEGINNING WITH SOME AESTHETIC CHANGES OUTSIDE.
LOOK AT IT. BEAUTIFUL.
AND IN.
OH, MY GOODNESS.
IT'S OPEN, IT'S CLASSIC.
BARBARA, WHAT DO YOU THINK? GORGEOUS.
GOT RID OF THE DARK COLORS.
TOO DEPRESSING.
YES.
I'M MAN ENOUGH TO ADMIT
THAT IT'S GREAT.
MINUTES AFTER THE DOORS OPENED
FOR THE RELAUNCH, THE STEAKHOUSE WAS JAMMED
WITH EAGER CUSTOMERS, INCLUDING THE MAYOR.
THE KOBE BEEF.
MEDIUM WELL.
BUT AN HOUR
INTO THIS IMPORTANT SERVICE,
THE KITCHEN PRINTER BROKE DOWN.
AND CHEF MIKE AND HIS STAFF WERE TOTALLY CONFUSED.
I NEED THE MAYOR'S TABLE, MAN.
I'M NOT GETTING TICKETS THROUGH THIS PRINTER RIGHT NOW.
PLEASE HELP ME!
I DON'T HAVE THE TICKET IS WHAT I'M SAYING.
, THIS IS THE COPY.
YOU GOTTA HAVE THE OTHER HALF.
THIS COMES FROM THE SALAD PRINTER.
IT'S BEEN AN HOUR AND I GOT NOTHING!
READ THE TICKET!
OH,. NOW HERE WE GO.
WHAT THE?!
READ THE TICKET!
IT'S THE LAST TABLE!
BEFORE THE DINNER SERVICE
SPUN COMPLETELY OUT OF CONTROL...
MIKE, JUST COME 'ROUND FOR TWO SECONDS, PLEASE, YES?
GORDON GOT THE STAFF FOCUSED AGAIN.
LET'S GET THIS THING BACK ONLINE.
ESPECIALLY AT THIS CRITICAL MOMENT.
THIS IS GONNA MAKE OR BREAK THIS PLACE.
I WILL BE RIGHT BACK,
AND I WILL WRAP THOSE UP FOR YOU.
THANK YOU.
TWO MEDIUM RARE.
EVERYONE RALLIED,
AND THE NIGHT FINISHED ON A HIGH NOTE.
SORRY FOR THE DELAY. GIVE 'EM A STEAK KNIFE, PLEASE.
WELL, BON APPETIT.
I CERTAINLY HOPE IT WAS WORTH THE WAIT.
EXCELLENT.
THIS IS GOOD.
BY THE END OF THE EVENING,
IT WAS CLEAR GORDON'S VISION
FOR THE OLDE STONE MILL WAS A SUCCESS.
THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS THE CONFIRMATION
THAT IT CAN WORK.
THE POTENTIAL IS STAGGERING.
NOW THAT YOU KNOW WHAT TO DO,
DON'T STOP DOING IT.
THANK YOU.
GORDON RAMSAY,
HE'S SUCH A BLESSING TO OUR FAMILY
THAT WE COULD NEVER, EVER THANK HIM ENOUGH
FOR ALL THAT HE'S DONE FOR US.
I THINK YOU'VE GOT SOMETHING PHENOMENAL ON.
NOW I HAVE SOMETHING TO REALLY BE PROUD OF.
THANKS.
THANK YOU.
GOOD LUCK. THANKS, MAN.
I'M EXCITED ABOUT WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS HERE.
A YEAR HAS GONE BY.
NOW LET'S SEE IF DEAN'S STUCK TO GORDON'S PLAN
AND TURNED HIS STEAKHOUSE AROUND.
WHEN I FIRST ARRIVED AT THE OLDE STONE MILL,
I FELL IN LOVE WITH THE BUILDING.
IT'S BEAUTIFUL.
WHAT I DIDN'T FALL IN LOVE WITH WAS THE FOOD.
SO WE CHANGED THE DIRECTION OF THE RESTAURANT
AND ITS OWNER, DEAN.
DYING TO FIND OUT WHAT'S GONE ON.
WELL, WELL, WELL. LOOK AT YOU.
IMMACULATE AS EVER.
HOW ARE YOU, BUDDY?
I THOUGHT YOU FORGOT ABOUT ME.
I HAVE VERY MIXED EMOTIONS ABOUT GORDON COMING BACK HERE.
AND I DON'T KNOW WHETHER I WANT TO HUG HIM
OR PUNCH HIM.
WHAT IS THIS, BOTOX? OR IS IT JUST YOU?
COME ON, STOP. WOULD YOU STOP WITH THAT?
I KNOW, BUT LOOK AT YOU.
YOU'RE LIKE A MALE MODEL, FOR GOD'S SAKE.
YEAH, WELL... HUH? FAMILY ALL WELL?
EVERYONE'S GREAT.
YEAH? IT'S BEEN REAL GOOD.
HOW'S BUSINESS BEEN?
INITIALLY, DOUBLE.
THAT'S FANTASTIC. AND THEN SOME.
UM... THE NEW YORK TIMES.
NEW YORK TIMES. LITERALLY LAST WEEK.
THAT'S LAST WEEK.
WHAT WAS THE FOOD LIKE?
SHE LOVED IT. THAT'S FANTASTIC.
YEAH, MAN.
WHERE ARE WE A YEAR ON?
THIS WINTER,
I AM UP 25 TO 30%.
LAST YEAR AT THIS POINT,
I WAS FALLING IN THE RED SEVERELY.
AND THIS YEAR I'M NOT. I'M MAINTAINING.
PEOPLE ARE PAID. THE STAFF IS PAID.
MY MORTGAGE IS PAID.
AND THAT'S A GOOD THING.
WHO'S IN THE KITCHEN?
MIKE. YEAH?
WHERE IS IT?
RIGHT THERE--
GIVE IT ABOUT 15 MORE DEGREES
AND YOU'RE ALL SET TO GO. NO.
THE FUNNEL!
YOU KNOW WHAT HE'S LOOKING FOR!
OH, COME ON.
TOUCHING A TENDER CORD WITH THE FUNNEL ISSUE WITH ME, YOU KNOW.
I BOUGHT THIS JUST FOR YOU. AND YOU OWE ME $4.
YOU BURNED MY LAST TWO.
OH, JUST THINK OF THE COMPLAINTS.
WHAT, YOU'RE NOT STUFFING MY SALAD IN A FUNNEL?
HEY, WHERE DID THAT COME FROM?
THE CAR?
IT'S TO FILL THE SALT AND PEPPER SHAKERS.
HE'S A DIFFERENT MAN TODAY.
I COULD KINDA COULD LIKE THIS GUY.
LAST TIME I SAW YOU DOWN HERE,
YOU LOOKED LIKE A MAN THAT WAS HURTING.
NOW YOU LOOK LIKE A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT GUY.
IT'S BEEN A LOT LESS STRESSFUL.
SO THE WEIGHT'S GONE, THE ACID REFLUX IS GONE.
IT'S ALL GOOD.
MY OWN PASSION FOR COOKING HAS CHANGED.
IT'S--WHEN YOU WANNA COME TO WORK,
AND YOU'RE EXCITED TO COME TO WORK, IT SHOWS.
WHICH WASN'T THERE, I'D SAY,
A YEAR AGO BEFORE CHEF GOT HERE THE FIRST TIME.
HAPPY WITH THE STEAKHOUSE?
YES. YES.
AND FRIDAY, SATURDAY NIGHT, HOW MANY COVERS?
WHAT ARE YOU DOING? I'D SAY ANYWHERE FROM 120, 150.
OVERALL, BUSINESS IS BETTER.
PEOPLE NEED TO CALL FOR RESERVATIONS.
THERE IS A WAIT ON-- ON WEEKEND NIGHTS.
THE NUMBERS ARE UP, SO THAT-- NUMBERS DON'T LIE.
CAN I JUST SAY, SERIOUSLY, YOU LOOK GREAT.
THANK YOU. SO DO YOU. RELAXED.
AND NOT THE KIND OF SORT OF WIRED INDIVIDUAL
I SAW LAST TIME, YOU KNOW?
I WAS A MESS.
READ THE TICKET!
OH,. HERE WE GO.
WHAT THE?!
BUT I TELL YOU WHAT,
I-I DON'T PUT OUT FIRES ANYMORE.
I-I'M GROWING THE PLACE
INSTEAD OF WORRYING ABOUT SUSTAINING IT.
YOU WERE HEAVILY IN DEBT LAST TIME I SAW YOU.
CORRECT. WHAT'S THE SITUATION NOW?
THIS SPRING I WILL CERTAINLY CHIP AWAY.
BRILLIANT. BUT I CAUGHT UP,
AND I'M CURRENT.
HEY, HERE'S THE GLAMOUR.
HOW ARE YOU, MY DARLING?
VERY GOOD. HOW ARE YOU? GOOD TO SEE YOU.
I WAS MOST PROUD TO SHOW HIM
MY WIFE BEING COMFORTABLE.
AND AT EASE, AND HAPPY.
AND NOT CRYING.
HE LOOKS A DIFFERENT MAN.
WHAT'S GOT ME-- NOT JUST--
HE'S USING BRAVADO WITH CONFIDENCE,
BUT RELAXED.
RELAXED. AND IT'S SO NICE TO SEE.
STRESS-FREE. YEAH.
YOU KNOW, IT'S A LIGHT RELIEF, RIGHT?
OH, IT'S SUCH A RELIEF.
IT'S--IT'S A RELIEF JUST TO WAKE UP
AND SEE A SMILING FACE INSTEAD OF SEEING
SOMEBODY STRESSED OUT.
THERE'S ALWAYS STRESS, BUT IT'S GOOD STRESS NOW.
IT'S A HAPPY PROBLEM, BEING BUSY.
IT'S A PRIVILEGED DILEMMA.
AND YOU WERE THAT CLOSE
TO SCREWING YOURSELVES AND THE RESTAURANT.
IT WAS ALMOST GONE.
SO IT WAS HEARTBREAKING FOR ME.
AND THEN YOU'RE SUCH A STUBBORN
TO GET THROUGH TO.
YOU DON'T LIKE THE TRUTH, DEAN.
NO, I DO LIKE THE TRUTH!
I HEARD THE TRUTH IN MY LIFE
MORE THAN YOU'LL EVER HEAR THE.
YEAH, THAT'S WHAT YOU THINK.
YOU KNOW, IT'S LIKE,--
IT'S LIKE BANGING MY HEAD AGAINST THE OLDE STONE MILL.
'CAUSE YOU WEREN'T FORWARD TO BEGIN WITH, WERE YOU?
YOU MENTIONED STEAKHOUSE, AND IT DIDN'T--
AND THE PENNY DIDN'T DROP STRAIGHT AWAY.
WELL, YOU KNOW WHY, BECAUSE--
'CAUSE YOU WERE SCARED OF CHANGE, WEREN'T YOU?
YOU WERE SORT OF SCARED-- YEAH, YEAH.
I DIDN'T WANT TO FAIL. YOU KNOW, I WANTED--
I DIDN'T WANT TO LOSE WHAT I HAD.
NO, NO. COULDN'T AFFORD TO.
YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU CAN'T PAY YOUR BILLS,
AND YOU'RE NOT THINKING CLEARLY, YOU MAKE STUPID CHOICES.
YEAH.
I MADE SOME STUPID DECISIONS. YEAH.
IT WASN'T THE CHANGES HE MADE
TO THE OLDE STONE MILL.
IT WAS THE CHANGES THAT HE MADE TO ME.
GORDON GAVE ME A SWIFT KICK IN MY YOU-KNOW-WHAT.
I'M HAPPY YOU'RE BOTH HAPPY.
I NEEDED YOU IN HERE.
I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH
AND BLESSED TO GET YOU IN HERE.
I WEATHERED THE STORM. IT'S BEHIND ME.
AND I GUESS I CAN GIVE GORDON CREDIT FOR THAT.
AS MUCH AS I HATE TO.
I'D LIKE TO INTRODUCE SOMEBODY VERY SPECIAL,
JEAN O'TOOLE FROM
THE NEW YORK BEEF INDUSTRY COUNCIL,
TO PRESENT A VERY SPECIAL AWARD.
WE'D LIKE TO SAY CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR INCREDIBLE TURNAROUND
AND CONTINUED SUCCESS.
OH, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
THANK YOU. VERY NICE OF YOU.
WHOO-HOO!
OKAY, HUH, KID? THANK YOU.
WELL DONE. CONGRATULATIONS.
TO GET AN AWARD
FROM THE NEW YORK BEEF INDUSTRY COUNCIL
IS SPECIAL, AND SOMETHING I'LL NEVER FORGET.
BUT TO GET IT FROM HIM IS EVEN MORE.
ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT. YES?
THANK YOU SO MUCH, JEAN.
THE CORE OF WHAT HE GAVE US IS CERTAINLY THERE,
AND--AND I STAY TRUE TO THE CONCEPT
AND TO HIM.
LIKE HE SAID, IT WON'T HAPPEN OVERNIGHT,
BUT STAY THE COURSE AND--AND IT'LL PAY OFF.
AND--AND HIS WORDS WERE NEVER SO TRUE.
IT CERTAINLY PAID OFF.
COMING UP...
WELL, THIS IS QUIET.
REMEMBER THE MIXING BOWL?
MIKE, THE MANAGER,
WAS SPINNING OUT OF CONTROL.
CAN WE PLEASE MOVE ON? THAT'S IT!
WHILE BILLY, THE OWNER, WAS STUCK IN THE KITCHEN.
YOU'RE HOLDING EVERYTHING UP NOW WITH ALL THIS CRAP.
AND BILLY'S WIFE, LISA,
HAD SIMPLY GIVEN UP.
MY HOPE IS REALLY GONE FOR THIS PLACE.
HAVE THEY FOLLOWED GORDON'S ADVICE?
THIS IS THE KIND OF FOOD
THAT THE MIXING BOWL SHOULD BE SERVING.
OR DID THE MIXING BOWL TURN UPSIDE DOWN?
GORDON RETURNS.
LOCATED JUST OUTSIDE OF NEW YORK CITY
IN BELLMORE, THE MIXING BOWL
WAS A THRIVING RESTAURANT TEN YEARS AGO.
BUT IN THE LAST FEW YEARS,
BUSINESS HAD DWINDLED TO ALMOST NOTHING.
I'M NERVOUS, 'CAUSE THIS LOOKS DREADFUL.
BILLY, THE OWNER AND CHEF,
WAS BARELY HOLDING ON.
I'M SO STUBBORN ABOUT KEEPING IT ALIVE,
BUT AM I HURTING MYSELF, AM I HURTING MY FAMILY?
MIKE, THE MANAGER, WAS LOSING IT.
I WASN'T TOLD!
WHY DO YOU KEEP SAYING THAT?
I'M PISSED OFF!
LISA, BILLY'S WIFE,
WANTED TO CLOSE THE DOORS.
I CAN'T SACRIFICE MYSELF
AND OUR CHILDREN FOR THE MIXING BOWL ANYMORE.
THIS ONCE-POPULAR RESTAURANT
WAS ON ITS LAST LEGS.
AND WHEN IT CAME TO THE FOOD,
GORDON HAD LITTLE IF ANYTHING NICE
TO SAY ABOUT BILLY'S COOKING.
ZUCCHINI PANCAKES.
LIKE HAVING A MOUTHFUL OF GLUE.
IT DIDN'T BLOW ME AWAY TODAY.
AND IT'S VERY SAD. END OF STORY.
GORDON NOTICED IMMEDIATELY
THAT BILLY OPERATED MORE LIKE A LINE COOK,
NEVER LEAVING THE KITCHEN.
DO YOU EVER GO OUT THERE?
YEAH, WHEN I...
YOU KNOW, IT DIES DOWN, I'LL WALK AROUND.
ALLOWING MANAGER MIKE
TO RUN THE BUSINESS INTO THE GROUND.
I'M TAKING 50% OFF HER CHECK.
15?
FIF--NO, NO, 5-0. 50.
HOLY SMOKE.
BUT MIKE'S RIDICULOUS COUPONS
PALED IN COMPARISON TO HIS PROMOTIONAL SIGNS.
ALL OF THEM GO IN THE WINDOW AT SOME POINT.
WHERE DID YOU GET ALL THESE FROM?
I HAVE A PLACE. THEY MAKE 'EM UP FOR ME.
IT'S EXPENSIVE.
IS THERE ANYTHING ELSE THAT I SHOULD KNOW?
THAT'S--THAT'S IT.
THAT IS IT.
WELL, THERE'S--WELL--
OH, NO.
GORDON, CAN YOU COME HERE? IT'S A LITTLE BIG.
WHAT IN THE?
FREE APPETIZER WITH DINNER.
OH,. MUM, MUM, MUM.
GET ME OUT OF HERE.
GORDON KNEW IT WAS TIME TO HAVE A HEART-TO-HEART
WITH BILLY AND LISA.
I'VE GOT TO BE BRUTALLY HONEST WITH YOU,
YOU KNOW THAT?
YOU SERIOUSLY HAVE TO START
THINKING AS A BUSINESSMAN.
AND THEN, WATCHING YOU COOKING,
YOU LOOKED LIKE A MAN THAT'S DYING
TO BE PUT OUT OF HIS MISERY.
LISA, YOU MAY BE RIGHT.
MAYBE WE SHOULD CLOSE THIS PLACE DOWN
TONIGHT.
IF THE RESTAURANT DIES,
IT'LL BE LIKE A DEATH IN THE FAMILY.
I'M GONNA TURN THIS AROUND.
SERIOUSLY?
YEAH.
UNLESS YOU CHANGE,
YOU'LL BE GONE IN SIX WEEKS TIME.
THE NEXT DAY, GORDON WAS ON A MISSION
TO TURN THE MIXING BOWL AROUND.
IT'S TIME TO SAY GOOD-BYE TO THE PAST.
LATER THAT MORNING,
GORDON REVEALED HIS PLAN
TO HELP THE MIXING BOWL
MAKE ITS MARK IN THIS COMPETITIVE NEIGHBORHOOD.
"HEALTHY" IS SOMETHING
THAT'S NOT EVEN LISTED ANYWHERE NEAR HERE.
TAKING ADVANTAGE OF A NEED IN THE AREA
FOR HEALTHY DISHES,
GORDON AND BILLY WENT TO WORK IN THE KITCHEN,
CREATING NEW SPECIALS FOR THE NEXT DINNER SERVICE.
THIS IS THE KIND OF FOOD
THAT THE MIXING BOWL SHOULD BE SERVING.
THIS IS POACHED SALMON
TOPPED WITH A WALNUT PESTO.
IT'S EXCITING TO REALIZE
YOU CAN DO THINGS HEALTHY
AND IT JUST OPENED MY EYES TO A WHOLE NEW WORLD.
PUSH THE SALMON, PLEASE, YEAH?
PUSH THE SALMON SPECIAL, YEAH? OKAY, THANK YOU.
IF YOU LIKE SALMON, YEAH, I WOULD TRY SALMON.
THE SUCCESS OF THE NEW SALMON DISHES
WITH CUSTOMERS VALIDATED THE NEW DIRECTION
OF THE MIXING BOWL.
GOOD, PUSH DOWN ON THE SALMON.
GOOD.
BUT THE FRONT OF THE HOUSE WAS STILL SUFFERING
FROM MIKE'S MANAGERIAL STYLE.
IS HE WORKING NOW?
ALL HE DOES IS STAND AND TALK AND LEAN AND PRAY.
KIMMY, YOU GOTTA WORK THE TIPS, BABY.
IT'S IMPOSSIBLE TO WORK WITH HIM.
AND HE TAKES HALF OF YOUR TIPS.
YOU GET FIVE TIMES MORE PAY THAN THE SERVERS!
WHAT THE HELL IS YOUR PROBLEM?
AND IN A POST DINNER MEETING,
THE STAFF'S AND BILLY'S WIFE LISA'S FRUSTRATION
WITH MIKE REACHED A BREAKING POINT.
WHEN I'M BUSSING MY OWN TABLES
AND EVERYBODY ELSE IS RUNNING AROUND CRAZY--
WE ARE AWARE OF WHAT THE PROBLEMS WERE.
I'M FIGHTIN' FOR MY LIFE HERE.
YOU, RIGHT NOW,
NEED TO STEP UP TO THE PLATE
AND MAKE THE CHANGES
EVERY FREAKIN' DAY, EVERY MINUTE OF THE DAY.
THAT'S IT.
BILLY, THAT'S THE FIRST TIME...
YOU'VE SOUNDED LIKE A BOSS.
'CAUSE IT'S YOUR LIFE ON THE LINE.
DON'T EVER FORGET THAT.
WITH EVERYONE NOW ON THE SAME PAGE
ABOUT THE PLAN MOVING FORWARD, GORDON'S TEAM GAVE
THE MIXING BOWL DECOR A FACELIFT.
IT'S GORGEOUS.
IT LOOKS LIKE A RESTAURANT NOW, DOESN'T IT?
YES.
ARE YOU SERIOUSLY GONNA START SPENDING TIME
IN YOUR OWN RESTAURANT NOW?
YES, YEAH. SAY HELLO TO CUSTOMERS?
IT'S GORGEOUS.
LISA, HAVE YOU GOT ANY TISSUES?
AND TO COMPLEMENT THE DECOR,
GORDON DESIGNED A MENU RICH IN HEALTHY INGREDIENTS.
GOOD LUCK, YES?
LET'S GET HER, BOY.
IT WAS TIME FOR THE RE-LAUNCH,
BUT MINUTES AFTER OPENING,
IT WAS CLEAR THAT MIKE HAD OVERBOOKED THE RESTAURANT.
LOOKS LIKE WE HAVE 47.
OH, NO.
AND ON TOP OF THAT THERE WAS A MIX-UP
WITH THE RESERVATION FOR THE NEW YORK DRAGONS FOOTBALL TEAM.
YOU'RE OVERLOOKING EXTREMELY IMPORTANT THINGS.
I WAS NOT TOLD ABOUT THE DRAGONS.
I FOUND OUT--
LIKE, WHY DO YOU KEEP SAYING THAT?
BECAUSE I WASN'T! I WASN'T TOLD!
THAT'S IT!
NOT MY FAULT!
CAN WE PLEASE MOVE ON?
THAT'S IT!
HEY. YES?
GET YOUR OUTSIDE NOW.
LET ME JUST TELL YOU SOMETHING.
YOU'VE GOT ONE PROBLEM HERE.
MIKE.
MIKE'S GONNA HAVE TO CHANGE LIKE THE PLACE HAS CHANGED.
SO EVERYBODY ELSE IN THE PLACE IS GONNA GET A SECOND CHANCE.
SO MIKE SHOULD GET A SECOND CHANCE.
AFTER MIKE'S BLOW-UP, EVERYTHING SETTLED DOWN
AND THE RELAUNCH WAS A SUCCESS.
ALL RIGHT, TABLE TWO'S GETTING UP.
WE'RE GONNA PUSH IT TOGETHER FOR A TABLE OF FOUR.
IT'S SO DIFFERENT. IT FEELS GREAT, RIGHT?
EVERYBODY'S REALLY LOVING THE FOOD.
IT'S REALLY GOOD.
WE ARE GONNA BUILD
THE BEST DAMN RESTAURANT THAT--THAT EVER EXISTED.
AND AT THE END OF THE NIGHT,
BILLY FINALLY CAME OUT OF HIS KITCHEN.
I'M SO PROUD OF HIM.
COULDN'T BE MORE PROUD OF HIM.
THE DIFFERENCE TONIGHT
FROM WHEN I FIRST ARRIVED WAS EXTRAORDINARY.
YOU'RE TALENTED, BIG BOY.
YOU'VE GOT TO MAKE THAT TRANSITION
FROM A CHEF TO A RESTAURATEUR.
LADIES--OH, ME.
OH,.
I GOT THE MESSAGE ON HOW I HAVE TO CHANGE
TO MAKE THIS PLACE THE BEST IT CAN BE.
- GOOD NIGHT. - THANK YOU.
NEXT...
SPECIALS ARE ON THE BACK OF THE MENU.
WHAT CHANGES HAS MIKE MADE TO THE MIXING BOWL?
OH, MY GOD.
DID BILLY FIND SUCCESS OR BANKRUPTCY?
EVERYBODY TOLD ME TO GIVE UP.
NO REGRETS, NONE? NO REGRETS.
NEXT, THE ANSWERS ON KITCHEN GORDON RETURNS.
LAST YEAR WHEN GORDON ARRIVED AT THE MIXING BOWL
HE FOUND AN EMPTY RESTAURANT THAT WAS ABOUT TO GO BUST.
WELL, THIS IS QUIET.
MIKE, THE MANAGER,
WAS SPINNING OUT OF CONTROL.
CAN WE PLEASE MOVE ON?
THAT'S IT!
WHILE BILLY, THE OWNER,
WAS STUCK IN THE KITCHEN.
YOU'RE HOLDING EVERYTHING UP NOW WITH ALL THIS CRAP.
AND BILLY'S WIFE LISA
HAD SIMPLY GIVEN UP.
MY HOPE IS REALLY GONE FOR THIS PLACE.
BUT BY THE TIME GORDON LEFT,
ALL THREE WERE REENERGIZED
AND DETERMINED TO SUCCEED.
I'M SO PROUD OF HIM.
COULDN'T BE MORE PROUD OF HIM.
NOW IT'S TIME TO FIND OUT
HOW THEY'RE DOING TODAY.
WHEN I FIRST ARRIVED AT THE MIXING BOWL,
EVERYBODY WAS STRESSED TO HELL.
MIKE, THE MANAGER, WAS RUNNING AROUND
LIKE A HEADLESS CHICKEN.
LISA, THE CHEF'S WIFE, WELL, SHE WANTED TO CLOSE THE PLACE.
AND BILLY, THE CHEF, HE WAS JUST CHAINED TO THE STOVE.
NOW, WHEN I LEFT, THINGS WERE MUCH BETTER.
I HOPE THEY'RE STILL LIKE THAT.
LET'S GO.
WELL, THERE'S NO SIGNS AND THERE'S CUSTOMERS.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE, OUT?
I'M ON THE FLOOR. HOW ARE YOU?
HOW YOU DOIN'? ARE YOU WELL?
GOOD TO SEE YOU, MY MAN.
HOW ARE YOU?
NICE, BIG SMILE ON YOUR FACE.
THE LAST YEAR SINCE CHEF RAMSAY'S BEEN HERE
HAS BEEN AMAZING.
BUSINESS HAS IMPROVED THREE, FOUR TIMES WHAT IT WAS.
IT'S BEEN UNBELIEVABLE.
THAT'S LOOKIN' NICE.
NICE TO SEE YOU.
HOW YOU DOIN'? ARE YOU WELL?
GOOD TO SEE YOU, MY MAN. PLEASURE.
HOW'S THINGS? THINGS HAVE BEEN GREAT.
WE MADE TOP 20 BEST RESTAURANTS
IN LONG ISLAND FOR 2007. REALLY?
THAT'S GREAT NEWS.
I THINK IT MAKES HIM PROUD
TO SEE THAT, YOU KNOW,
HE GAVE US THE TOOLS.
HE DID ALL THIS FOR US.
WELL DONE. ARE YOU HAPPY?
YES? AWESOME, VERY HAPPY.
GOOD.
AND FEEDBACK FROM THE CUSTOMERS?
GREAT FEEDBACK.
PEOPLE LOVE THE FOOD.
PRIOR TO CHEF RAMSAY COMING HERE,
I NEVER THOUGHT THAT THE RESTAURANT
COULD CHANGE THE WAY THAT IT DID.
WE TURN AWAY 50, 100 PEOPLE A NIGHT NOW FOR DINNER.
WE NEED A 300-SEAT RESTAURANT.
COUPONS?
NO. WE DON'T NEED COUPONS.
THERE'S GOTTA BE ONE.
NO, WE DON'T NEED 'EM.
NO? DON'T NEED 'EM.
I'M TAKING 50% OFF HER CHECK.
15?
FIF--NO, NO, 5-0. 50.
THE BIGGEST LESSON THAT I LEARNED FROM GORDON RAMSAY
WAS THAT PEOPLE SHOULD WANNA COME TO YOUR RESTAURANT.
YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE TO BRIBE THEM.
NICE TO SEE THE WINDOWS SO CLEAR.
NO SIGNS, GREAT.
YOU MUST'VE THOUGHT ABOUT SOMETHING ALONG THE WAY.
A LITTLE SIGN.
A PICTURE OF US UP THERE.
THAT'S ABOUT IT.
PICTURE OF WHO? ALL OF US.
YOU AND I, TOGETHER?
OH, YEAH. I HAVEN'T SEEN THAT.
OH, MY GOD.
IT IS THERE.
PEOPLE DRIVE BY LIKE,
"WOW, GORDON RAMSAY!"
REMEMBER THE LAST TIME WE WERE OUT HERE
YOU WERE SHOWING ME ALL YOUR SIGNS.
HOLY MACKEREL.
I TRIED EVERYTHING.
THE CUSTOMERS, THEY'RE THE ONES THAT ARE SPREADING THE WORD,
SO WE DON'T NEED ANY SIGNS OR ANY PROMOTIONS
OR ANY GIMMICKS ANYMORE.
I DID NOT EXPECT TO SEE YOU IN THE DINING ROOM, YEAH?
ARE YOU SPLITTING TIME BETWEEN KITCHEN AND DINING ROOM?
YEAH, HALF AND HALF.
HALF AND HALF, THAT'S GREAT.
YOU GETTIN' TO MEET CUSTOMERS? YEAH.
THAT'S FANTASTIC.
HOW YOU DOIN' TONIGHT?
I THINK THE MOST IMPORTANT THING CHEF RAMSAY DID
TO HELP OUT THE RESTAURANT WAS,
I THINK, IN ME.
HOW WE DOIN' ON TABLE FIVE?
AND BRINGIN' ME OUT INTO THE RESTAURANT
AND START RUNNING THE WHOLE RESTAURANT
INSTEAD OF HALF OF IT.
HEY, LOOK AT YOU. HOW ARE YOU?
ANOTHER SMILEY FACE. HOW YOU DOIN'?
GOOD TO SEE YOU, MY DARLING.
YOU TOO. OH.
THE PAST YEAR HAS BEEN UNBELIEVABLE
SINCE CHEF RAMSAY CAME.
ARE WE'RE GONNA CATCH UP, FIVE MINUTES SOMEWHERE?
EVERYTHING'S DIFFERENT AT THE MIXING BOWL.
LAST TIME WE SAT IN THIS OFFICE--
I WANTED IT.
YEAH, CLOSE THE PLACE.
YOU'D HAD ENOUGH.
LISA, YOU MAY BE RIGHT.
TO PUT YOU OUT YOUR MISERY,
MAYBE WE SHOULD CLOSE THIS PLACE DOWN.
TONIGHT.
TO SEE HIM NOW,
STANDING THERE, I MEAN, HE'S A DIFFERENT GUY.
I KNOW, SO DIFFERENT. TRANSFORMED.
YEAH. DIFFERENT WHEN HE COMES HOME.
DIFFERENT WHEN HE'S HERE.
BRILLIANT. NO REGRETS?
NO, NO REGRETS. NONE?
DO YOU STILL WANNA KILL OR STRANGLE MIKE?
YOU KNOW, I DON'T.
HE'S REALLY TURNED AROUND.
NO, I JUST NEED THAT FOOD TO COME OUT.
OKAY, I'LL TAKE THE FOOD OUT.
THANK YOU. YOU GOT IT.
MIKE IS COMPLETELY DIFFERENT NOW.
AND WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME HE FLIPPED OUT?
WHEN THE DRAGONS CAME IN.
DRAGONS, RIGHT OVER HERE!
I PUT 'EM ON AT 7:00!
CAN WE PLEASE MOVE ON?
THAT'S IT!
HE'S REALLY BEEN MUCH CALMER.
HE'S BEEN MUCH CALMER?
EVERYONE'S JUST SO MUCH HAPPIER
AND I THINK EVERYONE'S A LOT MORE AT EASE NOW.
MIKE'S NOT YELLING.
I'M NOT YELLING. NO ONE'S YELLING.
IT'S VERY NICE.
ARE YOU HAPPY THAT YOU DIDN'T SELL THE RESTAURANT?
I AM. I AM AT THIS POINT.
I REALLY AM. YEAH?
THANKFULLY EVERYTHING'S GOIN' GREAT.
YEAH, YEAH.
I MEAN, YOU'VE TRANSFORMED.
I MEAN, YOU'VE JUST GOT THIS GLOW ON YOU.
I DON'T KNOW WHERE THE HELL YOU GOT IT FROM.
COMPLETELY DIFFERENT, RIGHT? COMPLETELY.
HE'S SO MUCH EASIER TO BE AROUND.
YEAH. I TALK NOW.
YEAH? RIGHT, NO, IT'S TRUE.
IT'S TRUE.
EVERYBODY, EVERYONE, IT'S TRUE.
IT'S BEEN QUITE A RIDE.
IT'S CHANGED MY LIFE 100%.
IT'S BEEN UNBELIEVABLE.
THIS IS HIS LIFE.
COOKING, BEING A CHEF, HAVING A RESTAURANT.
HE LOVES IT.
I'M REALLY PROUD, YEAH?
REALLY PROUD AND VERY HAPPY THAT IT'S GOING SO WELL.
DON'T STOP, PLEASE?
AND AS A WAY OF SAYING "WELL DONE",
THIS IS FOR BILLY.
THAT IS FOR YOU.
THANK YOU.
YOU DESERVE IT. REALLY WELL DONE.
KEEP GOING, YES?
"THE MIXING BOWL IS AWARDED GORDON RAMSAY'S
"SEAL OF APPROVAL FOR EXCELLENCE IN CONSISTENCY,
QUALITY, AND OVERALL CUSTOMER SATISFACTION."
IT'S LIKE 1, 000 POUNDS LIFTED
BECAUSE I'LL NEVER FORGET WHERE I WAS.
A LOT OF BUSINESSES DON'T ALWAYS GET A SECOND CHANCE.
SO WE DON'T TAKE ANYTHING FOR GRANTED.
HEY.
THANK YOU.
THIS IS THE LONGEST WE EVER SPENT TOGETHER
WITHOUT ANY TEARS, HUH?
COME HERE.
YES?
HEY, WELL DONE.
AND THAT, YEAH, I REALLY MEAN.
DON'T STOP. TAKE CARE.
THANK YOU.
- BYE, GUYS. - BYE-BYE.
IT'S SO HARD TO BELIEVE THAT THIS PLACE NEARLY CLOSED.
THEY'RE HAPPY, THEY'RE MAKIN' MONEY,
AND THEY'RE DOIN' A GOOD JOB.
SUCCESS IS THE ONLY SIGN THEY NEED.
STILL TO COME...
IT'S ROTTEN, YOU IDIOT.
THE MOST TALKED ABOUT KITCHEN NIGHTMARE.
WHAT, DO WE NEED A DEATH IN THE RESTAURANT
BEFORE SOME GETS A GRIP?
LAST YEAR, GORDON FOUND FLIES, ROACHES...
LOOK AT THAT!
AND EVEN RATS AT THIS INDIAN RESTAURANT.
I'VE EATEN HERE.
WHAT WILL GORDON UNCOVER
WHEN HE RETURNS TO DILLON'S?
OH, MY GOD.
GORDON RETURNS.
MANHATTAN MAY BE THE MECCA FOR GREAT RESTAURANTS,
BUT LAST YEAR IN THE HEART OF THE BIG APPLE,
GORDON FOUND HIS BIGGEST CHALLENGE EVER.
THERE'S ONE RESTAURANT THAT NEEDS MY HELP
MORE THAN ANY OTHER AND IT'S RIGHT DOWN THERE.
DILLON'S, AN INDIAN RESTAURANT IN MIDTOWN,
WAS A CATASTROPHE.
THE MENU WAS CONFUSING.
WHAT ARE WE CHOOSING FROM, WHICH MENU?
THE FOOD WAS APPALLING.
IT IS DISGUSTING.
AND THE KITCHEN WAS INFESTED.
THE KITCHEN'S NOT CLEAN.
MARTIN, THE GENERAL MANAGER,
DIDN'T SEEM TO CARE.
ANDREW, THE OPERATIONS MANAGER,
STRUGGLED TO KEEP EVERYTHING RUNNING.
IF SOMETHING'S BROKEN I FIX IT.
I MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S
TOILET PAPER TO WIPE YOUR BUTT WITH.
WHILE MOHAMMED, THE OWNER,
WAS LOSING A FORTUNE.
THIS INDIAN EATERY WAS A DISASTER.
MARTIN, GENERAL MANAGER.
- THIS IS DILLON'S. - DILLON'S?
INDIAN RESTAURANT? INDIAN RESTAURANT, YES.
DOESN'T SOUND LIKE AN INDIAN DOES IT?
DILLON'S, NO? NO, DILLON'S.
IT DIDN'T TAKE LONG FOR GORDON TO REALIZE
HE WAS FACING A HUGE CHALLENGE.
FLIES EVERYWHERE.
FIRST OFF, THE MENU WASN'T EVEN INDIAN.
BRITISH, ITALIAN, BUFFALO.
YES.
ONLY THING THAT'S NOT ON HERE IS CHINESE.
SECONDLY, AND MORE IMPORTANTLY,
THE DISHES WERE BARELY EDIBLE.
THERE'S TWO FRITTERS.
THEY'RE BOTH VEGETABLE? YES.
THERE'S MEAT IN THERE.
UM, THAT ONE'S GOT MEAT IN THERE.
IT'S NOT VEGETARIAN.
TASTES LIKE LAMB.
YOU GUYS ARE KILLING ME RIGHT NOW.
THE ASSORTED VEGETARIAN APPETIZER PLATE
HAS TO BE VEGETARIAN.
ARE YOU KIDDING? HE JUST HAD A MEAT ONE.
AFTER HAVING A VEGETARIAN APPETIZER
THAT WASN'T EVEN VEGETARIAN,
GORDON DUG INTO HIS NEXT DISH, BEEF BHUNA.
THAT IS NOT A PIECE OF BEEF.
DOES THAT LOOK LIKE A PIECE OF BEEF TO YOU, MY DARLING?
IT LOOKS LIKE PORK.
IF THAT'S BEEF, THEN, HEY, I WAS BORN IN BANGLADESH.
HE SAYS IT'S PORK.
PRETTY SURE IT'S PORK.
IS IT BEEF?
PRETTY MUCH EVERYTHING THAT COULD GO WRONG
WENT HORRIBLY, CATASTROPHICALLY WRONG.
WHERE DO YOU START ON THIS ONE?
GORDON KNEW THERE WAS AN AWFUL LOT TO DO
IN A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME. WELCOME.
BUT BEFORE HE COULD START,
HE HAD TO OBSERVE DILLON'S IN ACTION.
ARE WE GONNA RESET THIS TABLE?
EENY, MEENY, MINEY, MOE.
CATCH A MANAGER BY THE TOE.
YOU ARE WHAT? I'M THE FLOOR.
YOU'RE THE FLOOR MANAGER. FLOOR MANAGER.
HOLY MACKEREL.
OKAY, FAROUK.
OH, HOLY MOSES.
HELLO, FLOOR MANAGER?
OPERATIONS MANAGER?
GENERAL MANAGER?
ANYBODY?
MAN IT'S--CAN YOU EXPLAIN TO GOMEZ--YEAH?
THAT WE'VE GOT TO STOP PUTTING THINGS ON THE FLOOR.
YES?
YEAH, IT'S UNHYGIENIC.
IT'S VERY DANGEROUS.
WHAT IS GOING ON BACK THERE?
I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT'S TAKING
SO FREAKING LONG.
NOT SURPRISINGLY,
CHAOS IN THE KITCHEN RESULTED IN POORLY PREPARED FOOD...
THIS IS RAW, SO. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
AND UNHAPPY CUSTOMERS.
IN TWO MINUTES, WE'RE LEAVING.
SERIOUSLY, TWO MINUTES, WE'RE LEAVING.
BUT THE NEXT DAY, GORDON UNCOVERED
DILLON'S BIGGEST HORROR LURKING IN THE BASEMENT.
WHAT'S THAT SMELL?
WHAT?
IS THAT FOR RATS OR MICE?
IT'S RAT DROPPINGS.
LOOK AT THEM ALL.
OH, MY GOOD GOD.
OH, MY GOD, LOOK.
I GOT ONE IN MY HAIR.
IT'S COCKROACHES.
BOXES FULL OF THEM.
LOOK.
LOOK AT THEM ALL.
OH--OH, NO.
LOOK AT THAT!
OH, MY GOD.
MARTIN!
SHOCKED BY THE DEPLORABLE CONDITIONS,
GORDON CALLED FOR THE MANAGEMENT TO MEET HIM IN THE KITCHEN.
ARE YOU IN CHARGE OF THIS?
ARE YOU RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS?
UH, GENTLEMEN, IT GETS WORSE THAN THAT.
IT'S GREEN.
IT'S BEYOND EDIBLE.
LOOK AT THE COLOR OF THOSE CHICKEN WINGS.
EVERYTHING IN THERE WAS PUTRID.
HOW LONG HAS THAT BEEN IN THERE?
GIMME AN ANSWER BECAUSE I'M MYSELF.
YES, THERE'S A HEAD CHEF RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS.
THIS WILL KILL SOMEBODY.
WE'RE NOT PASSIN' THE BUCK, BUT--
I KNOW MY GENERAL MANGER KNOWS WHAT THE
GOES ON INTO MY FRIDGES.
LET ME JUST TELL YOU SOMETHING. YES?
I'VE EATEN HERE.
THE KITCHEN IS CLOSED.
RIGHT NOW.
OUT THERE AND TELL THEM THE TRUTH!
GORDON WAS SO OUTRAGED.
SO ANGRY.
HELLO.
HI.
I'M SORRY TO INFORM YOU
THAT WE ARE NOT GOING TO BE SERVING DINNER THIS EVENING.
CHEF RAMSAY'S SHUT DOWN THE KITCHEN.
WHAT, DO WE NEED A DEATH IN THE RESTAURANT
BEFORE SOME GETS A GRIP?
UNDETERRED BY THE DISGUSTING CONDITIONS,
GORDON RETURNED TO THE RESTAURANT
EQUIPPED TO DEAL WITH THE MESS...
YOU DIRTY LITTLE , WHERE ARE YOU?
WITH THE HELP OF PROFESSIONAL STEAM CLEANERS.
GUYS, KITCHEN'S STRAIGHT THROUGH THERE.
GORDON AND THE STAFF OF DILLON'S
WORK THROUGH THE NIGHT GETTING RID OF ALL THE OLD, ROTTEN FOOD
AND STERILIZING EVERY SQUARE INCH OF THE RESTAURANT.
IN THE DAYS THAT FOLLOWED, GORDON'S DESIGN TEAM
DRAMATICALLY CHANGED THE DECOR.
DILLON'S DRAB AND DREARY LOOK...
TAKE OFF YOUR BLINDFOLDS.
WAS TRANSFORMED INTO A SLEEK, CONTEMPORARY INDIAN RESTAURANT.
WOW.
HAVEN'T THEY DONE AN AMAZING JOB?
THIS IS BEAUTIFUL.
OUTSIDE, GORDON INSTALLED
AN EYE-CATCHING AWNING, REVEALING THE RESTAURANT'S
NEW, AUTHENTIC INDIAN NAME, PURNIMA.
BUT THE MOST CRITICAL CHANGE WAS GORDON'S DECISION
TO ENLIST ONE OF NEW YORK'S TOP INDIAN CHEFS,
VIKAS KHANNA, TO HELP MAKE OVER THE MENU.
AFTER THE TRIO, WE HAVE THE CHICKEN KORMA.
THE NEW MENU FEATURED CLASSIC INDIAN DISHES
WITH A MODERN TWIST.
HELLO, GOOD EVENING.
ON THE NIGHT OF THE RELAUNCH,
WITH VIKAS IN CHARGE, THE KITCHEN GOT OFF
TO A GREAT START.
LET'S GO.
BUT UNFORTUNATELY, POOR MANAGEMENT
CREATED CHAOS IN THE DINING ROOM.
SO THEY WANT THE LAMB--
WHO?
UH, THE LADIES--THE--YEAH.
THE DISORGANIZATION IN THE DINING ROOM
CREATED CONFUSION IN THE KITCHEN.
WHO'S RUNNING THE RESTAURANT?
AND CUSTOMERS WERE FORCED TO SUFFER THE CONSEQUENCES.
IT'S UNBELIEVABLE.
IT'S COLD, THEY FORGOT OUR ORDER--
FED UP WITH THE DISMAL SERVICE,
GORDON ASKED FLOOR MANAGER KHAN TO STEP UP.
BE HONEST WITH ME.
CAN YOU MANAGE THIS PLACE?
YES, I CAN.
READY GO?
READY, EVERYTHING IS READY. BUT I HAVE ONE NAAN.
WITH VIKAS MANNING THE KITCHEN
THE STAFF HIT ITS STRIDE.
IT TASTES REALLY GOOD. THIS IS GREAT.
AND THE OPENING WAS A SMASHING SUCCESS.
ONE, TWO, THREE.
FEELING THAT THERE WAS NOW HOPE FOR THIS RESTAURANT...
MOHAMMED, CAN I HAVE A QUICK WORD WITH YOU, PLEASE?
GORDON SAT DOWN WITH MOHAMMED
FOR A CANDID CONVERSATION ABOUT MARTIN.
THIS IS A NEW START.
EXACTLY. YOU HAVE TO TREAT IT
AS A NEW BEGINNING. OF COURSE.
IN A PERFECT WORLD,
I WOULD SACRIFICE ONE OF YOUR MANAGERS
TO EMPLOY VIKAS.
BETWEEN YOU AND I,
MARTIN'S NOT WORTH HIS WEIGHT
IN TERMS OF WHAT HE BRINGS TO THE TABLE.
HEARING GORDON RAMSAY SAY THAT TO MOHAMMED,
THAT MAKES ME UPSET AND ANGRY.
I HAVE NEVER USED YOU. I'VE RESPECTED YOU.
I'M PROUD OF WHAT WE'VE DONE.
I'VE NEVER CHEATED YOU.
WH--WHAT'S GOING ON?
COME HERE, YOU.
YOU'RE RECOMMENDING--
YOU ARE--ENOUGH.
I'VE HAD ENOUGH.
YOU HAVE BEEN INSULTING.
YOU HAVE ACCUSED ME OF-OF-OF--
DID YOU HEAR WHAT I JUST SAID TO HIM?
MARTIN--
SO--LET-LET-LET HIM GO. GO ON.
THIS PERSON, I'VE RESPECTED.
AND YOU'VE THE AUDACITY TO ACCUSE ME OF, LIKE,
TAKING HIS MONEY-- RIDING OFF HIS BACK.
RIDING OFF HIS BACK IS WHAT YOU SAID.
WELL, THAT IS DISGUSTING. YOU HAVE NO RIGHT.
I HAVE NOTHING TO BE GUILTY OF.
YOU WHAT? NOTHING.
YOU RAN IT. YOU SAT IN IT.
YES. YOU WASTED IT.
YES, I WASTED IT, YES.
YOU ENCOURAGED IT.
YOU LET THIS GO. IT WASN'T ALWAYS LIKE THIS.
IT SPIRALED AND SPIRALED OUT OF CONTROL.
YOU LET THIS GO TO. AND I ASKED YOU TO COME ON BOARD.
YOU FEEL GUILTY. I'M GLAD.
NOT GUILTY. YOU'RE GUILTY.
MOHAMMED, I'M NOT GONNA TAKE THIS PUTDOWN ANYMORE.
I'M OUT OF HERE. I QUIT.
I THINK GORDON RAMSAY IS FULL OF AND I'M EXTREMELY ANGRY.
EXTREMELY PISSED OFF.
AND I NOW TURN MY BACK AND WALK AWAY.
DETERMINED TO MOVE FORWARD,
MOHAMMED ASKED VIKAS TO COME ON BOARD AS A CONSULTANT.
THANKS A LOT, I APPRECIATE THAT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
LET'S BE HONEST.
IT'S GONE EXCEPTIONALLY WELL.
GREAT FOOD, GREAT DECOR, GREAT BUZZ,
HAPPY CUSTOMERS.
THANK YOU.
THANK YOU MUCH INDEED.
NEXT UP...
WHO'S CLEANING ALL THIS?
GORDON IS BACK IN MANHATTAN
TO SEE HOW PURNIMA IS DOING TODAY.
BUSINESS, HOW'S THAT BEEN?
UM.
WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE KITCHEN?
ANY BURGERS WITH BLOTCHES ON THERE?
AND WHAT SURPRISES DOES GORDON FIND LURKING BELOW?
OH, MY GOD.
GORDON RETURNS.
A YEAR AGO, GORDON FACED HIS TOUGHEST ASSIGNMENT
RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF MANHATTAN
AT AN INDIAN RESTAURANT PLAGUED WITH BAD FOOD.
IT'S ROTTEN.
INEFFICIENT MANAGERS...
WHO'S RUNNING THE RESTAURANT?
AND ONE OF THE DIRTIEST KITCHENS
GORDON HAD EVER SEEN.
IT'S RAT DROPPINGS.
OH, MY GOOD GOD.
WITH THE HELP OF CHEF VIKAS,
GORDON LEFT THE RESTAURANT IN A GOOD STATE.
LET'S BE HONEST.
IT'S GONE EXCEPTIONALLY WELL.
BUT A YEAR HAS GONE BY.
AND ONE WONDERS IF THE MANHATTAN MESS IS EVEN OPEN.
TIME TO FIND OUT.
LAST YEAR, DILLON'S WAS MY BIGGEST NIGHTMARE OF ALL TIME.
PERSONALLY, I COULD HARDLY STEP FOOT IN THE PLACE.
IT WAS BADLY RUN AND INFESTED WITH COCKROACHES.
SO I'M DYING TO FIND OUT HOW THEY'RE DOING.
LET'S GO.
THERE YOU ARE.
HOW YOU DOING?
I'M DOING WELL, THANK YOU.
GOOD TO SEE YOU. WELCOME BACK.
CAN I JUST SAY, FIRST OF ALL,
IT SMELLS NICE IN HERE.
IT'S GOING TO BE VERY INTERESTING TO SEE
HOW GORDON REACTS TODAY.
HOW ARE YOU?
I'VE BEEN WELL, THANK YOU.
I HOPE THAT HE'S GOING TO ENJOY WHAT HE SEES
BECAUSE WE'RE PROUD OF WHAT WE'RE DOING NOW
AS OPPOSED TO SLIGHTLY EMBARRASSED.
IN TERMS OF BUSINESS, ARE WE UP?
YES. THAT'S GREAT NEWS.
HOW HAVE YOU BEEN?
I'VE BEEN VERY WELL, ACTUALLY.
I'VE HAD THE GREAT PLEASURE OF WORKING WITH VIKAS KHANNA,
AND IT'S BEEN A TREMENDOUS EXPERIENCE.
VIKAS IS STILL HERE?
YES, YES. THAT'S GREAT NEWS.
GOOD, GOOD, GOOD.
VIKAS HAS SORT OF BECOME THE ANCHOR, THE LEADER,
THE VISIONARY.
THE GREATEST THING THAT HAPPENED
FROM GORDON COMING HERE
WAS HIM BRINGING VIKAS.
CILANTRO VINAIGRETTE WORKED EXTREMELY WELL.
VIKAS HAS THE ABILITY TO INSPIRE PEOPLE.
AND WE ARE NOW COMMITTED TO BEING AN INDIAN RESTAURANT,
AND THE BEST INDIAN RESTAURANT THAT WE CAN BE.
I'M SO PLEASED YOU'RE HERE.
THAT'S GIVEN ME SO MUCH SATISFACTION.
I'LL TELL YOU, YOU'VE GOT NO IDEA.
I PROMISED YOU, GORDON.
I'VE KEPT A PROMISE TO STAND BY PURNIMA
AS A PART OF MY RESPECT FOR WHAT CHEF RAMSAY
HAS DONE TO THIS RESTAURANT.
THE KITCHEN LOOKS IMMACULATE.
ABSOLUTELY SPOTLESS.
ANDREW?
ANY BURGERS WITH BLOTCHES ON THERE?
NO GREEN BURGERS.
THIS WILL KILL SOMEBODY.
NO GREEN BURGERS!
WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE BASEMENT?
I'LL SHOW YOU THE BASEMENT.
THERE ARE NO MORE BUGS HERE.
EVERYBODY WAS SENT OUT FOR A WEEK FROM PURNIMA.
I MADE THEM DO A FOOD PROTECTION COURSE.
OH, MY GOD.
WOW.
HOLY MACKEREL.
MY GOD.
THAT'S EXTRAORDINARY.
I CANNOT BELIEVE THE DIFFERENCE.
OH, MY GOD, LOOK.
I GOT ONE IN MY HAIR.
IT'S COCKROACHES.
LOOK AT THIS.
MOHAMMED, COME OVER.
CONGRATULATIONS.
HOW ARE YOU?
GOOD TO SEE YOU.
THE BEST PART OF THIS THING...
THAT'S INCREDIBLE.
WELL DONE, AND I MEAN WELL DONE.
IT BECAME SUCH A BIG, IMPORTANT PART OF OUR LIVES
JUST TO MAKE IT SPOTLESS CLEAN.
MY GOD.
WHEN CUSTOMERS COME TO THE RESTAURANT,
VIKAS LOVES TO INVITE THEM TO LOOK AROUND
IN THE KITCHEN DOWNSTAIRS...
THIS IS THE MAIN BASEMENT.
TO SHOW THEM THE CHANGES WE'VE MADE ARE REAL.
THIS IS COMPLETELY TRANSFORMED.
WOW, AMAZING.
IT WAS A VERY TOUGH WEEK
WHEN WE WERE HERE LAST YEAR.
OBVIOUSLY, MARTIN DIDN'T COME BACK.
HOW'S BUSINESS BEEN?
MM-HMM.
WHAT'S THE RESTAURANT TURNING A WEEK NOW?
$18, 000 TO $20, 000? THAT'S FANTASTIC.
THAT'S A MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR.
BRILLIANT.
THESE ARE LAMB CHOPS.
WOW.
JUST A SIMPLE MARINATION OF GINGER AND YOGURT.
CHEF RAMSAY'S VISIT TO PURNIMA WAS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT.
I AM SO HAPPY.
I DIDN'T EXPECT THE TRANSFORMATION
TO BE THIS GOOD, TO BE HONEST.
THE FOOD IS ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS.
FOR ME, THE MOST IMPORTANT, YOU KNOW,
CONNECTION WAS BRINGING YOU TWO TOGETHER.
I TOLD CHEF RAMSAY THAT-- AND MOHAMMED AND ANDREW--
I PROMISED THEM THAT WE WILL STAND TOGETHER
AND WE'LL MAKE THIS RESTAURANT A SUCCESS.
AND IT'S SUCH A GOOD FEELING.
I BET. IT'S BEEN REBORN.
YOU SEE THIS WHOLE PLACE COMING BACK TO LIFE.
PURNIMA WILL ALWAYS HAVE A VERY WARM PLACE IN OUR HEARTS.
NEXT TIME WE'LL EAT DOWNSTAIRS, RIGHT?
YOU WOULD? YEAH.
PURNIMA'S A GIFT TO US.
AND I WANT TO RESPECT THAT GIFT.
MOHAMMED, GOOD TO SEE YOU.
CHEF, IT'S A PLEASURE. MY PLEASURE.
STILL FAR TOO GOOD LOOKING TO BE A CHEF, YOU KNOW THAT, YEAH?
TOO CLEAN CUT, VIKAS, YOU KNOW THAT, HUH?
TAKE CARE.
BYE, GUYS. THANK YOU.
WOW.
I MEAN, ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE.
FROM THE BIGGEST DISASTER TO THE BIGGEST TRANSFORMATION.
IT'S ON TRACK, IT'S CLEAN, IT'S DELICIOUS,
AND NOW THEY HAVE A PROPER VISION.
THANK GOD FOR THAT.
COMING UP... I'M IN TROUBLE.
WE HEAD BACK TO CAMPANIA,
AN ITALIAN RESTAURANT IN NEW JERSEY.
GOOD AFTERNOON, CAMPANIA.
A YEAR AGO, THE OWNER WAS NEARLY BANKRUPT.
I OWE MY PURVEYORS ABOUT $80, 000 RIGHT NOW.
AND HE AND GORDON DIDN'T EXACTLY
START OFF ON FRIENDLY TERMS.
YOU HAVEN'T GOT A CLUE HOW TO RUN A BUSINESS.
I'D RATHER HAVE THIS CONVERSATION DOWNSTAIRS.
WE'LL TELL YOU HOW IT'S DOING TODAY.
LOOK AT YOU.
DID THEY FOLLOW GORDON'S ADVICE
OR HAVE THEY FINALLY DUG A HOLE TOO DEEP TO GET OUT OF?
ARE THE BILLS GETTING PAID?
UP NEXT ON THIS SPECIAL EDITION OFKITCHEN NIGHTMARES.
LAST YEAR WHEN GORDON ARRIVED AT THIS ITALIAN EATERY...
CAMPANIA.
HE FOUND A LITTLE BIT OF SOUTHERN ITALY
IN A NEW JERSEY SUBURB.
ONE?
OH, YES, TODAY I'M ON MY OWN.
AND A RESTAURANT ON THE BRINK OF DISASTER.
MR. RAMSAY.
THERE WAS JOE, THE OWNER, A SELF-TAUGHT CHEF.
WE DON'T HAVE RECIPES.
WE DON'T USE MEASURING CUPS OR SPOONS
'CAUSE I'M THE BEST.
HE RAN A CARE-FREE KITCHEN...
YOU.
WHILE THE STAFF WAS GOOFING AROUND.
IT'S LIKE A BIG ROMPER ROOM BACK THERE.
JOE WAS QUICKLY GOING BROKE.
I OWE MY PURVEYORS ABOUT $80, 000 RIGHT NOW
IN COLD, HARD CASH.
JOE'S PASSION FOR BIG PORTIONS
WAS EATING UP HIS PROFITS.
I CAN'T SEE US GOIN' ON ANOTHER YEAR.
HIS WIFE WAS DISTRAUGHT.
IT TAKES A LOT OF COURAGE.
AND HIS MOM, A NERVOUS WRECK.
I WORRY ABOUT JOE.
I WORRY ABOUT STRESS LEVEL.
I WORRY ABOUT MELISSA.
I WORRY ABOUT THE BOYS.
THE CASH CRUNCH TOOK ITS TOLL.
THESE ARE NOT WORKING OVENS.
AND THE CUSTOMERS PAID THE PRICE.
WE'VE BEEN HERE SINCE 7:00.
WE NEED YOUR SPECIALS NOW.
THAT NEVER WENT OUT?
BUT CLEARLY CAMPANIA'S
BIGGEST PROBLEM WAS ITS FOOD.
GARLIC EVERYWHERE.
BIG, BIG CHUNKS OF IT.
YOU WOULDN'T WANT TO GO BACK
TO THE OFFICE WITH THAT BREATH, WOULD YOU?
HOLY MACKEREL.
LOOKS LIKE A BISON'S TONGUE.
OH, DEAR.
MY FOOD, I THINK,
IS PURE, AND HONEST, AND GOOD.
I THINK IT WAS A MISTAKE THAT I DID THIS.
IN THE FIRST DINNER SERVICE,
GORDON NOTICED DOGGIE BAGS ON NEARLY EVERY TABLE.
WHAT'S WRONG WITH THAT?
NOTHING IS WRONG WITH IT.
JUST GONNA TAKE IT UP. THEY'RE TAKIN' IT AWAY.
OH, MY GOD.
HE KNEW JOE'S HUGE PORTIONS
MADE FOOD COSTS ASTRONOMICAL.
UNBELIEVABLE.
AND WOULD EVENTUALLY FORCE JOE OUT OF BUSINESS.
SIT DOWN, SIT DOWN.
I'VE NEVER SEEN SUCH HUMONGOUS PORTIONS.
WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO GO INTO BUSINESS
IF YOU HAVEN'T GOT A CLUE HOW TO RUN A BUSINESS?
TALK TO ME. NO.
YOU GETTING UPSET NOW?
YEAH, I'M GETTIN' REAL UPSET.
THANK FOR THAT.
HOPEFULLY I'LL GET THROUGH TO YOU NOW.
ALL RIGHT, YOU KNOW WHAT?
WHY DON'T WE MAKE IT A PUBLIC ISSUE WITH THIS NOW?
THERE'S CUSTOMERS HERE, THERE'S CUSTOMERS HERE.
I'D RATHER HAVE THIS CONVERSATION DOWNSTAIRS.
HOW ABOUT THAT?
YOU'RE EMBARRASSING ME IN FRONT OF MY CUSTOMERS.
FRUSTRATED BY JOE'S STUBBORNNESS,
THE NEXT MORNING, GORDON DECIDED TO VISIT HIS WIFE MELISSA
TO GET A BETTER INSIGHT INTO JOE.
HI. HI, HOW ARE YOU?
MELISSA, HOW ARE YOU, MY DARLING?
LOTTA PRESSURE ON JOE'S SHOULDERS.
HOW DO YOU THINK HE'S DOING?
HE'S VERY POSITIVE AND, YOU KNOW,
IT'S HIS DREAM AND I KNOW HE'S GIVING IT HIS ALL
TO, YOU KNOW, TRY AND SUCCEED, BUT.
HARDEST THING FOR ME IS THAT
PEOPLE LIKE US PUT EVERYTHING ON THE LINE
FOR A DREAM, AND I JUST WANNA SEE HIM HAVE THE TIME,
YOU KNOW, TO SUCCEED.
IF THIS RESTAURANT FAILED,
WE WOULD LOSE EVERYTHING.
I MEAN, I WOULD LOSE MY HOUSE.
BUT HIS BUSINESS CAN BE TURNED AROUND.
SO YOU'RE GONNA HELP US? YES.
DETERMINED TO HELP JOE AND HIS FAMILY,
GORDON WENT RIGHT BACK TO WORK.
THIS MENU IS FAR TOO BIG FOR HIS OWN GOOD.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING THROUGH HIS MIND
TO HAVE THIS FRIDGE STOCKED WITH ALL THESE INGREDIENTS
AND NO CUSTOMERS TO COOK FOR.
LOOK, BAG AFTER BAG AFTER BAG.
THIS IS WHERE HIS $80, 000 DEBT IS.
STUPID. ABSOLUTELY CRAZY.
I SAW THAT WALK-IN IN A COMPLETELY DIFFERENT LIGHT.
I WENT, "HOLY."
GORDON'S NEXT STEP IN TURNING CAMPANIA AROUND
WAS RETRAINING THE COOKING STAFF FROM PREP TO PRESENTATION.
I KNOW IT'S RUSTIC, BUT AT LEAST MAKE SURE
THAT WE GOT A LITTLE BIT OF PRIDE IN WHAT WE'RE DOING.
YOU CAN DO BETTER.
THEN GORDON CAME UP WITH ONE MENU ITEM
THAT WOULD SEPARATE CAMPANIA
FROM ALL THE OTHER LOCAL RESTAURANTS.
WHY CAN'T THIS RESTAURANT BECOME FAMOUS FOR A MEATBALL?
I GO TO MY RESTAURANT IN SICILY FOR MEATBALLS.
THAT'S ALL I WANTED.
JUST GIVE ME MEATBALLS.
ARMED WITH MEATBALLS,
CAMPANIA'S NEW SIGNATURE DISH, GORDON AND THE STAFF
HIT THE STREETS TO PROMOTE THE RESTAURANT.
GIVE THESE MEATBALLS AWAY,
AND GET THE REPUTATION OUT THERE ON THE STREET, YES?
MMM.
THAT'S WONDERFUL.
THE BEST MEATBALLS IN NEW JERSEY!
NOW THAT THE WORD WAS STARTING TO SPREAD
ABOUT THE NEW CAMPANIA,
LOVELY. NO WAY.
GORDON INTRODUCED SOME DECORATIVE CHANGES.
HOW COOL IS THAT?
BOTH OUTSIDE... AWESOME.
OH, IT'S UNBELIEVABLE.
I WAS JUST ABSOLUTELY BLOWN AWAY.
HEY.
AND IN.
IT'S THE KINDA PLACE I JUST WANNA HANG OUT.
YOU GUYS HAVE TRANSFORMED MY RESTAURANT.
FOLLOW ME THROUGH TO THE KITCHEN.
LET'S GO.
THE KITCHEN GOT A STATE-OF-THE-ART STOVE.
AND IN BIG PUSH TO CUT COSTS,
GORDON INTRODUCED SMALLER PLATES FOR THE SMALLER PORTIONS.
SMALLER, CHECK IT OUT.
HAPPY? MM-HMM.
GOOD, GOOD, GOOD, GOOD.
AND A MUCH MORE FOCUSED, VIBRANT MENU.
TRY THE STEAK, IT'S AWESOME.
ON THE NIGHT OF THE RELAUNCH...
ALL RIGHT, HERE WE GO. COME ON.
GORDON'S NEW DISHES WERE WELCOMED
BY THE CUSTOMERS.
THIS IS ABSOLUTELY UNBELIEVABLE.
BEST FOOD I EVER HAD.
LIKE, HIS SAUCE WAS AMAZING.
BY THE END OF THE EVENING, THE STAFF WAS ECSTATIC.
MORE THAN 200 PEOPLE WERE SERVED DINNER,
AND JOE HAD HIS MOST PROFITABLE NIGHT EVER.
BUT THERE WAS ONE IMPORTANT TASK GORDON HAD TO LOOK AFTER
BEFORE HE LEFT.
THE FOOD LOOKED GREAT ON THERE.
WE'RE NOT GOING BACK TO STUPID,
BIG STEERING WHEELS.
THAT'S WHAT WE WERE SERVING.
LOOK AT THEM.
AREN'T THEY HORRIBLE?
LET'S GO.
DO ONE.
SAY GOOD-BYE TO THEM.
SAY GOOD-BYE.
GOOD-BYE TO THE BIG PLATE.
HELLO, PROFITS.
ONE, TWO, THREE,
GO.
COME ON. YOU HAPPY?
FIRST DAY I MET GORDON
I COULDN'T WAIT UNTIL THAT GUY SAID GOOD-BYE.
BUT ONCE I GOT BEYOND MY EGO BEING HURT
AND STARTED LISTENING TO WHAT HE HAD TO SAY,
HE WAS LIKE A TRUE MENTOR TO ME.
HEY, DON'T STOP.
I WON'T.
NEXT... LOOK AT YOU!
WE'LL TELL YOU IF JOE
ACTUALLY FOLLOWED GORDON'S ADVICE.
CAN I HAVE A QUICK PEEK IN THE WALK-INS? UM.
IS CAMPANIA FINALLY OUT OF THE RED?
ARE THE BILLS GETTING PAID?
ONE LAST THING.
AND WHAT SHOCKING SURPRISE
DOES GORDON HAVE IN STORE FOR JOE?
I KNEW IT WAS GONNA BE SOMETHING BIG.
UP NEXT ON KITCHEN NIGHTMARES.
WHEN GORDON ARRIVED
IN FAIR LAWN, NEW JERSEY LAST YEAR...
CAMPANIA.
HE FOUND OWNER JOE IN DIRE STRAITS.
I OWE MY PURVEYORS ABOUT $80, 000.
BUT THE STAFF WAS GOOFING AROUND.
RELAX.
WHEN HE CONFRONTED JOE WITH THE TRUTH...
IF YOU HAVEN'T GOT A CLUE HOW TO RUN A BUSINESS.
JOE RESENTED GORDON.
YOU GETTING UPSET NOW?
YEAH, I'M GETTIN' REAL UPSET.
IN THE END, GORDON DID MAKE BIG CHANGES.
HOW COOL IS THAT?
AND JOE ROSE TO THE OCCASION ON RELAUNCH NIGHT.
ALL RIGHT, HERE WE GO. HERE WE GO, COME ON.
BUT HOW IS THE HOME
OF NEW JERSEY'S BEST MEATBALL DOING TODAY?
TIME TO FIND OUT.
LAST TIME I CAME TO CAMPANIA, I FOUND AN OWNER
THAT DIDN'T HAVE A CLUE HOW TO RUN A BUSINESS,
A WIFE THAT SERIOUSLY WANTED TO GIVE UP,
AND EVERY MEMBER OF STAFF WERE FAR MORE INTERESTED
IN HAVING A GOOD LAUGH AS OPPOSED TO SERVING A GOOD DISH.
CAN'T WAIT TO FIND OUT WHAT'S HAPPENING.
HELLO.
LOOK AT YOU.
NICE TO SEE YOU.
HOW YOU DOIN'?
IT'S VERY GOOD TO SEE GORDON TODAY.
BUSINESS IS DOING A LOT BETTER SINCE HE WAS HERE.
IT'S JUST BUSIER AND BUSIER ALL THE TIME.
WOW, SO BUSY.
WOW, WOW, WOW.
LADIES.
HOW ARE YOU?
NICE TO SEE YOU, MY LOVE.
I DEFINITELY HOPE GORDON'S REALLY HAPPY FOR US.
AND HE'S GLAD TO SEE THAT WE'RE DOING BETTER,
AND THAT WE HAVE A LOT MORE HOPE FOR THE RESTAURANT NOW
AND THAT THINGS ARE GOING EASIER.
RESTAURANT SOUNDS GREAT OUT THERE, HUH?
YEAH. BUSY?
YEP. YOU LOOK GREAT.
SO MUCH BETTER.
WELL, NICE TO SEE YOU.
WHERE'S CHEF? IN THE BACK.
HEY, LOOK AT YOU.
HOW ARE YOU, BUDDY?
WHAT'S GOIN' ON?
GOOD TO SEE YOU, MY MAN, HUH?
THE ATMOSPHERE IN THERE
AS I WALKED IN WAS ELECTRIC, HUH?
THAT'S, LIKE, EVERY DAY. FANTASTIC.
SINCE CHEF RAMSAY VISITED CAMPANIA,
THINGS HAVE JUST TURNED AROUND ON A DIME COMPLETELY.
THE INFLUX OF CUSTOMERS HAS NEARLY DOUBLED.
AND THAT'S DUE TO GORDON.
BEFORE WE GO TO THE DINING ROOM,
CAN I HAVE A QUICK PEEK IN THE WALK-IN? YEAH, COME ON.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHAT'S GOING THROUGH HIS MIND
TO HAVE THIS FRIDGE STOCKED WITH ALL THESE INGREDIENTS
AND NO CUSTOMERS TO COOK FOR.
TAKE A GANDER.
ENOUGH FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS MAXIMUM.
THERE'S NOWHERE NEAR THE AMOUNT OF PRODUCE--
NO, I MEAN, WE WERE STACKED TO THE RAFTERS BEFORE.
IN FOOD ALONE, WE'RE SAVING ABOUT $5, 000 A MONTH.
THAT EQUATES TO ABOUT $60, 000 A YEAR.
WE'VE GOT SO MUCH OF A FINANCIAL CUSHION,
I CAN FINALLY PAY MY PURVEYORS ON TIME.
YOU REALLY HELPED ME OUT.
SO IT'S JUST BEEN NOTHING SHORT OF, I THINK, A SMALL MIRACLE.
I ALMOST FEEL GUILTY ABOUT HOW, YOU KNOW--
HOW GOOD IT'S BEEN FOR ME.
BEFORE GORDON WAS HERE,
WE WERE PRETTY CLOSE TO THE EDGE FINANCIALLY.
IT'S BEEN SPECTACULAR.
THE HARDEST PART FOR ME
WAS WATCHING MY WIFE GO THROUGH IT.
'CAUSE SHE DIDN'T SIGN UP FOR IT, I DID.
YOU LOOK SO MUCH MORE CONFIDENT NOW.
'CAUSE LAST TIME WE MET AND WE HAD THAT CHAT,
IT WAS PRETTY HARD ON YOU. YEAH.
HARDEST THING FOR ME IS THAT
PEOPLE LIKE US PUT EVERYTHING ON THE LINE FOR A DREAM.
HOW DO YOU FEEL NOW?
BETTER. YEAH?
I MEAN, YOU REALLY GAVE HIM A FIGHTING CHANCE, YOU KNOW?
I JUST THINK GORDON RAMSAY IS SO INSPIRING.
YOU KNOW, I RESPECT HIM FOR COMING IN HERE
AND BEING HONEST AND, YOU KNOW,
LETTING MY HUSBAND KNOW WHAT HE NEEDS TO DO.
ARE THE BILLS GETTING PAID? YEAH.
THEY ARE GETTING PAID? YOU KNOW, THEY ARE.
IT'S BEEN GREAT.
IT'S SO NICE TO SEE YOU
SOUNDING AND LOOKING SO CONFIDENT, YOU KNOW THAT?
AND THAT KIND OF SUPPORT YOU GIVE HIM
IS JUST THE FOUNDATION TO THE SUCCESS OF THIS PLACE.
SO DON'T STOP.
OKAY. YEAH?
GOOD TO SEE YOU, MY DARLING. YOU TOO.
IT IS IMPORTANT FOR ME TO SEE MY HUSBAND SUCCEED.
THIS IS WHAT HE WANTS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, REALLY, FOR EVERYTHING.
HERE YOU GO, THE MEATBALLS.
NICE TO SEE YOU, MY DARLING. YOU TOO.
HOW MANY PORTIONS OF MEATBALLS HAVE YOU SERVED?
I SELL TONS OF MEATBALLS.
EVERYBODY COMES IN LOOKING FOR THESE MEATBALLS.
A-1 ON THE MEATBALL.
THEY'RE DELICIOUS, HUH?
GOOD. SO SOFT.
ISN'T THAT GREAT?
THAT IS BETTER
THAN WHAT WE LEFT IT WITH.
I MEAN, WE'RE SENDIN' TRAYS OUT.
YOU KNOW, PEOPLE WANT, LIKE, 100 OF THEM, 200 OF THEM.
PEOPLE WONDER IF THEY CAN SHIP THEM
ACROSS THE COUNTRY, YOU KNOW?
GORDON'S VISIT, IT WAS JUST THUMBS UP ALL THE WAY.
AND MAN, IT WAS JUST INFINITELY GRATIFYING FOR ME.
LAST TIME WE SAT AT THIS TABLE,
YOU GOT PISSED OFF AT ME, REMEMBER?
WHY DON'T WE MAKE IT A
PUBLIC ISSUE WITH THIS NOW?
THERE'S CUSTOMERS HERE, THERE'S CUSTOMERS HERE.
I'D RATHER HAVE THIS CONVERSATION DOWNSTAIRS.
YOU CAME IN, YOU KNOW, GAVE ME, LIKE, BLOW AFTER BLOW,
YEAH? AND I TOOK IT PRETTY BAD, YOU KNOW?
IRONICALLY, I THINK THAT THAT WAS A REALLY, IN RETROSPECT,
A PRETTY CLEVER WAY OF JUST BATTING ME DOWN SO MUCH
THAT I JUST WAS ABLE TO REALLY LOOK AT MYSELF OBJECTIVELY
AND TO REALLY SEE MY FLAWS.
I THINK NOBODY COULDA DONE THAT BUT A GUY LIKE GORDON.
SMALLER PLATES, IS IT WORKING?
OH, YEAH, YEAH, YEAH.
I MEAN, THE CUSTOMER DOESN'T FEEL LIKE
THEY'RE GETTING ANY LESS.
YOU KNOW, THEY'RE JUST NOT TAKING DOGGIE BAGS OUT.
THAT'S DELICIOUS, MY GOD.
ISN'T THAT NICE?
FLAVOR IS EXTRAORDINARY.
FOR GORDON RAMSAY,
A MICHELIN THREE-STAR-RATED CHEF,
TO COME IN AND GIMME THE PRAISE THAT HE GAVE TODAY--
A SELF-TAUGHT CHEF--
WAS JUST A PHENOMENAL COMPLIMENT.
ONE LAST THING.
VERY IMPORTANT GENTLEMAN I THINK YOU SHOULD MEET.
I'M MAYOR WEINSTEIN. HOW ARE YOU?
I'M JOE TEDESCHI, THE DEPUTY MAYOR.
HEY, JOE, MY PLEASURE.
GORDON TOLD ME HE HAD, LIKE,
ONE LAST THING BEFORE HE LEFT, YOU KNOW?
AND I KNEW IT WAS GONNA BE SOMETHIN' BIG.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING.
AND YOU'RE HERE BECAUSE OF...
HE MAKES GREAT MEATBALLS.
AND SO YOU'RE HERE TO...
GIVE HIM A LITTLE PRESENTATION ON BEHALF OF THE BOROUGH.
A LITTLE PROCLAMATION FOR YOU ON THE BEST MEATBALL,
NOT ONLY IN NEW JERSEY, BUT PROBABLY THE UNITED STATES.
YOU KNOW, JOE HAS PUT EVERYTHING INTO THIS.
IT'S ALWAYS BEEN HIS DREAM.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH. NOW IT'S CERTIFIED.
IT'S BEEN A LONG ROAD,
BUT GOOD THINGS ARE TO COME.
AND ALSO TODAY IS YOUR DAY IN FAIR LAWN FOREVER.
TODAY IS--THAT'S TRUE.
ON BEHALF OF THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL,
TODAY IS JOE CERNIGILIA-CAMPANIA RISTORANTE DAY.
NO WAY.
WAY.
I SAID I'D TAKE YOU THERE.
GORDON COMING IN AND MAKING CHANGES TO MY RESTAURANT,
ACTUALLY TRANSLATED INTO BIG CHANGES IN MY LIFE AT HOME.
NOW I FEEL MORE CONFIDENT
AS A FATHER, AS A HUSBAND, AS A RESTAURATEUR.
YEAH, GORDON'S HAD A HUGE IMPACT ON ME.
THERE'S ONE MORE VERY IMPORTANT THING I HAVE TO SAY.
THOSE MEATBALLS WERE FANTASTIC.
I'VE EVEN GOT A DOGGIE BAG.
I'VE NEVER DONE THIS BEFORE.
STILL TO COME...
WHY IS THIS GUY HERE?
GORDON'S MOST EXPLOSIVE NIGHTMARE EVER.
WHO THE IS HE?
WHO CAN FORGET PETER'S FITS OF FURY...
COME ON, YOU FAKE GANGSTER!
AND HIS SISTER WHO SUFFERED
WATCHING HER RESTAURANT FALL APART?
AT TIMES, I COULD SHOOT EVERY PERSON IN HERE.
WE'LL TELL YOU HOW THE FAMILY IS DOING TODAY...
GORDON RETURNS.
LAST YEAR WHEN GORDON ARRIVED IN BABYLON, NEW YORK,
A SMALL VILLAGE ON THE SOUTH SHORE OF LONG ISLAND,
HE FOUND NUMEROUS ITALIAN EATERIES.
BUT PETER'S, A FAMILY-RUN RESTAURANT,
NEEDED GORDON'S HELP MORE THAN ANY OTHER.
TINA, THE OWNER, WAS IN DISTRESS.
I WANNA CRY OR COMMIT BLOODY MURDER.
HER BROTHER PETER, THE MANAGER, WAS A BULLY.
GET THE OUTTA HERE!
ROBERT, THE CHEF, WAS WORN OUT.
WHEN THE DISHES ARE READY,
THAT'S WHEN THEY'RE GONNA COME OUT.
THE KITCHEN WAS COMPLETELY BROKEN DOWN.
THIS IS MY ONE WORKING OVEN.
AND PETER'S PRIORITIES WERE UPSIDE-DOWN.
INSTEAD OF BUYIN' A STOVE, I BOUGHT A SUIT, YOU KNOW?
HE'S A 250-POUND SPOILED BABY.
THIS ITALIAN EATERY
WAS ON THE BRINK OF BANKRUPTCY.
I'M GONNA KILL MYSELF.
GORDON'S ARRIVAL IN BABYLON GOT OFF TO A SLOW START...
HE SAID HE WAS GONNA PICK ME UP.
WHEN PETER KEPT HIM WAITING NEARLY AN HOUR.
THIS CAN'T BE HIM.
PETER? HOW YOU DOIN', GORDON?
GOOD TO SEE YOU. NICE CAR.
FROM THE MINUTE WE MET,
IT WAS LIKE SUPERMAN ARRIVED.
AFTER YOU.
AND FROM THE MINUTE GORDON SAT DOWN,
HE KNEW THIS DYSFUNCTIONAL FAMILY WAS IN CRISIS.
I'D LIKE TO BE TOLD THE TRUTH AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH.
THIS IS WHY THE BUSINESS IS FALLING APART.
I'M SORRY.
ME.
IT QUICKLY BECAME CLEAR TO GORDON
THAT NOT ONLY DID THIS FAMILY HAVE A COMMUNICATION PROBLEM,
THEIR KITCHEN HAD SOME OF THE WORST ITALIAN FOOD
HE'D EVER TASTED.
THAT'S STONE COLD IN THE MIDDLE,
AND THAT'S NOT FRESH CRAB MEAT.
THAT'S NOT EVEN LOBSTER.
THAT'S JUST LIKE BABY FOOD INSIDE GUNK.
WHEN GORDON DID FINALLY STEP INTO THE KITCHEN,
HE REALIZED THESE CHEFS WERE NEVER GIVEN THE PROPER TOOLS.
WHAT DOESN'T WORK?
ALL THESE STOVETOPS HERE DON'T WORK.
THIS OVEN DOES NOT WORK.
PETER'S A LOT MORE PROUD OF HIS CAR
THAN HE IS OF HIS RESTAURANT.
THEN GORDON INSPECTED THE WALK-IN
AND WAS SHOCKED BY ITS CONDITION.
THERE'S ONIONS GROWING ON TOP OF ONIONS.
THE WHOLE THING'S LEAKING HERE.
WHAT THE IS THAT?
YOU COULD BECOME FAMOUS IN THE NEXT 24 HOURS
FOR POISONING HALF OF BABYLON.
DOESN'T THIS FALL UNDER THE CHEF'S JOB?
THIS IS YOUR FRIDGE IN THE MIDDLE OF YOUR BUSINESS.
AND GORDON REALIZED THAT MOST OF THE RESTAURANT'S PROBLEMS
POINTED TO ONE PERSON.
IT'S, LIKE, BLAME EVERYTHING ON ME.
STOP ACTING LIKE A BABY.
I'M NOT ACTIN' LIKE A BABY. YES, YOU ARE.
YOU'RE JUST THROWING EVERYTHING ON ME.
THIS IS UNBELIEVABLE.
GORDON KNEW HE HAD TO HAVE
A HEART-TO-HEART WITH TINA, THE OWNER,
ABOUT HER BROTHER'S IRRESPONSIBLE BEHAVIOR.
DOES PETER PLAY A PART IN THE FINANCIAL SIDE?
HE'LL TAKE HIS PAYCHECK, BUT NOT COME IN.
I COME IN AND THEY'LL TELL ME,
"OH, PETER TOOK $200."
IT'S LIKE, I DIDN'T EVEN BREAK EVEN FOR THE DAY,
AND HE TOOK MONEY.
I GET SO EXASPERATED SOMETIMES,
SO STRESSED OUT, THAT I WANNA CRY
OR COMMIT BLOODY MURDER.
THAT NIGHT, AS THE STAFF PREPARED FOR DINNER SERVICE...
TONIGHT IS A CRITICAL, CRUCIAL NIGHT.
AN UNEXPECTED BILL COLLECTOR ARRIVED
AND PETER SNAPPED.
GET THE OUT!
I'LL HURT YOU, YOU!
GET THE OUTTA HERE!
BY THE TIME CUSTOMERS ARRIVED, PETER HAD CALMED DOWN.
BUT HE SEEMED TO CARE MORE ABOUT HIMSELF THAN THEM.
GIMME PINEAPPLE JUICE WITH A LOT OF ICE
AND A SPLASH OF CRANBERRY.
IT'S GOOD FOR MY SUGAR.
GORDON KNEW IF THIS RESTAURANT WAS TO MOVE FORWARD
HE WOULD HAVE TO CONFRONT PETER.
I DON'T THINK YOU'VE SEEN A DAYS WORK
IN 20 YEARS.
I--I'VE HAD MY OWN PERSONAL PROBLEMS IN THE LAST--
WE ALL HAVE PROBLEMS.
LET'S START WORKING AT THE PROBLEM.
WHAT'S THE PROBLEM?
YOU, THAT'S WHERE I'M STARTING.
EXCUSE ME?
YOU'RE THE ONLY IN HERE RIGHT NOW
WHO'S NOT PULLING THEIR WEIGHT
AND THAT'S NOT GOOD ENOUGH.
THINK ABOUT WHAT YOU'RE GONNA PUT BACK
INTO THE BUSINESS TOMORROW.
THINK ABOUT IT.
THE NEXT DAY, PETER PROVED NOT JUST TO GORDON,
BUT TO THE STAFF, THAT HE WAS SERIOUS
ABOUT HIS COMMITMENT TO THE RESTAURANT.
WE NEED OUR WALK-IN BOX FIXED.
I'M GONNA BE A TEAM PLAYER HERE.
AND WHATEVER NEEDS TO BE DONE, I'M GONNA DO.
I'M GONNA JUMP IN.
I'M GONNA ASK PEOPLE IF THEY NEED HELP WITH THINGS.
I LIKE THAT SHIRT, BEAUTIFUL.
I EVEN THINK PETER WILL DO HIS PART.
I REALLY DO THINK HE'S GONNA KEEP HIS COMMITMENT.
CONVINCED THAT PETER WAS DETERMINED TO CHANGE,
GORDON REVEALED CRUCIAL IMPROVEMENTS TO THE RESTAURANT.
WELCOME TO YOUR NEW KITCHEN.
OH, MY--HOLY , BRO.
HAVE A LOOK, HAVE A LOOK, HAVE A LOOK.
THE BIGGEST CHANGE?
A BRAND-NEW STOVE.
EVERY OVEN IS WORKING.
OH, MY GOD.
A NEW DOUBLE FRIDGE AS WELL.
WHAT A KITCHEN.
I THINK WE WERE ALL STARTING TO LOSE STEAM HERE AND GIVE UP,
AND HE BROUGHT US BACK TO A SUNNY DAY.
YOUR NEW KINGDOM.
TO PREPARE FOR THE RELAUNCH,
GORDON WENT TO WORK ON THE STATE-OF-THE-ART EQUIPMENT
TO CREATE A NEW MENU.
THERE WE GO.
I WANNA FOCUS ON FAMILY-STYLE DINING.
NEWS OF THE OPENING SPREAD THROUGH THE TOWN
AND THE RESTAURANT WAS PACKED.
LET'S SET THIS UP FOR 14 RIGHT NOW.
COME ON, COME ON, COME ON.
THE NEW MENU WAS POPULAR
WITH THE CUSTOMERS.
I LIKE THE IDEA OF FAMILY STYLE.
THE KITCHEN STAFF HIT ITS STRIDE.
THE BIG TABLES ARE ALL ORDERING FAMILY STYLE.
AND PETER WORKED HARD TO MAKE THE RELAUNCH A SUCCESS.
I THINK EVERYTHING'S GOING SO WELL.
UH-HUH.
WE GOT A TASTE OF HOW GOOD
THIS RESTAURANT CAN BE.
ABSOLUTELY.
AND JUST COMPARING TO WHAT I EXPERIENCED
THE FIRST TIME I ARRIVED HERE,
THE DIFFERENCE WAS NIGHT AND DAY.
THE MAN REINVENTED MY RESTAURANT.
IF YOU CANNOT MAKE THIS WORK, YOU'RE MAD.
TAKE CARE.
I REALLY FELL IN LOVE WITH HIM.
MY FIRST SON IS GONNA BE NAMED AFTER GORDON.
GORDON RAMSAY PELLIGRINO.
GORDON REALLY BROUGHT OUR FAMILY MUCH CLOSER TOGETHER.
NOW THAT A YEAR HAS GONE BY,
IT'S TIME TO SEE HOW THIS FAMILY BUSINESS IS DOING TODAY.
SINCE THE LAST TIME GORDON WAS HERE,
BUSINESS HAS BEEN PHENOMENAL.
WE TOOK, YOU KNOW,
THE FUNDAMENTALS OF WHAT GORDON GAVE US
AND WE BUILT ON IT.
AND WE FOLLOWED WHAT HE DID.
I MEAN, HOW COULD WE NOT?
I MEAN, YOU KNOW, HE'S A PROVEN WINNER, RIGHT?
HEY, WHAT'S UP, T?
HEY, WHAT ARE YOU DOIN'?
WHAT'S GOIN' ON?
HOW ARE YOU? GOOD.
NO, JUST GOIN' OVER SATURDAY NIGHT'S PAGE.
OH, YEAH?
LOOKS BUSY.
I'D SAY THAT BUSINESS PROBABLY HAS TO BE UP
AT LEAST 30, 40%.
WE'RE AT THE TOP OF OUR GAME.
GOOD EVENING, PETER'S.
I AM HAPPY WITH THE STATE OF BUSINESS RIGHT NOW.
I THINK EVERYTHING IS--
I THINK WE'RE ALL REALLY DOIN' OUR BEST.
SATURDAY, SURE, WHAT TIME?
I THINK WE'RE REALLY WORKING AT OUR FULL POTENTIAL.
AND IF THERE'S SOMETHING THAT WE SEE THAT NEEDS CHANGING,
WE CHANGE IT NOW.
HOW YOU DOIN', YOU ALL RIGHT?
VERY GOOD.
AFTER GORDON LEFT, I REALIZED
IT WAS TIME TO REALLY MAKE SOME CHANGES HERE.
THERE WERE FIGHTS EVERY DAY AND ARGUING,
AND THAT'S WHERE ROBERT AND JOHN,
THEY JUST DIDN'T FIT IN ANYMORE.
WHEN THE DISHES ARE READY,
THAT'S WHEN THEY'RE GONNA COME OUT.
MY NEW HEAD CHEF IS FERNANDO.
YOU GUYS ARE DOIN' A GREAT JOB.
WE'RE REALLY BUSY TONIGHT.
EVERYTHING'S WONDERFUL.
IN 20 YEARS IN BUSINESS, I'VE NEVER MET A CHEF LIKE FERNANDO.
HE'S GOT A CALMING EFFECT THAT PUTS YOU AT EASE.
WE'RE GONNA START GETTIN' A LITTLE RUSH NOW.
WE HAVE SOME BIG RESERVATIONS ABOUT TO COME IN.
I THINK WE'RE REALLY HAPPY, EVERYBODY HERE.
THEY TAKE CARE OF ME.
THEY TREAT ME LIKE FAMILY.
HE TRUST ME, AND I TRUST HIM.
THE MORALE DOES STEM FROM THE KITCHEN.
AND FERNANDO HAS A LOT TO DO WITH THAT.
YOU KNOW, HE'S-- AT HIS CRAZIEST MOMENTS,
HE'S ALWAYS AT EASE.
AND THAT TRANSFERS.
THAT GOES FROM THE CHEFS TO THE WAITERS,
AND, YOU KNOW, TO US,
AND BACK TO THE CUSTOMERS.
IT WAS GOOD, YOURS? IT WAS VERY GOOD.
WE USE THE BEST OF EVERYTHING.
EVERYTHING IS TOP-NOTCH FROM OUR PRODUCE,
TO OUR MEAT, OUR FISH.
AND I'M JUST WORKING HARD AND DOING IT THE RIGHT WAY.
AND IT'S JUST, YOU KNOW, WHEN GORDON WAS HERE A YEAR AGO,
I WASN'T PULLING MY WEIGHT.
LET'S START WORKING AT THE PROBLEM.
WHAT'S THE PROBLEM?
YOU, THAT'S WHERE I'M STARTING.
EXCUSE ME?
HE WAS RIGHT.
IT WOULDA BEEN BETTER WITHOUT ME.
IF YOU'RE NOT PART OF THE SOLUTION,
YOU'RE PART OF THE PROBLEM.
AND I WAS PART OF THE PROBLEM.
MY TEMPER GOT AWAY FROM ME IN THIS BUSINESS.
I'LL HURT YOU, YOU.
GET THE OUTTA HERE!
STOP.
AND NOW I'M A MUCH CALMER PERSON.
GORDON SET SOMETHIN' OFF IN MY HEAD,
AND AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT REALLY HELPED ME.
I DO SEE THE CHANGE IN PETER.
HE'LL ALWAYS BE SILLY AND SOMEWHAT
OF A PAIN IN THE NECK, BUT I DO SEE THAT HE DOES CARE.
HOW'S THAT TABLE, A-7, THEY'RE ALL SET?
THEY'RE GOOD.
THEY'RE READY TO ROLL. OKAY, GOOD.
I REALIZED DOING EVERYTHING THE RIGHT WAY
IS MUCH EASIER THAN DOING IT THE WRONG WAY.
AND THAT WAS STUFF THAT GORDON TAUGHT ME.
WOULD YOU LIKE ONE AS WELL, FRANK?
I MAKE A MEAN ESPRESSO.
WHEN YOU'RE HAPPY IN YOUR BUSINESS,
WHEN YOU'RE HAPPY IN THE KITCHEN,
WHEN EVERYTHING IS FLOWING,
IT JUST TRANSCENDS THROUGH THE PLACE.
PEOPLE SEE IT.
IT JUST TRICKLES DOWN.
AND THE CUSTOMERS ARE REALLY HAPPY.
YOU KNOW IT'S GOOD WHEN YOU NEED MORE WINE.
YEAH, I KNOW THAT.
GORDON REALLY POINTED OUT
HOW WONDERFUL THIS RESTAURANT REALLY IS.
HOW LUCKY WE ARE TO WORK TOGETHER.
I THINK GORDON DEFINITELY SAVED US.
HE PUT EVERYTHING IN PERSPECTIVE AND HE CAME JUST IN TIME.
SALUD.
AND I THANK YOU, GORDON, I REALLY DO.
TO FINN MCCOOL'S, YES?
I'M REALLY PROUD.
THEY WERE RESTAURANTS
ON THE VERGE OF DISASTER.
NOW THEY ARE ON THE ROAD TO SUCCESS.
GORDON RAMSAY GAVE ME THAT X-FACTOR,
THAT AURA THAT YOU CAN'T PAY FOR.
I'M STICKIN' TO HIS PLAN, AND WE'RE GONNA GO FORWARD
NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS.
DON'T STOP, PLEASE, DON'T STOP.
IT'S LIKE HAVIN' THE BEST OF THE BEST
TELL YOU YOU CAN DO IT.
A YEAR HAS GONE BY, AND THE IMPACT
OF CHEF RAMSAY'S WORK IS UNDENIABLE.
CHEF RAMSAY GAVE A WHOLE NEW LIFE TO THIS RESTAURANT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, REALLY, FOR EVERYTHING.
HE'S BRILLIANT, YOU KNOW?
HE REALLY KNOWS WHAT HE'S DOING.
BUT IF THEY SLIP UP,
THEY JUST MIGHT GET ANOTHER VISIT FROM CHEF GORDON RAMSAY.
THIS SEASON ON KITCHEN NIGHTMARES...
CHEF RAMSAY IS TAKING ON EVEN BIGGER CHALLENGES.
HERE WE GO. LET'S GO.
TRAVELING... OKAY, HERE WE ARE.
TO SOME OF AMERICA'S MOST DISORGANIZED...
HOW CAN YOU GUYS RUN A BUSINESS LIKE THIS?
IT'S MADNESS!
MOST DISGRACEFUL...
HOW CAN YOU EXPECT FOOD IF YOU COOK IT IN THIS?
IT'S DISGUSTING!
AND MOST DANGEROUS RESTAURANTS YET.
WE GOT MORE COCKROACHES THAN CUSTOMERS!
I FEEL LIKE IT CAN'T GET ANY WORSE
THAN IT IS NOW.
I'M SO SORRY.
I'M CLOSIN' THE PLACE DOWN.
HOW CAN YOU REVIVE A PLACE
THAT LOOKS THIS BAD?
I'M HERE TO MAKE THIS PLACE WORK.
NOW HE'S DETERMINED TO BRING THEM BACK
FROM THE BRINK OF DISASTER.
CHRIS, IT'S COOKED CHICKEN AGAINST RAW CHICKEN!
YOU'RE GONNA KILL SOMEONE!
THEY'RE THE MOST DIRE OF CIRCUMSTANCES.
WE'RE LOSING OUR HOUSES. WE'RE LOSIN' OUR LIVES.
WE'RE LOSIN' OUR EVERYTHING.
THIS IS MY LAST RESORT.
MY WIFE AND I HAVE SPENT OUR SAVINGS,
OUR 401Ks.
WHILE SOME WELCOMED THIS HELP...
I'M HAPPY TO SEE A SMALLER MENU.
I'M HAPPY TO SEE BETTER FOOD.
OTHERS PROVE RESISTANT.
DON'T START WITH ME!
SIR, PUT YOUR HANDS IN FRONT OF YOU.
I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU'RE TELLIN' ME MY FOOD SUCKS.
YOU'RE OUTTA YOUR MIND.
I WOULDN'T TALK TO MY DOG THE WAY YOU TALK TO ME.
GO YOURSELF.
THE HELL WITH EVERYTHING.
I'LL MAKE IT WORK WITHOUT HIS HELP.
WATCH AS CHEF RAMSAY
ATTEMPTS TO TURN AMERICA'S KITCHEN NIGHTMARES...
OH, MY GOD, WHAT A DISASTER.
DISASTER.
BACK INTO DREAMS.
IT'S MORE THAN I'VE EVER EXPECTED.
IT'S A TOTAL FRESH START.
I'M HERE TO HELP. I AM NOT GIVING UP.