I can't even start with a chef that can't even know how to cook something basic. Why are you pulling a chef that is that incompetent? Darling, he's not in the slightest bit of interest of fucking making it work, he doesn't give a fuck about his cooking, doesn't give a fuck about you, and he's here for one thing and one thing only: money. And the only restaurant that fucking guy will ever get a job is in a restaurant that doesn't have any customers. If you've got any chance of surviving here, get rid of him. What are you scared of? Talk to me.
Where am I going to find another chef?
Drew. What's wrong with Drew?
Drew, I think can carry it on.
No, no, just wait a minute. Jeremy come here.
The whole thing is, this isn't the first time you've let us down. I just can't do it. I know but I just can't do it. You guys get your paycheck every week. Jeremy and I never take a dime out of here.
EErick
We understand that.
I know but I mean, the whole thing is not going to work because you...
EErick
Okay so what do you want to do?
We're going to part ways.
EErick
Okay that's no problem. Dammit! I fucked on that deal.
(interview) He couldn't pull off lunch, couldn't pull off dinner and so we just had to let him go. You know I can't do this.
[8:30 AM, day two - kitchen inspection.]
Last twenty four hours was one of the toughest days ever spent in a restaurant. Last night, we did get rid of the chef which was a positive move. Now I need Drew to step up to the mark, Jeremy to support his mother more...I got here early so I can check out the place properly. With no interference.
[Inside the refrigeration unit]
Jesus... Christ almighty, where do we start in a place like this? [looking at a roast beef] Roast beef, dating back when? [looking at meat that has been defrosting] What is that there? Just meat defrosting, again no sign of what it is. [looking at a parma ham that is moldy] Fresh parma ham, it's caked in mould. This is outrageous. [he touches the base of it, and it stuck on his hand] Look at it. It sticks in your fucking hand, it's that rancid. [looking at a rack of ribs] Woh, fucking hell. That's just over three months old. [he smells it] Jesus Christ almighty. Oh God. [he leaves the fridge and gags over a bin]
After witnessing one of the worst kitchen walk-ins he has ever seen, Gordon moves on to an area outside the kitchen that restaurants are judged upon - the bathroom.
One of the best ways to check the hygiene of any restaurant is always through these bathrooms. Turn that [a blue UV light] on, and turn the lights off. Right, this can be quite scary. [he checks out one of the walls] Oh my good God. Green and yellow identifies bodily fluids. Any form of bleach or any form of cleaning will be identified through the colour blue, but the body fluids on here is extraordinary. [he checks the ceiling] Look, as high as the ceiling, oh my God. Even the ceiling's caked in it, OH MY GOD! This is shocking. [a sign reads "Wash your heads"] Wash your hands, yeah. Honestly, I've seen enough. Let's get the fuck out of here.
(to Nylah) Having a dirty refrigeration unit is one thing. Having a filthy bathroom is something that fucking scares the hell out of me.
[They went to the bathroom.]
This thing here [the blue UV light] detects body fluids. Just have a look at this.
That's body fluids up there?
That there has got nothing to do with any form of cleaning. Look at the fucking state of this. Green, green, green, green, green. And here's where it gets really scarry.
[The UV light is shown towards the ceiling.]
How the hell did it get up there? (interview) It looked like somebody may have peed on the ceiling, the walls, the doors, you know. It could be a throw-up. I can't even imagine, you know. And it made me sick, I didn't even want to touch the door-knob coming out myself.
LLaura
This is Cheryl, this is my manager.
And you manage the kitchen and the front of the house?
CCheryl
Um, front of the house.
CCheryl
...and I do catering as well.
What's wrong with the place?
CCheryl
Lack of customers...
So why have we got lacking the customers?
CCheryl
We need more customers, we need to figure out how to get more people in here...
(covering his face with his hand in disbelief) Ok. Thank you, and you're the manager?
Oh my God...! A manager that didn't even know what's wrong with the restaurant is scary.
[during after-lunch meeting]
What’s with the defense mechanism?
(laughs) Oh, my God. Don’t you get defensive if somebody comments on your food like that?
I don’t cook shit like that.
(Ashton has hand over mouth in surprise while CeCe shakes her head in disbelief)
When was the last time somebody complained about the food?
Mm-hmm, and what did they say?
And were they right or they wrong?
No, they’re right. But... you’re off the wall with what you’re saying.
Here’s the difference between you and me: I listen for feedback. You can’t handle it. I came here because you asked me to come and help you, and your reaction to me telling you something quite constructive in a very calm manner is a joke.
Ok, so you want me to be your fucking puppet?
Why are you shouting? Why—
Because you’re pissing me the fuck off!
So shut the fuck up and talk properly. Is this the way you react when I’m not even here? (to the staff) Is this an old procedure when— it is, yeah?
Oh, you’re gonna get your fucking ass kicked.
Oh, there you go. Madam, you have an attitude problem. I‘m not too sure which is worse: the food, or the attitude.
(to the staff) Ooh, can I hit him now? (to Gordon) You know, a lot of people said you were a jerk; I think I believe it. Anything else?
(dismayed with CeCe’s attitude, Gordon then turns to leave the restaurant)
Fuck this. No fucking way. What a sad case.
[After a disastrous dinner service, CeCe and Gordon are sitting on a bench outside the restaurant]
You all right? (CeCe is sobbing) No, come on.
(CeCe continues sobbing)
I can’t start to even attempt to help unless you come to terms with the problem, and that is the food.
Come on! This is not a game for me!
It’s not a fucking game for me; this is my life! It’s not a joke for me! Don’t start saying that; it’s not a joke! It’s not a joke for me. I care! If I didn’t care, I wouldn’t fucking be here, so stop saying I don’t care! Just stop, please.
What I’m trying to tell you is that you have to come to terms, internally, that there is a huge problem and that is with the food.
(interview) Nobody wants to hear that anything that they do sucks. I don’t like to fail. Death would be better than failing.
It’s certainly not a sign of weakness to admit your failings. I’ve closed three restaurants but I also have a number of successful ones. One-thousand, six-hundred and fifty members...
A “jerk,” you told me earlier.
Stop acting like a petulant teenager! I’m not gonna stand there and be a doormat for you to take the piss out of me. Let’s get one thing right: you asked me here and I’m here to help, so let me in.
Okay, the food sucks. There, you happy?
There’s a problem with the way the food is prepared, there’s a problem with the way the food is ordered, there’s a problem with the way the food is not respected... I’m sorry, CeCe, but it’s just not good enough.
(CeCe sobs some more)
[Gordon turns around and sees Q, who used to work at Sebastian's]
QQ
How are you doing sir?
(to Q) Wait a second. (to Nylah) I recognise this man.
(to Q) Your first name is...
Possibly one of the most difficult, arrogant, jumped-up owners I have met in my entire life.
QQ
I thought you'd say that.
What the hell are you doing here?
I've never been to a Japanese restaurant where I can have a pizza... sushi style... and a chef owner that's no longer in the kitchen. I'm nervous.
Um... that's the sushi pizza?
AAshleigh
It sure is. It's rice, salmon, crab, and mayonnaise... some cheese...
Wow. Thank you darling. Japanese pizza? (Takes a bite and spits it out) Sorry. That... is rancid.
AAshleigh
(In an interview) Chef had fair warning that it was going to be terrible. (laughing)
AAshleigh
I told him not to get it!
[Gordon is not impressed with the lobster bisque]
It looks like the lobster was dead before they cooked it.
The lobster's from the tank.
JJerry
You want to take a look?
[Gordon goes to take a look]
Gordon [points]: Is he dead?
JJerry
No, I think they're just sleeping.
BBalbina
We keep a good eye on them.
You keep a good eye on them? Surely not. [pulls the "sleeping" lobster out of the tank] He's fucking dead. A dead lobster!
[Gordon meets Dominick, thinking he's the owner]
You look live you've been in this business for thirty years.
What were you doing before that?
[after doing a double take] So it's you and who?
DDominick
Colleen and Naomi. They own the place.
DDominick
I'm actually going out with Colleen.
You're going out with Colleen?
Oh, so you're going out with one of the owners?