Cocaine Princess here.
Today is the first day of spring.
Can you believe this past week we reached double digit temperatures of +14C? HOORAY! It’s not exactly bikini or showing off your pretty pedicured toes in stiletto weather but it still calls for a HOORAY! The birds have finally emerged chirping, the sun is setting at 7:30 and not 4:30, all definite signs indicating the warm weather is approaching. There is even a shift in peoples attitudes. Up here the meteorological conditions have a way of playing with people’s moods. We go through 4-5 months of winter and most people are cheerful during the month of December; the rush and excitement of the Yuletide season, the colorful blinking lights wrapped around trees and the ones covered by snow, you can still see the lights glowing from underneath. The best is the lighted panther statue that sits high on top of the Cartier store. After January 1st everyone begins feeling fed up. Have you ever gone to one of those all you can eat buffet restaurants and you fill your belly to the point where the mere sight of food makes you feel sick? Up here this is how we feel about snow after the New Year arrives. No one wants it around anymore. A simple trip to the mall calls for dressing like you’re trekking to the Himalayas. The only downside to warm weather? Road closures and road construction.
Last night my ultimate and favorite reality show was on and if you don’t know what it is then you haven’t been following my blog, have you?
THE CHALLENGE
The theme last night was tapas style cooking. Chef Ramsay brought samples from his restaurant for the contestants to taste. The challenge for both teams was to create five different tapas out of a tray of left overs and had 20 minutes to prepare. Because the teams were uneven Ramsay sent Giovanni over to the red team.
Danny and Paula.
The winner? Chef Hot Head was so impressed by both he declared them both winners.
Lacey and LA.
Lacey didn’t cook her leftovers long enough and LA, well her meal looked and tasted like it came out of the bottom of the dishwasher. No winners.
Carol and Robert
Carol couldn’t remember whether she used Soy sauce or Balsamic Vinegar. Robert won the challenge.
Andrea and Jay
Gordon again was impressed with two dishes he couldn't
decide so both the red and blue team won.
The tie breaker would be either Ben or Giovanni.
The winner, Giovanni.
The red team was rewarded with a day at the Hollywood Race Track while the losing team had the fun of setting and prepping both kitchens. Lacey spent the entire time complaining she wasn’t being treated like an equal. She broke down and confessed she wasn’t going to compromise her health and happiness for $250,000.
DINNER SERVICE
This is only my second season of watching Hell’s Kitchen but it was the most explosive dinner service episode I have seen.
IT'S ALWAYS THE RISOTTO
Every week there is some type of problem in the kitchen and it always begins with the risotto. Jay’s was mushy and lumpy and that was the least of his problems. Carol from the red team was in charge of the appetizers. Her pasta was so raw Chef Ramsay forced her and Andrea to take their raw appetizers into the dining room and ordered them loudly to eat what they had cooked. The two admitted the meal was grossly undercooked.
Jay from the blue team lost his edge and competed so poorly Gordon not only shouted at him to get out of the kitchen but shocked every contestant by telling Jay to hang up his jacket and go home.
Ben’s beef wellington was prepared in a dirty pan so Ramsay had no choice but to kick him to one side so he could straighten him out Ramsay style. After screaming the usual obscenities and stripping him down emotionally he ended his rant by calling Ben a dirty pig.
THE CHOPPING BLOCK
The worst team of the night was no surprise the blue team. Only 4 people remained and each had to choose a person they felt should leave Hell’s Kitchen. All picked Lacey except for Lacey. She picked Ben.
Gordon was surprised Ben didn’t choose himself because of his poor performance and asked why he didn’t nominate himself?
Ben and Lacey were on the chopping block and both presented their reasons why they should stay.
Who hung up their jackets? No one. Both contestants were spared. The reason? Chef Ramsay decided it was best to give them a second chance because he felt Jay held their kitchen back.
Another piece of proof Chef Ramsay is a little bit of a softee. I still think he acts like a maniac.
My loyal and dear readers it’s finally Friday which calls for a 3rd HOORAY!
Whatever your plans are have a phenomenal time this 1st weekend of spring. -x
XOXOXOXO,
Cocaine Princess
