Marco Pierre White’s entrance onto the North American scene through a poorly conceived and executed vehicle has come to an end. Last Thrusday NBC pulled the plug after dismal ratings.
For my part I have to admit that I watched the show (in fast forward) and found it to be an attempt to compete with Gordon Ramsay and Hells Kitchen. I worry that through no fault of his own Marco Pierre White has become victim to NBC’s continual effort to regain its glory days.
I hope that Marco Pierre White will not take too much grief as a result. I don’t believe he was anything more than the star of a vehicle. Americans need to see this great Chef for what he is and not only as he has been portrayed; an over opinionated bully with exceptional culinary skills. He is much, much more than that.
So while I feel as if the Chopping Block did deserve to be on the chopping block I hope that Marco Pierre White finds a new vehicle which fits his character and skills so that people in this part of the world can understand the sometimes mad but always culinary genius that is him.
Marco himself said; “I do not perform for a camera. I am myself. I'm a great believer if you do reality TV then you have a duty to put reality into TV. If you don't do that, then what you're doing is questioning your integrity.”
Are you dreaming big and inspired?
A la prochaine
SDM
Showing posts with label The Chopping Block. Show all posts
Showing posts with label The Chopping Block. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Saturday, March 14, 2009
The Chopping Block (file under clearly American)
The Enfant Terrible. The Icon. The multi starred Michelin Chef who gave it all back. The dreamer. The tactician. The Cook. The man. I’m speaking of course of Marco Pierre White.
This week a new show premiered on NBC called “The Chopping Block,” with Marco Pierre White at the helm. I have to tell you I was hoping for more of Chef White. The premise is quite simple, teams of two, one front of the house and one back of the house, are integrated into bigger teams and given their own restaurant to run. In the show opener they are given their spaces which are nothing but shells which they have to clean up and get ready for service the next day. While at the same time preparing a dish for Chef White to determine who was going to be Head Chef the next night for service.
While I like the concept of the show, despite the gastronomic explosion and appetite for all things Chef around the world, I think that ultimately it is going to fail. But maybe I am wrong. Which is too bad. When Chef White speaks I listen intently. While at the same time I think that the people there do not necessarily for a whole myriad of reasons.
Ultimately the winner is going to get two hundred and fifty thousand dollars to open their own restaurant. Having watched the first episode I can tell you that if it was anyone other than Chef White who was the key to the show I would not watch. It is on the short side of boring, save for when he is on the screen.
I’ve given it a chance. I might still record it so that I can fast forward through it to the parts which he is on the screen. Other than that I feel as if the Chopping Block is probably going to find its way to the cutting room floor. Which is unfortunate because more Americans should know about this great Chef.
Marco Pierre White once said; " Looking back, I realize that it was my love of nature which gave me the understanding of natural ingredients. Mother Nature [sic] is the true artist, and the chef is merely the technician. "
Are you dreaming big and inspired?
A la prochaine
SDM
This week a new show premiered on NBC called “The Chopping Block,” with Marco Pierre White at the helm. I have to tell you I was hoping for more of Chef White. The premise is quite simple, teams of two, one front of the house and one back of the house, are integrated into bigger teams and given their own restaurant to run. In the show opener they are given their spaces which are nothing but shells which they have to clean up and get ready for service the next day. While at the same time preparing a dish for Chef White to determine who was going to be Head Chef the next night for service.
While I like the concept of the show, despite the gastronomic explosion and appetite for all things Chef around the world, I think that ultimately it is going to fail. But maybe I am wrong. Which is too bad. When Chef White speaks I listen intently. While at the same time I think that the people there do not necessarily for a whole myriad of reasons.
Ultimately the winner is going to get two hundred and fifty thousand dollars to open their own restaurant. Having watched the first episode I can tell you that if it was anyone other than Chef White who was the key to the show I would not watch. It is on the short side of boring, save for when he is on the screen.
I’ve given it a chance. I might still record it so that I can fast forward through it to the parts which he is on the screen. Other than that I feel as if the Chopping Block is probably going to find its way to the cutting room floor. Which is unfortunate because more Americans should know about this great Chef.
Marco Pierre White once said; " Looking back, I realize that it was my love of nature which gave me the understanding of natural ingredients. Mother Nature [sic] is the true artist, and the chef is merely the technician. "
Are you dreaming big and inspired?
A la prochaine
SDM
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