It's only Hell if you let it be

I just finished watching the season premier of Hell's Kitchen. Personally, I prefer Kitchen Nightmares. Gordon Ramsey, in all his iconic fury does have a point in going nose to nose with unhygienic ignorant miscreants. I've had the misfortune of working with a few of those.

The problem with Hell's Kitchen is most people think it's not realistic or at least not as realistic as Kitchen Nightmares, and after the last two seasons I was inclined to agree. But this season ( I know it's only been one episode so far) has been as realistic as I've seen.

Now, rest assured, I'm not the type to go swearing and screaming (well, not swearing, at least), but Gordon Ramsey is as real as they come. I've been on both the receiving and giving end. All chef's have a certain air about them when it comes to food. Nothing is perfect enough. We are true artists in the fact that when customers say it is perfect, we sigh and say it never will be. And when the customers say that it is crap, we chefs will proudly say it has always been perfect from the start and the customer is, in the words of Mr. Potatohead in Toy Story, an "uncultured swine!"

Working in a professional kitchen is like being in the Army. There's a chain of command that must be followed or good men and women will die. The Drill Sargent does his best to break the "maggot's" spirit so the soldiers will learn respect and listen to the sargent. When they do that, they live. If they don't listen, they will die in the heat of the battle.

Think of the John Wayne movie "Sands of Iwo Jima". The Duke's character, Sgt. Striker was reprimanded for beating a private for disprespecting his authority. The private later, while on the island of Iwo Jima, was responsible for the deaths of two of his platoon-mates because he didn't listen to his sargent.

In the kitchen, the chef teaches, leads and orders. If the grunts on the line don't listen, the kitchen goes down. It's all about discipline. It's not that Gordon Ramsey is an egotistical hothead (Ok, well he is a chef. But still!), he's working the wanna-be chefs until they cry, because then, and only then will they understand what it takes to be a kitchen general. The general has to be tough. Has to command respect. Has to look his minions in the eye, say nothing, and watch the little runt quiver in fear. The minute the general lets his (or her) guard down, that private, who has asperations of being a general, will take advantage. When that happens, there's nothing left for the general to do but retire because the battle is lost.

The problem with the contestants on the show is they all are green, freshly shaven grunts in boot camp that think they are the next best thing in a toque and chef's coat. One even called himself a cooking God. Those are the ones that will get themselves and those around them killed in action. The ones that listen, the ones that sacrifice themselves for the cause are the ones that ultimately rise to that top spot.

So, is Gordon Ramsey vile, rude and egotistical? Sure...but he's right.