Who’s Your Daddy: I am falling deeper and deeper into my fascination with Gordon Ramsay and Wednesday night I saw a different side to this tantalizing tyrant: he became Daddy.
His Mission: Gordon was sent to rescue West Islip, New York’s formerly fabulous Seascape Inn that has fallen into a decrepit coma since its owner passed two years ago. Son Peter and widow Irene have managed to run the joint on their own…into the ground. This place was ripe for the Ramsay touch with a putrid smell, rotten siding and the worst kitchen hygiene we’ve seen since the show started airing the American version.
The Problem: The common denominator in all of Gordon’s pet projects has been an ineffective manager or owner. In this case flaccid depressive Peter has been unable to take the bull by the horns because dear old dad never gave him a compliment, and his overbearing Greek mom seems to have severed his sack a few years back. This meeting with Ramsay provided Peter with the encouraging hammer he has wanted and needed all these years and Gordon even takes the chap boxing. Peter had a distracting welt on the end of his nose that was making bile rise in my throat throughout the hour, so I have to admit it was a little hard to get through this one.
Kicking Ass: Gordon is strong, confident and decisive. He knows what he wants out of a restaurant, a kitchen, cooks and managers, and when he sees a place run by a weak owner and a conceited chef it has to make his British blood boil. Realizing cocky cook Keith and his sous chef Charlie are carelessly churning out one diarrhea pile after another sends the chef into drastic action and he calls on Peter to fire them both. Peter slinks into the kitchen and says, “OK…you guys don’t have to come in tomorrow.” Wow buddy! Way to bring the hammer down!
Post Ass-Kick: They get the message, a new guy comes in and the restaurant is packed for its relaunch. After a few stumbles Peter learns to take charge and whips the lazy waitresses into shape. The Seascape Inn looks like it is set to sail into glory, but alas the final credit of the show informs us that Peter has sold his birthright to the highest bidder which had to infuriate short fused fire crotch.
Was It Something They Ate: The producers of the show must get so angry when they sink all that hard work and money into a place only to have it sold months later. Oh well Peter, maybe your new money will buy you what you really need…a loving male therapist who looks just like Gordon.
