One wasted food topic gaining steam on the blog charts is the squandering on the Fox show “Hell’s Kitchen.” The show has celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay runs 12 would-be restaurateurs through a Survivor-like wringer to find the chef who’ll run a Las Vegas restaurant.
TV-centric bloggers have noted the waste in an episode recap. Others recapped the ‘no waste lesson’ Ramsay gave his charges in week one. Apparently, that lesson didn’t take, as host and contestant continue to squander plenty of food.
The more culturally oriented, have commented outright on the waste:
I’ve been obsessing lately about all the Beef Wellingtons that get wasted on Hell’s Kitchen (Fox)…It’s criminal how many Beef Wellingtons have been sacrificed in the name of entertainment.
With the chatter so loud, I had to check out Hell’s Kitchen recently. I didn’t last long because the show’s so unwatchable, like “American Idol” but with just one surly judge (what’s up with Americans’ fascination with getting reamed by a salty Brit?). Yet, I stuck around long enough to see Gordo crush an “undercooked” scallop into one chef’s chest. Lovely.
I was going to suggest that America’s Second Harvest make a media savvy play to be the official food recovery agency of “Hell’s Kitchen,” but there’s no recovering smushed scallops or burned Beef Wellingtons. Maybe that’s how the show got its name.
19 Comments
Tonight I was watching Hell’s Kitchen – and disgusted by the waste of food, went looking for someone as outraged as me. Your blog is all I found. A post from 2007 no less! Well, I agree with you, and thanks for speaking out.
But I can’t believe thousands of people watch this show every week and don’t even think about it. Oh wait… sadly, yes I can.
i have to admit, i enjoy the show in small doses. however, i am very bothered by the fact that it seems they waste an enormous amount of food, and expensive food at that. i thought, surely they salvage as much as they can and give to the needy. but like athena, this post is all i have found. it’s rather disgusting and i’m sure if starving people were to see that they would probably weep. any ideas of how we can insight change on this issue?
I agree 110% people need to WAKE UP and GIVE THANKS for the LIFE that was sacrificed to go on your plate.
First episode of 2011 , how many wasted wellingtons, I’ve seen 3 so far.
Also watching today’s episode. It’s almost painful to watch all that food slide down from the plate to the garbage bin. It’s almost as if they really want you to take notice of it as well.
I think Gordon Ramsay is great and I actually love his shows but I can’t shake the guilt when I see the waste of food…it’s bad. I’m posting in the hopes that others will continue to make noise and that eventually it will reach the right ears. The producers of these programs are in a position to not only minimize the waste but even possibly do something really great for people who would be only to grateful to enjoy this caliber of food and cooking. Bottom line, there are people starving. This kind of waste is just not ok.
I am happy to see others feel as I do regarding this outrageous waste of food. But why are we just blabbing, why aren’t we doing something about it? I’m going to start with the network and send them my feelings, and it won’t be pretty. Of course, they make so much money why should they care about my feeble communiqué? But at least it’s starting somewhere. Why don’t all of you, too, send a letter to someone? That’s how things change. Their habit of tossing food at the camera and directly into the waste bin is an absolute sin. When I think of the poor animals who, unwillingly, gave up their lives for this, I want to go postal. Please write to someone. Strength in numbers!
Okay, my last post of the subject until I hear from the producer, but this is what I wrote to them. Please write, too. It will make a difference:
“Just got done reviewing a few blogs because I wanted to see if there are people out there that feel as I do about the waste of food on the Hell’s Kitchen series. And there are TONS of people who are disgusted!
We all want to know why you do this and all feel it is a shame. How can you allow this to occur? Ramsey’s habit of tossing food at the camera and directly into the waste bin is an absolute sin. I’m very surprised that the networks allow you to do this. I would like to know your thoughts and your plans for eliminating this rediculous waste, or to terminate the show. This waste is unacceptable and is very horrible of you to do. If you don’t do something about it, I will see that something IS done.
Food supplies worldwide are dwindling as the human population explodes. Do you have no sensitivity toward this? No awareness or respect for food?
I just watched the new season of Hell’s Kitchen and was wondering ‘where does all that food waste go to?’
So I googled ‘Hell’s Kitchen food waste’ and found this! I think someone need to do something about it. I mean it’s food! Good food! While they’re wasting food, people are starving elsewhere! OMG.
I just want an answer to my question, where will all that food waste go to??? Even the ‘medium rare’ steak that doesn’t fulfill the ‘medium’ standard are still edible!!!
Gosh…
Not sure now Athena jumps to he conclusion that because SHE can’t find a blog, nobody thinks about it. Explain your logic to us, oh wise one Athena!
I agree wholeheartedly. I actually really liked the show at first, but I just can’t watch it anymore. I refuse. It’s shameful to see perfectly good food disrespected like that. Especially meat. Especially by one of the richest countries in the world, while so many are starving, or working hard their entire lives but who could still never afford to eat something so fancy. It’s a slap in the face to billions of people. Have some dignity, Fox.
I think athena came to that conclusion because there is so few blogs with the same feelings. Its now 2012 and the new hells kitchen started and i am once again disgusted with the food waste. once again i google food waste hell’s kitchen and find very little websights, and when i do, posts are a year or more older. Just like the gas prices, no one cares. It takes EVERYONE to rebel or strike for it to change. If everyone on this websight quit watching hell’s kitchen, it WOULD NOT change a thing. Its a sad world we live in.
Hell, the camera people alone MIGHT be able to make a little difference if they bitched about having to go to the cafeteria instead of eathing 12 dollar a pound scallops in the garbage.
I like to watch Hells Kitchen and Master Chef, BUT I am so angry that both shows WASTE a lot of food. Just last week on Hells Kitchen, I couldn’t believe how many scallops were thrown away. Those are NOT cheap!!!! I can see if the food that they are preparing is under cooked, but over cooked, give me a break. Just because its a little burnt, they throw it away. I think they should have a container for “good enough to eat” food to donate to the homeless because those people could care less if the food is over cooked or not. We should all ban together and contact both shows and demands that they make some changes or not buy any of the sponsors products.
I absolutely love hells kitchen! I too though was wondering “what’s up with the food being tossed?,so I googled it and only ended up he
re to a sight full of wonders like me. no facts found yet? I’m hoping those barrells we see them tossing food into every week actually are marked for donations! They have to be! If anyone find
s out what’s up please give a shout out.Curiositykills the cat! Honestly I’mure nowadays producers of reality shows take that all into consideration
I am discusted by all the waste on hells kitchen. I cant believe this blog is all i found about it… I mean, I was hoping they would do SOMETHING with that good food even if its giving it to animals or anyyything other then the trash omg. it makes me sad.
I thought for sure there had to be some form of donation of the food which is why I never gave thought to the “waste” on the show!!! I for one love the show and think surely there could be a shelter near by or some way of putting the food to good use! I mean hell I doubt they care if the Wellington is medium rare not medium!! hopefully something is done!! But like a pervious bogger thought not surprisinig in a culture like ours I do however expect more outta chef Ramsey he seems to care about people in general.
it makes me sad to see food go to waste when so many people are starving ! isn`t there someway this food could be packaged and donated to a homeless shelter or somthing?? im sure those famalies would appreciate the delicious meals!
Do you guys think that Hell’s kitchen is the only one who waste food? What about Ultimate cake off? What do they do with the cakes once it’s over? Or any other reality tv show that’s about food?
Also why not write to the show’s producer instead of bitching about it here? And talk trash about Hell’s Kitchen
I agree completly . They waist too much food and dont seam to give a dam either. That food could feed alot of hungry people. I am just shocked that Gordan ramsey has not even thought about this.