Chef cinq étoiles

The first episode wasn't bad. When I started the second and saw a $21,000 taco...I lost it. A taco is not good because it's covered with gold leaf. This episode is completely out of touch with today's society, even with those who enjoy fine foods. Even the best ingredients in the world, would not be worth that much without the gratuitous addition of edible gold leaf. Couldn't even watch to see what the competing chefs came up with; and I am sure the Judges will come up with some criticism, not only to move the shoe along, but in comparison with the edible (but tasteless) gold leaf.

I, apparently, have to add words since I can't submit a review with fewer than 600 words.

Stereotypical reality competition. Melodramatic music constantly playing to try to make you feel tension. *Heavily* edited to manipulate your perception of the reactions of the judges and contestants -- sometimes the jump cuts are so bad, they show someone frowning in reaction to something, but then the next shot shows them laughing and smiling in what you can see is their *actual* reaction. Just the cookie-cutter reality formula with an exaggerated sense of self-importance because, oooo, 5-star restaurant. It's like a hundred other reality competitions. Some people will love it. I, however, am tired of this formula.

This has been done so many times before and so much better. These chefs are a long way from being anywhere near the top of the game, more like amateurs than anything.

The challenges aren't interesting and the luxury one was bordering on offensive while the quality of the cooking was very variable throughout the series.

Editing was poor with accidental shots of cameramen and obvious jumps between what was happening in the kitchen and contestant / judges facial expressions.

And it was oh so very predictable. In the episode when one candidate made a mistake and had to spend the entire service correcting that mistake, leaving the others to manage the pass on their own, and nothing was really said about it everyone in my household knew they were the intended winner.

Disappointing, no season 2 please.

It first had me at "there must be a hidden gem somewhere"... only to completely lose me immediately after that.

"epitome of luxury five-star hotel", "start their empire and be worth millions", "the most expensive thing I'll ever make", "they need to make money".

Five star five star five star blah blah blah (I know it's in the title), concept concept concept, money money money blah blah blah. It's the most infuriatingly cheugy thing I've seen for a while. It's like the Dubai-influencer kind of a show. Yes, I know restaurants are businesses, and fine-dining is expensive but guys... come on, have a wee bit of class? You can be bougie all you want, but not cringey and cheugy at this level? And I know it's a competition reality show, but you can't go shark tank all the way? After all, cooking still needs some artistry, authenticity, soul and personality, not just bling.

It's extra troubling to learn about the report of Roux paying kitchen staff below minimum wage. Just imagine that in your head, in 2023, when economic inequality is horrendous, some employees are scraping by just to have something to eat, while someone is gorging on caviar for the "five-star" lifestyle at the expense of the said employees.

The only saving grace is the cheftestants who seem like genuine people striving to meet the "five star" - whatever that means - brief.

Unfortunately, I just couldn't like it. The menus were average most times and didn't focus on the flavors, just on concept, concept, concept. It was unimpressive. The winner was a bit of a one trick pony and final service menu was hypocritical at best. Funny how the lady judge, wanted a female to win, and the black judge, a black guy. Wow, surprise, surprise on the identity politics.

The final winner couldn't command a kitchen and heaven help them when they start running the restaurant for real. All I saw was average, youtube menus with constant blathering about 'my culture'! That will only get you so far and if you aren't versatile, you're gonna fall flat.

Another Netflix Hard Pass.