Chef cinq étoiles

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.

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.

...between what types of chef they wanted and who they chose to compete. It almost felt like they had picked the chef already, they just wanted to put the others through the paces for the drama. Sure, there's always drama in these shows but the quality of the chefs to start seemed so much less talented than the winner. There's NO way a 5 star famous restaurant is going to hire a chef who got lucky or unlucky on any given cooking day. Also, I spent two weeks in London in March 2024, this show must have sucked up all of the spices, salt and pepper included because I saw none. Some of the most tasteless food on the planet so I just don't trust the judges (tho Rav on junior bakeoff is a treasure).

I was really looking forward to this when I saw the legendary Michel Roux Jr. Was in this.

I have to preface this by saying I do not like reality shows (and can't stand the Food Network) I only like cooking competitions where they can cook a lot better than me and/or are high end pros...like Masterchef Pro, UK and Great British Menu.

What a disappointment. It has that cheap production theme of most reality shows, highlighting more on the quirks of the contestants rather than the food. The judging was kind of okay, but lacking in some way. Could be it felt over dramatic...an air of arrogance or insincerity, imo. Some of the challenges struck me as slightly low brow. I think one of them was for an "influencer" (omg...kill me now)

I also have a very difficult time believing Michelin starred Chef Roux is going to let a newly christened winner really be head chef of an off shoot restaurant under HIS reputation at the Langham!

I watched it, but FFWD most of it, just to see the winner.

I always love watching Michel Roux. And I thought, these must be really top chefs to be considered for this position. But they are not. I can't believe any one of them could run a 5 star restaurant at a luxury hotel. I don't think the winner will be there for long. I certainly would not pay a fortune to eat that person's food. I kind of didn't believe it. The whole thing was kind of stupid. Very inexperienced chefs. I don't understand, why one has to write such long reviews on here. It's really stupid. What more should I say? Michel Roux did not look best pleased, and I understand him. A joke.