chgoeditor wrote:I do think that one of the judge's perceived weaknesses of Sudhir ("He's a starter, not a finisher," and specializes in launching businesses) is one of his biggest strengths! He's a business person, and he's done it before.

I literally yelled at the TV when Bobby Flay said this.

I'm sure he's always in his burger restaurants and the LV outpost of Mesa Grill expediting and making sure that everything is up to his exacting standards (that is, when he's not filming this show, his Food Network show, and God knows what else).

jesteinf wrote:I literally yelled at the TV when Bobby Flay said this.

I'm sure he's always in his burger restaurants and the LV outpost of Mesa Grill expediting and making sure that everything is up to his exacting standards (that is, when he's not filming this show, his Food Network show, and God knows what else).

Don't forget those promos for Build the Perfect Sandwich using Hellman's mayo. Did you get the recipe for egg salad? The one where he mixes hard-boiled eggs with mayo and celery??

Pie Lady wrote:Don't forget those promos for Build the Perfect Sandwich using Hellman's mayo. Did you get the recipe for egg salad? The one where he mixes hard-boiled eggs with mayo and celery??

OMG...I missed that recipe! Can you post it for me?

Pie Lady wrote:

jesteinf wrote:I literally yelled at the TV when Bobby Flay said this.

I'm sure he's always in his burger restaurants and the LV outpost of Mesa Grill expediting and making sure that everything is up to his exacting standards (that is, when he's not filming this show, his Food Network show, and God knows what else).

Don't forget those promos for Build the Perfect Sandwich using Hellman's mayo. Did you get the recipe for egg salad? The one where he mixes hard-boiled eggs with mayo and celery??

I've never seen those, but it sounds like the Disarrono commercials that had recipes for drinks like "Disarrono and cranberry juice" (hint: it involved pouring Disarrono and cranberry juice over ice).

chgoeditor wrote:

jvalentino wrote:I am surprised that the judges are spending so much time doubting if America is ready for Indian food. Maybe it's just me but I think it's ready for prime time and has been for a couple years. I also think Spice Coast makes the most business sense as far as the person that would be running the company.

I suspect that there may be a a direct correlation between proximity to city with a large Indian population & love of Indian food. Are people in Chicago ready for Spice Coast in the Loop? Of course. And I have no doubt that Spice Coast would succeed in LA & Manhattan (even though the restaurants will be in very touristy locations). But I don't know whether Minneapolis has a large Indian population (maybe someone else does) and I've never been to Mall of America, so I have no idea of the average visitor demographics.

Point taken, but you could make a smilar if not as strong argument against Soul Daddy. Also, in my off and on experience Minneapolis is a better food city than most would think-Indian population aside.

Does anyone see Brooklyn Meatball Co winning this? Not me.

jvalentino wrote:

chgoeditor wrote:

jvalentino wrote:I am surprised that the judges are spending so much time doubting if America is ready for Indian food. Maybe it's just me but I think it's ready for prime time and has been for a couple years. I also think Spice Coast makes the most business sense as far as the person that would be running the company.

I suspect that there may be a a direct correlation between proximity to city with a large Indian population & love of Indian food. Are people in Chicago ready for Spice Coast in the Loop? Of course. And I have no doubt that Spice Coast would succeed in LA & Manhattan (even though the restaurants will be in very touristy locations). But I don't know whether Minneapolis has a large Indian population (maybe someone else does) and I've never been to Mall of America, so I have no idea of the average visitor demographics.

Point taken, but you could make a smilar if not as strong argument against Soul Daddy. Also, in my off and on experience Minneapolis is a better food city than most would think-Indian population aside.

Does anyone see Brooklyn Meatball Co winning this? Not me.

Brooklyn Meatball Co? No way...and if it does, I will go eat one of his meatballs the next time I'm in Manhattan (which would be a shameful waste of calories in a city with as many good eats as New York).

Good point about Soul Daddy.

Maybe the question is, which has more "gateway" dishes that might initially entice someone to come inside? Even if collard greens & chitlins aren't your thing (& no one's suggested that chitlins are on the menu), ribs, cornbread & coleslaw wouldn't scare off the average person in middle America, I assume. On the Indian front, we probably shouldn't discount the power of Trader Joe's, which has a dozen or so frozen & shelf-stable Indian meals available. At the very least, tandori chicken, naan & samosas might attract people who have no prior Indian dining experience. And, as much as it hurts me to say this, the Mexification of Spice Coast does help them because it makes them more approachable.

Finding 20 or so locations where either of the three concepts would work should be relatively easy. That may be 17 more than they will need though.

Good gawd! This show is the mother of all train wrecks.

Great snarky points above about the ridiculous crowd in Las Vegas, the crazy red faces (Grillbillies' chef looked like he'd been repeatedly dipped in a vat of acid) and the potential 'tacobility' of each and every contestant's food.

My 'favorite' thing about this show is watching and listening to the judges/investors repeatedly tripping over their own dicks. Some moments, it's only the food that matters. Other times, it's strictly about the viability of the concept. They contradict themselves every 2 minutes to suit whatever point it is they're trying to make. I also love when they assess the contestants' moral worthiness and humility.

Speaking of which, there were some prime panderrific moments in this week's episode, too. Responsible meatballs?! You've got to be fucking kidding me. I don't know what's worse, that it was even mentioned or that it was brought up -- seemingly out of the blue -- in the penultimate episode.

Perhaps I'm not a diligent viewer but it seems like the only contestant whose profession they ever show is Stephanie's, the Chicago-based attorney, (may her ill-fated effort rest in peace). Do these other folks not have jobs? I cannot recall once ever seeing what any of them do for a living. I know times are tough and I'm certainly not passing judgment. If someone's unemployed, just say they're unemployed. There's absolutely no shame in that. Whatever, maybe I just missed it.

I think I'd rather dunk my head into a tank of piranhas than be in business with Chipotle guy. And Lorena, could you have worn a sluttier or more ill-fitting dress? If Americans love this show, there's no way they could possibly recognize quality food. Oh, wait . . .

=R=

ronnie_suburban wrote:Perhaps I'm not a diligent viewer but it seems like the only contestant whose profession they ever show is Stephanie's, the Chicago-based attorney, (may her ill-fated effort rest in peace). Do these other folks not have jobs? I cannot recall once ever seeing what any of them do for a living. I know times are tough and I'm certainly not passing judgment. If someone's unemployed, just say they're unemployed. There's absolutely no shame in that. Whatever, maybe I just missed it.

I think they've mentioned that Sudhir worked for Google (or another big tech company) and the Hot & Cold guy was in the restaurant business.

I have a sneaking suspicion that the reason no one's profession is mentioned is because some of these people may be actors/reality tv wannabe celebs. I read a blog shortly after the show started -- and for the life of me cannot find it again -- written by a woman who auditioned & it was clear that she had no actual interest in opening a restaurant and was only interested in the celeb aspect of it. (Seriously, can we even call an E-list reality star a celeb?) The woman who wrote this article said this wasn't the first reality TV show she'd auditioned for (and I seem to think the others were NOT food-focused).

Edited to add: And while some may be aspiring actors, I don't think anyone's an aspiring model (unlike Amazing Race, etc.). Seriously...make-up! I've never seen so many unattractive, thin-lipped, red-faced people on a single TV show.

chgoeditor wrote:

ronnie_suburban wrote:Perhaps I'm not a diligent viewer but it seems like the only contestant whose profession they ever show is Stephanie's, the Chicago-based attorney, (may her ill-fated effort rest in peace). Do these other folks not have jobs? I cannot recall once ever seeing what any of them do for a living. I know times are tough and I'm certainly not passing judgment. If someone's unemployed, just say they're unemployed. There's absolutely no shame in that. Whatever, maybe I just missed it.

I think they've mentioned that Sudhir worked for Google (or another big tech company) and the Hot & Cold guy was in the restaurant business.

I have a sneaking suspicion that the reason no one's profession is mentioned is because some of these people may be actors/reality tv wannabe celebs. I read a blog shortly after the show started -- and for the life of me cannot find it again -- written by a woman who auditioned & it was clear that she had no actual interest in opening a restaurant and was only interested in the celeb aspect of it. (Seriously, can we even call an E-list reality star a celeb?) The woman who wrote this article said this wasn't the first reality TV show she'd auditioned for (and I seem to think the others were NOT food-focused).

Edited to add: And while some may be aspiring actors, I don't think anyone's an aspiring model (unlike Amazing Race, etc.). Seriously...make-up! I've never seen so many unattractive, thin-lipped, red-faced people on a single TV show.

A couple more that I remember: Grill Brillies, Saints and Sinners, The Taco Guy all worked in various areas of the restaurant industry, though none of them are chefs. Joey is an investment banker, or something similar I know they showed it in the last episode. Soul Daddy, he might actually be unemployed, or at least working for himself; he has mentioned multiple times selling his food out of his house.

SSDD

This is probably a stupid question. I may have misread a lot of these posts, but it must be asked. Are the judges really trying to make every concept into tacos?

Pie Lady wrote:This is probably a stupid question. I may have misread a lot of these posts, but it must be asked. Are the judges really trying to make every concept into tacos?

No, only the Chipotle guy.

=R=

chgoeditor wrote:

Pie Lady wrote:Don't forget those promos for Build the Perfect Sandwich using Hellman's mayo. Did you get the recipe for egg salad? The one where he mixes hard-boiled eggs with mayo and celery??

OMG...I missed that recipe! Can you post it for me?

The secret ingredient is bullshit.

Pie Lady wrote:The secret ingredient is bullshit.

I'm still waiting for an Iron Chef contestant to pack a bag of organic, locally-sourced, sustainable marijuana to use in their food.

ronnie_suburban wrote:

Pie Lady wrote:This is probably a stupid question. I may have misread a lot of these posts, but it must be asked. Are the judges really trying to make every concept into tacos?

No, only the Chipotle guy.

=R=

But I think it was either Bobby or Curtis who seemed insistent a couple weeks ago that a restaurant couldn't succeed unless all dishes could be eaten while walking down the street. In other words, a sandwich, taco, wrap or finger food.

I'm amazed I can even respond to this thread any more, since my eyes keep rolling into the back of my head over the nonsense these "expert investors" spew.

I still want to know where all of these people are who walk down the street while eating (tacos or otherwise).

I love that my wife keeps referring to Curtis Stone as Clive (and she doesn't even do it on purpose).

=R=

I don't even watch the show, but this thread is a gold mine.

Independent George said:

]I don't even watch the show, but this thread is a gold mine.

It's a Public Service. The hours this thread has saved us that we'd have otherwise squandered . . . *weeps with gratitude*

Independent George wrote:I don't even watch the show, but this thread is a gold mine.

This thread is probably 90% of why I'm even still bothering to watch the show.

Anyone looking for behind the scenes talk can check out The AV Club's recaps. The grilled cheese guy has been posting since he was booted in episode 5 under the handle EricPowell. You can see his specific posts via http://www.avclub.com/users/ericpowell,80552/ or in context starting with this recap: http://www.avclub.com/articles/episode-five%2C54007/

He doesn't say too much that would change anyone's mind about the terrible-ness of the show but in case you were wondering if he's let the dream die, he hasn't. He's still hard at work getting MeltWorks up and running. Possibly with dipping sauces.

Didn't Chicago used to have a grilled cheese restaurant? And a mashed potato restaurant?

I should have auditioned. My idea was to have a doughnut shop that sold international doughnuts all year round. Paczki, zeppole, semlor, sufganyiot and on and on, all made from authentic recipes that have not been "Americanized", with the appropriate accompanying drinks and sauces, if any, as well as coffees and teas.®

jesteinf wrote:

Independent George wrote:I don't even watch the show, but this thread is a gold mine.

This thread is probably 90% of why I'm even still bothering to watch the show.

Ding ding ding!

Pie Lady wrote:Didn't Chicago used to have a grilled cheese restaurant? And a mashed potato restaurant?

I should have auditioned. My idea was to have a doughnut shop that sold international doughnuts all year round. Paczki, zeppole, semlor, sufganyiot and on and on, all made from authentic recipes that have not been "Americanized", with the appropriate accompanying drinks and sauces, if any, as well as coffees and teas.®

Phew... you knew enough to include appropriate dipping sauces. That's the real key to successful 'fast casual' concepts!

Well, some doughnuts are meant to be eaten with syrup or whatnot. But I don't know what it is with dip—it's like everyone'e been reduced to toddler stage.

danimalarkey wrote:Anyone looking for behind the scenes talk can check out The AV Club's recaps. The grilled cheese guy has been posting since he was booted in episode 5 under the handle EricPowell. You can see his specific posts via http://www.avclub.com/users/ericpowell,80552/ or in context starting with this recap: http://www.avclub.com/articles/episode-five%2C54007/

He doesn't say too much that would change anyone's mind about the terrible-ness of the show but in case you were wondering if he's let the dream die, he hasn't. He's still hard at work getting MeltWorks up and running. Possibly with dipping sauces.

Thanks for those links...the commenters there are possibly even snarkier than we are! My favorite was the commenter who said he's going to audition for season 2 pitching a dipping-sauce restaurant that serves nothing but dipping sauces (served, of course, in containers that can easily be carried/dipped into while walking down the street).

Everything TV club related at avclub is outstanding, especially the commentators. Love that place.

Independent George wrote:

Pie Lady wrote:The secret ingredient is bullshit.

I'm still waiting for an Iron Chef contestant to pack a bag of organic, locally-sourced, sustainable marijuana to use in their food.

Now if they'd combine this "secret ingredient" with the dorm room cooking challenge on Top Chef Masters, we'd have something!

I am just so glad you all are watching too ... the makeup is my favorite part esp when Sudir's face and neck turns red first on one side then the other ... it's all rather psychedelic.

The make it all a taco obsession also fascinates me - why does mr chipotle want competition?

and how good does the food need to be if apparently each of the three locations will be in a mall food court? perhaps an upscale food court but ... a mall food court?

That said ... walking across from Xoco today I noticed a big "Coming Soon" for a place called Bombay Spice that looked like moderately fast food in concept ... and wondered if Sudir lost and is opening, perhaps with his bf Chicago Stephanie under another name.

So wait a minute...if Joey actually wins, his South Street Seaport location will compete with another nearby meatball restaurant?

(OK, 2 miles away, which isn't really nearby in NYC terms. But still!)