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Telly addicts

Oh Michel Roux I love you...

59 replies

BellaMagnificat · 27/01/2011 20:43

I do.

Honest.

Anyone else watching? :)

OP posts:
OracleInaCoracle · 29/01/2011 14:52

atin, it is hard. but once you have it in your blood you fall in love. I miss it so much.

ppeatfruit · 29/01/2011 18:11

IMO there are some very idiotic people about aren't there? lissielou do you work in a Fancy schmancy place?

OracleInaCoracle · 29/01/2011 18:48

i have done silver service\fine dining waiting, but the restaurant i managed before ds was born was a kind of up market pub. the service was informalish but i never tolerated sloppiness. we offered to pour wine and trained staff to a v high standard. did some outside catering too (in fact they catered my wedding) i loved it

MaryAnnSingleton · 29/01/2011 19:54

trouble is,it's never respected here,sadly

ppeatfruit · 30/01/2011 09:12

Let's hope Michel is helping to change that MaryAnn .I live in Fr. and London service is treated seriously and as a proper career here. What d'ye think lissielou?

Lollypolly · 30/01/2011 09:19

Love the show, love Michel, love what he's trying to do etc etc. Nearly couldn't watch the episode at La Serre - eaten there and the service is uber professional - the best ever. I bit my nails through the whole service but the trainees (for all their limited training) did very well.

OracleInaCoracle · 30/01/2011 09:25

ppeat, I really hope he will. the popularity of shows like Hells Kitchen have brought the food service industry into the public vision, and theres no doubt that the way that chefs are seen is very different now. I hope that michel will do the same for Front of House. people think that waiting on is something you do when you cant do anything else, its a dropouts job. something that people do to make ends meet. It used to frustrate me.

when I first met dh SIL disapproved of me because I was "just a waitress" but then she came to the place I was working. there is an art to it. my old boss used to say that the best FoHers could charm a complainer into apologising to them, go to a table which wanted to order a glass of house wine and come away with a check for a mid-range bottle and within five minutes have the men half in love with you and new best friends in the women. I used to get really excited when I'd see a waiter/ress who showed a real flair. you need stamina, charm, affability, imagination, instinct and to have good taste buds! things have changed a lot since Ive been out of the game though.

Blackduck · 30/01/2011 17:08

I love fred and how he is gradually taking over!! Thought the chef was lovely to the young girl on the pass 'will you avean espresso with me' and how he told her it would all be fine!
Fab show, and shows how hard it truely is.....

ppeatfruit · 31/01/2011 09:24

it's interesting about napkins isn't it? The 1 starred rest. nr Poitiers that we love does NOT put them on yr lap does anyone else think that that is TOO over the top?

OracleInaCoracle · 31/01/2011 12:34

i think its too over the top. tbh, I never enjoyed working fine dining/silver service. its just a step too far for me. although am watching ep 6 now and I admire their nerve, I would be terrified!

ppeatfruit · 31/01/2011 12:54

Also quite a few 'fine dining rests.' don't do it any more lissie IMO there should be a happy medium!!

ppeatfruit · 31/01/2011 13:05

I don't like the 'hovering' to fill yr. glass i'm never sure who is the beneficiary! i hardly drink alcohol and end up swimming in mineral water IYKWIM!!

OracleInaCoracle · 31/01/2011 13:12

i find that kind of service more intrusive tbh, it makes bothe the server and the servee more uncomfortable.

although watching the silver service brought my training screaming back to me. I learnt using soggy weetabix, baby tomatoes and both cooked and dried spaghetti.

I was shouting at James' response to messing up the checks, he made Ashley look like an idiot and didnt take responsibility. although Ashley lost control. I really like Brooke though.

kittykitty · 31/01/2011 13:16

I've met Fred and he's as enthusiastic and passionate about good service as he seems on the TV. I particularly like the fact that it's not all about kicking someone out each week, but trying to get all the participants through the programme.

ppeatfruit · 31/01/2011 13:26

you're so right kittykitty. The producers on T.V. ATM seem to think unless it's a strict competition we won't be interested. I hate 'me too' programmes they should come on here!!

OracleInaCoracle · 31/01/2011 13:54

i like the fact that we have seen the trainee's develop over the weeks and each finding their own niche.

i love fred. he reminds me of a restaurant manager I once knew, he was italian and saw service as an art, waiters were actors!

ppeatfruit · 31/01/2011 17:07

Yes me too lissie yr manager was quite right IMO there's acting in most jobs that are in the public eye and dancing too in waiting! I say that as a teacher and ex dancer!!

LetThereBeRock · 31/01/2011 20:06

I adore Fred too.He's so lovely,if a little nuts.Grin

brillopads · 01/02/2011 18:38

Watched the repeat of this on BBc 3 last night- 1st episode I've seen. What's the craic with the trainees, is it like Jamie Oliver; are they all from disadvantaged backgrounds or summat?

ppeatfruit · 02/02/2011 08:31

I'm not sure of the criterion he used maybe someone elsa knows? brillo i know he chose from over a thousand people.

OracleInaCoracle · 02/02/2011 14:43

i think he just chose those who were unemployed and had potential. looking forward to tonights!

bluebump · 03/02/2011 20:56

Anyone watching tonight? I really enjoyed this series.

Blackduck · 04/02/2011 07:18

Fanastic end - so glad Ashley got it and good on Brooke!

justagirlfromedgware · 04/02/2011 10:32

Fantastic show. I never knew there was so much to front of house, although it proved to me again why I chose to clean houses rather than wait at tables when I was a student! I'd never have had the stamina, or the steadiness. And Michel Roux should be used as a model of good management. He never laid into the candidates, but they knew very well when they'd got it wrong and clearly didn't want to disappoint him. And what a wonderful result all round, particularly Ashley (I shed a tear along with him). Great that they told us what they're all up to.

OracleInaCoracle · 05/02/2011 00:01

oh, justr watched the final. Im a bit disappointed (but not surprised) that James got one. the blonde girl fluffed the interview. if you tell a potential boss that you never finish, you're kippered. but Im so, so happy for danielle (she'll do well) ashley (who will be a star, he's got the personality) and brooke - who I think got the highest accolade. Fred liked her so much that he offered her a job! she didnt need the scholarship!