By RODNEY HO/rho@ajc.com, originally filed August 29, 2011
Do you want to see irascible, tart-tongued TV chef Gordon Ramsay up close and personal? He'll be in town the week of Sept. 5 to try to fix two restaurants for his Fox show "Kitchen Nightmares."
He'll first stop by Michon's in College Park, which has been around for 21 years, according to its website, and features seafood and smoked meats.
Ramsay and the show producers will be shooting at Michon's Sept. 5 to 8. The reservation email address is collegeparkrest@gmail.com
He will then travel to Park's Edge in Inman Park, which provides contemporary cuisine.
The show will be at Park's Edge from Sept. 9 to 12. The reservation email is inmanparkrest@gmail.com
On the surface, Park's Edge does not appear to be a restaurant that needs help, based on reviews.
One of our Food & More bloggers Jenny Turknett in January visited Park's Edge and liked the food. So did 80 percent of reviewers on UrbanSpoon.com.
Here's how the restaurant itself markets itself:
The menu offers an enticing array of dishes imagined from Old and New World flavors, made bold by the unique arrangement of spices inspired by the kitchens of Executive Chef Jorge I. Pacheco's Latino upbringing. Inspired by the history and warmth of the small neighborhood where it is nestled, Park's Edge is an oasis for those seeking an elegant and contemporary venue to sample delicious cuisine and seductive cocktails. Join Jorge and Owner Richard N. Wadlington for a unique and memorable evening out in Atlanta.
Nine reviewers on Yelp.com gave Michon's an average of three stars out of five.
During production, the two restaurants won't be able to take reservations by phone because producers have to turn phones off while shooting.
Curious to see if Ramsay can help both restaurants and whether the subsequent publicity will boost business. This is the show's first time in Atlanta.
"Kitchen Nightmares" has been, at best, a moderate success for Fox, falling short of the ratings of Ramsay's better known competitive reality show "Hell's Kitchen." The last episode of "Kitchen Nightmares" May 23 drew a mere 3.86 million viewers on a Friday night, but its 18-49 rating that night was by far the best during the 8 p.m. hour. Despite the show's modest ratings, Fox obviously likes Ramsay. He is the only personality on the network who appears on three different shows: "Kitchen Nightmares," "Hell's Kitchen" and "MasterChef."
"Nightmares" is currently shooting its fifth season, which appears to be scheduled for the mid-season. About 44 episodes have aired so far, not counting "revisited" episodes in which Ramsay checks in on restaurants months or years after he originally came to fix things.
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By Rodney Ho, rho@ajc.com, AJCRadioTV blog
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