Five Star Kitchen: Britain's Next Great Chef

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.

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.

I never go out of my way to criticise or put down but this show has to be a joke.

Michael Roux Jr your father inspired me when I was learning to become a chef reading his books and studding his techniques.

So I was excited and looking forward to watching 10 amazing chefs create stunning and spectacular dishes, only to be let down / disappointed by the lack of talent cooking right in front of you.

The chefs chosen for Junior MasterChef Australia (12 years old) would have out-performed these so-called chefs.

Mr Roux, you should have fired your chefs on episode 1 and put another ad in the local news paper.

I want devour the outcome but you won't be surprised at how stupid it is.

...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).

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.