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Attn Foodies - Chopping Block premieres March 11

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Posted February 6th, 2009 by DiveGrl65

OMG...I just saw the promo for the new NBC show Chopping Block. If you are a fan of Top Chef or Hell's Kitchen you must watch this show. The chef is Marco Pierre White from England. If the stories are true he made Gordon Ramsay cry and threw a pot of poorly executed risotto at Mario Batali when they each worked for him. I believe he was the first British chef to earn Michelin stars. He abruptly left the culinary world several years ago and was host of the BBC version of Hell's Kitchen before Gordon Ramsay brought it across the pond. If it lives up to the hype, it ought to be a great show.
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Posted February 6th, 2009 by TonIsntGayShesBILIARIOUS

You had me at "new cooking show" lmao so I did a little digging...

"It's too soon to say for sure, but the show looks like "Top Chef's" fan favorite competition, kitchen wars, meets Gordon Ramsay's "Hell's Kitchen" meets "Chopped." It's just the latest TV show to join the cooking competition party (and the latest to use cleaver-as-logo).

But what do you think? Are you planning on tuning in?

Here are more details from NBC:

"The Chopping Block" will expose the unseen pitfalls and behind-the-scenes madness that goes into opening a restaurant. ...

The heat is on when White ushers the couples -- split into two teams of four couples each –- to two empty restaurant spaces, side by side, in the middle of Manhattan. ... Both establishments will open at the same time and will be competing for the same customers -- against 26,000 other restaurants in the world's busiest (and hungriest) city.

In each episode, noted food critics will be assigned to observe the chaos that inevitably unfolds on opening night, and after the dust has settled, White will return with the reviews. The worst-performing team will have to plead their case -- because one couple will be asked to remove their aprons as they are sent home.

There's the suggestion that these couples will soon be driven to the edge -- and perhaps clawing at each others' throats -- as Marco says: "You can never allow emotions into your judgment."

Interesting...concept reminds me of Last Restaurant Standing
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Posted February 6th, 2009 by JoyGiveItOnUpToHomelessville

Just what I need, to get hooked onto another show. Thanks a LOT ;)
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Posted February 6th, 2009 by DiveGrl65

I will definitely be watching. Ive heard of Marco Pierre White from reading books like Anthony Bourdain's Kitchen Confidential and Don't Try This At Home (which I think has the story of Mario Batali and the flying risotto)seen him on TV (I think it was a No Reservations episode) so I am very intrigued to see how he comes across on TV. He was a bit of a wunderkind with a short temper when he was younger but he may have mellowed. It will all depend on the editing I guess. I still say Ramsay isn't as mad as he is on Hell's Kitchen since I've seen all his BBC shows and it's like he's a different person on those.

I thought of the Last Restaurant Standing show as well but didn't think many people would know the reference. I guess you're as much of a foodie/reality junkie as I am LOL