Gordon Ramsay's 'Kitchen Nightmares' returns to Cafe Hon

[Spot72]

Chef Gordon Ramsay, whose visit to Hampden's Cafe Hon in the fall of 2011 helped diffuse the tension from owner Denise Whiting's attempt to trademark the word "Hon," returned to see just how much good his earlier visit accomplished. The "Kitchen Nightmares" episode featuring the return visit airs Friday.

Many area residents and one-time customers -- infuriated over Whiting's attempt to control what they viewed as a unique piece of "Bawlamerese" -- had been boycotting the business and pillorying its owner. But after Ramsay and his "Kitchen Nightmares" crew visited and Whiting went on the radio to drop her trademark attempts and apologize for making them in the first place, things quieted down considerably.

Ramsay, who never met a restaurant challenge he didn't relish, also suggested some decor and menu changes. The episode chronicling the show's initial visit aired in February.

http://www.baltimoresun.com/features...,2056023.story

[demopublican]

I hope he brings a bulldozer.

[RavnFreek]

Talk about trashing a good thing. That woman had a money maker and a community that was on her side. Then she tried to trademark Baltimore and as predicted everyone turned on her. THe show just made her look like a whiney bi%ch. Her crying was fake and her apology was only to save her business. I'll never take my money to that place.

[Spot72]

Talk about trashing a good thing. That woman had a money maker and a community that was on her side. Then she tried to trademark Baltimore and as predicted everyone turned on her. THe show just made her look like a whiney bi%ch. Her crying was fake and her apology was only to save her business. I'll never take my money to that place.

She's back for round two, I guess she sees this as any press is good press.

[RavnFreek]

I hope she goes out of business and a real local business who cares about the community takes its place.

[Jeebus]

Maybe Ray Lewis can start a BBQ joint.....oh, nevermind.

[dogstarman]

The first time around I was expecting the usual reaming that Ramsay gives to the Nightmares restaurants he goes to. Aside from the "Hon" thing, he was quite restrained and was not nearly as harsh as he usually is on food. In particular, he actually liked the crab cake and there were no hygiene issues in the kitchen.

Now I am curious what this second take is all about. Although I haven't been there in years and don't intend to because the place is basically a tourist trap, the drama has been interesting.

If Ramsay had wanted to really pop a blood vessel, he should have done a show a little bit up the street to that incredibly filthy tex-mex place, holy-frijoles.

I do wish there was more focus on good restaurants in Baltimore. There are quite a few of them that span all prices and styles even in/near Hampden like Dogwood, Grano, Woodberry, and Corner BYOB.

[Costanza]

The first time around I was expecting the usual reaming that Ramsay gives to the Nightmares restaurants he goes to. Aside from the "Hon" thing, he was quite restrained and was not nearly as harsh as he usually is on food. In particular, he actually liked the crab cake and there were no hygiene issues in the kitchen.

Now I am curious what this second take is all about. Although I haven't been there in years and don't intend to because the place is basically a tourist trap, the drama has been interesting.

If Ramsay had wanted to really pop a blood vessel, he should have done a show a little bit up the street to that incredibly filthy tex-mex place, holy-frijoles.

I do wish there was more focus on good restaurants in Baltimore. There are quite a few of them that span all prices and styles even in/near Hampden like Dogwood, Grano, Woodberry, and Corner BYOB.

No ratings in visiting a properly run and successful restaurant.

[KSweeley]

Can't wait to see this follow-up episode, I want to see if Gordon Ramsay becomes pissed off with Denise Whiting or not and if Denise kept the changes that Gordon made to Cafe Hon or if Cafe Hon is still losing money.

[yuca]

It seems like there's always some Cafe Hon controversy around the holidays. Free publicity goes a long way, I suppose.

[The Astute Reader(tm)]

Th Cafe Hon looks alive and well to me in spite of all the whining noises.

[yuca]

If whining doesn't make any difference, maybe you should stop. LOL.

[The Astute Reader(tm)]

I defer to your searing wit.

[bmore_ken]

Th Cafe Hon looks alive and well to me in spite of all the whining noises.

I still don't get the hate for the woman.

[The Astute Reader(tm)]

The self-impressed and the woefully uninformed (often one in the same) seemingly need to go on a good witch hunt from time to time.

[yuca]

I still don't get the hate for the woman.

I think you have to be a resident of Hampden to understand. Putting myself in their shoes, I think many of them feel that she represents the worst of gentrification.

It's one thing to set up a business in the neighborhood that charges high prices and pokes fun at the local population, while at the same time driving everyone's property taxes up. She crossed a line when she tried to make it so that no one else could profit from using the Baltimore term of endearment, and actively tried to enforce the trademark. Lying on her federal trademark application, claiming that no one else was using the mark, also went too far.

As far as I'm concerned, most of her wounds are self-inflicted. And while I can understand the hate, I think the level of hate has gone too far.

[bmore_ken]

I think you have to be a resident of Hampden to understand.

That might explain it

[yuca]

That might explain it

I'd say that most of the people who hate her live in the neighborhood. They're certainly the most passionate about the issue.

From what I understand, she's done a lot of things to piss off the locals. I don't know the full extent of her actions, though.

[KSweeley]

Saw this episode, apparently Cafe Hon is doing good and Gordon Ramsay is happy with what's going on at Cafe Hon. Hampden was described as "a suburb of Baltimore" last time I checked, Hampden is part of Baltimore City, not a "suburb." City Councilman Nick Mosby even visited Cafe Hon and gave Dense a City Council Proclamation that recognizes her and Cafe Hon.