original photo: Cody Austin

If you are going to watch TV you might as well make it something productive. Television does have some great things to offer the restaurateur. Cooking shows have always been a pseudo reality television. You venture into someones kitchen and watch and they share tips and recipes. The recent batch of reality TV programing is far more voyeuristic. We get to see the problems and issues that face some restaurants and shown fixes for their problems. All within an hour long time episode. Amazing – if only everything could be fixed so quickly.

What to Watch – As we all know there are many cooking shows out there. I have spend my fair share of Sunday afternoons watching KCTS Cooks and listening to George Ray enjoy every plate . . . but I digress. My focus here is on shows that focus on the restaurant industry, shows that can teach us something about marketing, renewal and management.

Restaurant Make Over – Watch on HGTV & Food Network Canada

Why You Should Watch: Canadian, Igor is amazing, Food & Interior Design!
Warning! – Jazzy intro music is catchy and addictive!

Kitchen Nightmares – Watch on Fox
Why You Should Watch: Gordon Ramsey, Drama, Simple solutions big problems.
Warning! – Lots of swearing & attitudes on display.

Top Chef – Watch on Bravo
Why You Should Watch: Padma Lakshmi, Won an Emmy, Famous guest judges.
Warning! – Lots of product tie-ins and promotions.

How to watch & Must have items:

• Open mind – the mistakes that people make might seem obvious but examining case studies of where people went wrong could keep you on the path to profit and not applying for one of these shows!
• Pen & Paper – always have your idea notebook handy (you do keep one right?) taking time to relax and enjoy television is great but if you stumble upon a great idea you want to remember it and be able to act on it when it comes time to work again.
• PVR or VCR – most likely you will not be home when these programs are on. Appointment television viewing does not mesh well with a restaurateur. Record these programs and watch them when its convenient for you.
• Perspective – I love how it seems that these shows manage to get everything done over night. Restaurant Makeover embraces the contractor / designer struggle, Kitchen Nightmares ignores it all together and things just magically happen. There are budgets and teams working behind the cameras. Remember this before you get inspired and take on your own fix.

If you are new to these shows you have a lot to catch up on as most of them are into multiple seasons. If this list is old hat, why not catch up on some reading!

• Restaurant Makeover is the “kiss of death”
• Gordon Ramsey Gains Two Michelin Stars
• Daily News – http://eater.com/

- Ben / S&P Media