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"The team works overnight to remodel the restaurant."
This page is under construction.
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People[]
James-General Manager
Portia-Cook
Tyrone-Cook
Dwayne-Waiter
Tina-Waitress
Before Gordon's Arrival[]
Blackberry's is a soul food restaurant located in Plainfield, New Jersey. The owner, Shelly, is convinced that the food and the décor are spectacular. Shelly was a successful caterer before. She and her parents put all their money into their dream. Shelly has no idea why they are failing. Shelly doesn't listen to any criticism. There are 16 people in the kitchen, and there's no system or leadership. Shelly has racked up $200,000 in debt. Her mother Mary decides to ask Gordon to come.
First Impressions[]
Gordon walks up and says it's in a great location. After meeting a few people, Shelly comes out just as he's criticizing the decor. He learns that the young GM James is Shelly's fiancee.
First Meal[]
Food Ordered[]
- Collard Greens
- Smothered Pork Chop
- Mac and Cheese
- Chitlins
- Red Velvet Cake
Impressions of the Food[]
Gordon deemed the Smothered Pork Chop dry and the Mac and Cheese bland and mushy, and asked if the smothered pork chop and mac and cheese was microwaved. He then commented on the Collard greens how they were bland and soggy. The Chitlins were commented as "shitlins" and he asked the waiters to pray to God before he tasted them and ended up spitting them out and getting sick and vomiting in the bathroom. The only redeemable thing on his order was the Red velvet cake made by Shelly's mother, Mary, saying that it was delicious.
First Dinner Service[]
Gordon goes into the kitchen. He meets the team and relays his concerns. He asks who the head chef is, and Shelly says she is. Gordon challenges her to prove it. Gordon returns for dinner service and finds a mouse. They claim they just had an exterminator in there, and James goes so far as to claim Gordon brought it in himself. So Gordon takes James for an investigation, but James just reiterates his claim. Gordon calls a meeting. Shelly says James told him about the mouse he "planted" for the TV show (Kitchen Nightmares). Gordon threatens to leave, but Shelly tries to beat him to the punch and end their participation in the show, but she is overruled by her mother Mary, who has just spoken to her husband and Shelly's father on the phone. James backs down from his claim and apologizes to Gordon. Gordon decides to stay and the service begins. Gordon sees they have a pizza oven and a wok which puzzles him. Mateen the sous chef agrees with Gordon, which earns his respect. Shelly inefficiently yells at Mateen and Portia, and Gordon can clearly see that Shelly can't run a kitchen. Food comes out very slowly and isn't even close to worth the wait.
Reflections[]
TBA
Remainder of the Visit[]
The next day, Gordon gathers the whole staff. Mateen and Portia both say Shelly doesn't trust anyone even though they're all capable. Dwayne takes it a step further and says she not only does that, but uses people in the wrong roles. Shelly loses her patience quickly and starts firing back and tries to shut Dwayne up and even tries to fire him, but Gordon stops her. Mary says Shelly doesn't listen to anyone, to which Gordon supports her and says they need to all have an open and honest dialogue. Shelly has nothing to say to this. Mary emotionally says she is 72 years old, and she'd better listen to Gordon. Gordon takes everyone back into the kitchen and reveals he has replaced the equipment with equipment that works and he's gotten rid of the wok. Mary is moved by the gesture. Next, Gordon tries to implement some structure. He tasks Mateen with leading the kitchen.
Restaurant & Menu Remodel[]
Gordon's design team remodels the restaurant, complete with new tables and chairs, and no more hanging records. Shelly approves of the changes, and Mary is once again moved. Gordon redesigns the menu with some new items, which he says modernizes the soul food concept. Shelly once again approves, and the staff as a whole enjoys it.
Final Service[]
Mateen's turn to lead begins, and it gets off to a good start, both inside and outside the kitchen. Shelly's phone rings, it's her father, and she starts to ignore Mateen, which Portia finds insulting. Gordon tries to settle her down, but instead Shelly commandeers the kitchen. Mateen accuses Shelly of not wanting Gordon's structure to work, even though it's been proven to work. Shelly decides to just leave as Gordon fights to put Mateen back in control. Mary is highly disappointed. Shelly's absence at least allows Mateen to take back over control, and the kitchen rebounds. Gordon talks to the staff one more time, but Shelly's still not there. Gordon finds her in the office, but she refuses to talk to him. Mary implores her to come out to no avail. Gordon thanks the rest of the staff and praises them for not giving up. Gordon says soul food is personal for him because one of his first Kitchen Nightmares in the UK was a soul food place. Mary promises they won't let Gordon's help go to waste. Gordon tries once again to talk to Shelly, she again refuses. Gordon leaves, praising Mateen's talent and passion.
After Gordon's Departure[]
Despite how she treated Gordon at the end, Shelly embraced Gordon's changes, seeing that they work. Blackberry's as of June 2022 is temporarily closed. Mateen left and is now a chef for a company that runs the food at Newark-Liberty International Airport.
Production Notes[]
TBA
Trivia[]
TBA
References[]