Restaurant Makeover
 

I just wanted to put in a little plug for one of the shows that my company makes... Restaurant Makeover (http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/show_mr). It just started its run on Food Network US.

I am really proud of this show. I am also quite pleased with the sale to the US. It is the first show that Food US has acquired (rather than produced themselves) in years. For those of you in Canada, the second season is already playing on Food Network Canada.

Check it out if this is your sort of thing...

Personally, I've watched most of the Restaurant Makeover episodes and found the whole transformation process to be quite interesting. Would really like to see an episode where the existing owner of a restaurant wants to complete change the restaurant from one theme (e.g. italian) to another.

Why is there a maximum restriction of only $15K from the owner? Is your company involved with the Opening Soon series as well?

By the way, Cherie Stinson is very attractive.

The episode where they do Montana (a huge club/restaurant) gives an example of where the owner goes from cheesy cowboy to something upscale and urban. The owner also give them more than 15K. The 15K limit, which we match (mostly in labour) is just a managable number. I think it is set buy the budget of the show on the whole. The show is actually quite costly to produce as we don't do things on the cheap.

...and we aren't affiliated with the show Opening Soon.

Sorry to change the topic, but whatever happened to Matchmaker? Is the show still producing new episodes?

We stopped producing Matchmaker when Life Network stopped ordering new episodes... It is currently airing in over 100 countries around the world.

There is talk that we might be producing more episodes for US Syndication...

My Wife and I quite enjoy it. What stands out for me, is that it actually has enough substance and content to fill the hour. Where other shows bulk up on nervous testimonials, wacky host antics, egos and the looming deadline,(OH GOD, WHAT IF WE DON"T FINISH ON TIME? NOOOO, NOT THE DEADLINE!), RM actually focuses on the execution of the new menu, design plan, construction etc.. All that activity falls neatly into an hour.

The Silk Road restaurant redo was amazing.

I just watched the show tonite-- where they redid a place called Grapefruit Moon... How this place wasn't shut down by the board of health is beyond me - the roach nests were disgusting.. the deep fryer sludge was disgusting.

The makeover was different-- not my style - but at least it looked clean... THe owner couldn't have been less grateful...

though the chef who redid the menu was way too pretentious and snobby.. yeah the cook was a buffoon but...

It's a neat show

Fresnelly... I agree about the show and Silk Road. I used to walk by that place before the makeover and think... not so much. It is amazing what a little make over can do for a place. After the makeover, he has experienced more full houses and actual line ups than ever.

Mal... Grapefruit Moon. She was a real character to be sure. Sadly, I don't think the designer really paid all that much attention to what was there before. Sure she didn't get any direction from the owner but the Citrusy compilation she designed in no way reflected the existing decor.

As for the chef... yes, he is really an ass. Many chefs are just talented folks with very big egos.