If you are not familiar with the Stratford Chef School in Stratford, Ontario, Canada, then this series will be doubly interesting for you.
In some ways, it resembles 'Top Chef,' a cooking competition which eliminates chefs as the series progresses toward the final episode and the grand prize. There are a few important differences, however:
I recommend this series to anyone interested in cooking. You won't learn much about techniques or even recipes. The criticism of student performance is more what I think is standard for culinary school - with a 'finishing school' twist to it.
In some ways, it resembles 'Top Chef,' a cooking competition which eliminates chefs as the series progresses toward the final episode and the grand prize. There are a few important differences, however:
- some of the students have very little (even no) cooking experience in a professional kitchen
- there are no cash prizes. In fact, the students pay tuition for a two-year course in this prestigious school.
- the students are less preoccupied with the task of explaining themselves to the camera. You learn about them by watching them in action in the program. Their gossip about each other, the school, and the instructors is more informative than anything they could present to the camera.
- some live together in a house, some are local and live at home.
- the problems they bring with them to the school are surprisingly well-tolerated by the instructors, who give them second chances, interview them about problems they may be having at work and at home, and still manage to grade them fairly on what they have been learning and doing in the school
- the viewers see astounding progress. The final episode was a real surprise to me. Some of the personal dynamics of the students surprised (even shocked) me. The instructors seem fairly stodgy compared to these 'kids,' with one exception. You'll have to watch the series to find out which one!
I recommend this series to anyone interested in cooking. You won't learn much about techniques or even recipes. The criticism of student performance is more what I think is standard for culinary school - with a 'finishing school' twist to it.