Bam! Emeril's a winger.

[KamaAina]

http://theweek.com/article/index/268690/speedreads-emeril-lagasse-i-have-nowhere-to-go-really--other-than-broke

Chef Emeril Lagasse shot to fame as the host of a popular Food Network show that encouraged amateur chefs to try their own hands in the kitchen. But despite being one of the most recognizable celebrity chefs in the country, Lagasse's outlook on his future as a restaurateur — and the restaurant industry in general — is fairly grim. "I have nowhere to go, really — other than broke," said Lagasse at a recent event promoting his upcoming TNT reality series On the Menu.

"It's becoming a very challenging industry to become a very successful average restaurateur," continued Lagasse. "I can't charge $300 a person in my restaurant or I would not be in business. Am I using any different ingredients? Not really. Am I using any caliber of service staff? I don't think so. I think our service is as good or better than most places."

"And then you add all the Obama nonsense to what it's become in the last several years. I don't have anything against Mr. Obama. I'm just saying the way that, you know... the government should stay out of things. [...] Pretty soon, they're going to wipe a lot of the middle restaurateurs and restaurant cooks. [...] If it continues, then watch: you're going to have high-end, and you're going to have fast food, and you're going to have chain restaurants."...

"The one thing that I can say is that I'm pretty connected to America — because I'm a good listener, and I think that's what makes a great restaurateur, is that you're a good listener," he said. "I don't have the solution. If I did, I could run for president. But I don't have the solution. All I can tell you is that the balance of the economic cycle is out of whack."

By the way, he's a French Canadian from Fall River, Mass., not Cajun or Creole.

[fleur-de-lisa]

1. His restaurant is kinda 'meh'

I work just a few blocks from one of his restaurants in New Orleans. I only go there when we have a company function and I kind of have to go. Not terribly impressed. Maybe he should stop blaming the president for his failure and cook some decent food. What a jackass!

[NYC_SKP]

2. Bummer. The Pork Chop in his New Orleans restaurant is impressive.

You'll want to sit at the counter with a view of the kitchen, if you must... Having been there and done that, I'll look for something else to do.

The best place in NOLA, well, I won't give it away. But it's on Conti.

[leftstreet]

4. ...

Oceana Grill?

[NYC_SKP]

13. Oh hell no, plus Oceana is the other side of Bourbon St.

I've been there, then later watched them on Kitchen Nightmares, I think it was.

First time in the city, the concierge at the Royal Sonesta recommended them.

A nice enough place but there are lot's of other FAR better restaurants.

I think we did Mr Bs Bistro and GF had to have Beignets at Cafe Du Monde. That was quaint, tasty, but also touristy.

Our favorite stops aren't on the map or in the French Quarter but the place on Conti was nice and we happened along one night when Marlon Jordan was in the house.

[leftstreet]

14. Nice!

That must have be fun!

[NYC_SKP]

20. It was like a movie, we were just strolling and got off Bourbon, and then....

We could hear the sound of this cool horn off in the distance and it drew us in through an ancient dark pathway that opened up into a really intimate lounge- restaurant and bar combo with some informal seating near the piano, and this cool jazz trio. It was fucking awesome. On subsequent trips I've returned for dinner or a martini, but without Marlon Jordan it's not quite the same.

[underpants]

3. What's killing actual restaurants is the advertising advantage of fast food and chain restaurants

Richmond Va is a serious "foodie" place but even here many one-only restaurants are failing. From what I have read (sort of informed ) is that between pick-up-a-bucket-for-$10 places and the you've-heard-of-us-a-thousand-times chains it is hard for them to get customers. Not compete just get customers. This place is food truck crazy now too so that doesn't help....but it's good for those entrepreneurs.

Emeril is a starting point for the recent foodie growth but he appears to be skipping over the level of the corporate food monster staring him in the face.

[leftstreet]

5. What does he mean by the 'Obama nonsense?'

He doesn't really say

[bvf]

22. That was my reaction too.

It's not as if any restaurants are seriously affected by minimum wage concerns, primarily employing wait staff.

I know very little about the industry otherwise, but the only other issue I can imagine him having in mind would be federal health and safety standards.

Given the way he prefaced his comments, it strikes me that he just wanted to get in a shot with zero justification.

Oh wait. His taxes. It's probably about his taxes.

[Stinky The Clown]

6. I'd hardly call that being a winger.

[Ratty]

45. Well, except for the Obama nonsense stuff nt

[AtomicKitten]

7. BAM!

Emiril's a bit of a muttonhead.

[Eleanors38]

21. Ewe would say that.

[AtomicKitten]

27. Like it's a baaa'd thing.

[Eleanors38]

41. Just had to ram it home.

[AtomicKitten]

43. Best get the flock out of here.

[KamaAina]

47. Someone must have pulled the wool over his eyes.

he said, sheepishly

[Trajan]

8. I'm with Stinky on this ... hardly true wingeristic statements ...

Milquetoast, at worst ...

[JaneyVee]

9. Pretty sure income inequality is killing middle restaurants.

[DJ13]

16. Exactly

It takes a disposable income to go out to expensive restaurants.

[Eleanors38]

19. Yep. Any biz that depends on the spending habits

of a large middleclass is sucking wind.

I've seen an interesting hybrid grow from the "roach coach" (food trailer) trade. A brick & mortar bar or coffee house will open with a food trailer on the same premises. The bar doesn't have to deal with building a kitchen, more staff, code inspection, maintenance, etc. AND gets paid rent by the trailer. The trailer gets a more or less permanent place with a built-in customer base and exclusive rights to it. Seems to work.

[JaneyVee]

32. Yep, funny he doesn't realize it, being that...

He said we have 'upscale dining and fast food'. Gee, sounds like America. What a metaphor for a collapsing middle class.

[drray23]

10. so is geoffrey zakarian

I am terrified that if one day i become so successful as to accumulate lots of money I become like them. I am asking myself if it is a curse that goes along with money...

[PoutrageFatigue]

33. Yeah, but Zakarian always has been an asshole...

... and he cheated to win his spot as an iron chef...

[dhill926]

42. more on this please….

haven't heard about this.

[Blue_In_AK]

11. But his recipe for jambalaya is awesome.

[bvf]

23. Does it beat Paul Prudhomme's?

[Blue_In_AK]

25. I haven't tried his.

I'll Google it next time I'm in a Cajun frame of mind.

[fleur-de-lisa]

36. Mine is better!

From REAL Cajuns, not wannabes.

[KamaAina]

48. Oh yeah, chere!

(two years in NOLA under my belt. Not nearly enough!

[madinmaryland]

12. Sounds like a teabagger to me...

"I'm just saying the way that, you know... the government should stay out of things."

That is classic teabagger speak. They never exactly say what they think the government is doing that pisses them off. Oh yeah, collecting taxes to pay inspectors to make sure restaurants don't server shit food, which is something a repuke/teabagger restaurant owner would do.

Fuck him.

[yeoman6987]

24. I never expected every person in America to be a liberal

I don't care really about his beliefs either. I certainly don't take them personally. Life is too short to worry about vague statements. Now a politician I will pay attention to at all times and vote accordingly.

[Throd]

28. No, he must be destroyed.

That's just how it's done these days.

Actually, I only agree with myself about half the time, so I'll wad my panties over something else.

[yeoman6987]

29. Lol!

[logosoco]

15. It is always interesting to hear of a cook/restaurant owner who thinks the government

should stay out of things. Always makes me think how clean their kitchens would be, how they would treat the people who work for them and what quality of food they would be preparing if they did not have the health department and OSHA checking up on them.

[MattBaggins]

44. I have a friend in the heating/AC business

He tells me all the restaurants that call at noon to to fix a cooler that went down some time in the night. He tells me which ones don't throw away the food in what are now saunas. The ones that do not, have the right wing "gubmint should stay out of my bizzness" owners.

[MohRokTah]

17. He must have squandered much of his money since leaving the Food Network.

The branded crap out there ruined his name with me. The crap spice mixes and the crap cookware didn't help his name.

Then after the Great Bush Recession, he's feeling the pain because the middle clas doesn't have the disposable income it once has, so he blames his woes on the ACA.

Fuck Emeril. I've set foot in one of his restaurants for the last time. My restaurant dollars are limited and he's just insured he will see none of them.

[seabeyond]

18. i ate there at his restaurant in new orleans a couple years ago. like the first bite. the second,

not so much and took about one more bite and was done.

and it cost a lot.

chunk of meat in a gravy. and with all at our table, i personally did not see one meal that looked appetizing. one of the most disappointing meals during the visit.

[SomethingFishy]

26. So the guy is pissed because he can't charge $300 for a meal..

In a nation where $280 a week is the minimum wage.. before taxes.

Fuck you Emeril.

And as an aside, fuck the rest of these "Chefs with attitudes" too. Get off your high fucking horse, you are a cook.

[Cha]

30. Sounds a little bit wingish.. don't they blame Obama for something they nothing about? Too

much government regulation in the restaurant business, is it, Emeril? Does that go for the "government staying out" of a woman's right to Choose, too?

[GReedDiamond]

31. Maybe Emeril needs to give Chef Ramsey a call...

...to come out and help him get his shit together, and teach him how to run his restaurant?

[fleur-de-lisa]

35. Bam! You win!

Best response yet!

[GReedDiamond]

37. Thanks, fleur-de-lisa. I'd watch that episode...

..."this week on Kitchen Nightmares - Emeril's New Orleans is on the verge of becoming just another failed restaurant statistic. Can Chef Ramsey convince Emeril Lagasse to put the blame for that failure where it really belongs?"

You know the script.

[betsuni]

40. "Have you given up?"

Love Chef Ramsey!

[betsuni]

34. He flew too close to the sun on wings of gumbo

Over expansion, over exposure. Selling out, in essence. Too many cooks spoiled the broth. Now he's cranky and needs someone else to blame.

[FLPanhandle]

38. There are so many great restaurants in New Orleans.

Emerils places are just for the tourists.

I wouldn't be caught in one with so many better options in town.

[Algernon Moncrieff]

39. They all cry poor mouth and they all claim the government is a pain in the ass

They all claim they are overregulated. They all claim that the next increase in minimum wage; health care costs; workers comp costs; sales tax; income tax; property tax; liability insurance; lawyers; and the high price of gas will.kill.their.business.

I've had this conversation many times, with many business people, in many places. I've met a few that honest-to-God have had a bad run of luck and can't buy a break. The vast majority that I meet drive away in their loaded F-350, their Mercedes convertible; the Suburban; their Lexus.

My favorite line: I can't find people willing to work.

Dear small business owner: You wanted this. You wanted to be your own boss. Before you tell people on public assistance to stop whining and suck it up, look in the mirror. Before you tell me what a bitch it is to pay for health care for your employees, try driving a pre-owned Buick instead of that Yukon and invest the difference in the workers who make your business possible. Before you complain that the world is full of layabouts, try offering $11 instead of $8 for that crap job of yours with no benefits -- I bet applicants show up.

...or screw it all and move to Costa Rica like you keep threatening to do. If you don't like it, get out.

whinetrepreneurs -- that's what we have in the US.

[Capt. Obvious]

46. Fucking shame

He once made our hometown proud.