Chefs slam Hell's Kitchen

The culinary stars of Hell's Kitchen are giving cooking a bad name, top chefs have warned.

17:37 29 April 2005

Chefs Jean-Christophe Novelli and Gary Rhodes are supposed to coach contestants on the show in the art of cooking but often seem more intent on humiliating them.

Last week, Frenchman Novelli smashed up his kitchen after one wannabe ruined a vegetarian dish by pouring beef sauce over it.

The 43-year-old threw cutlery, smashed plates and threatened to burn the whole place down, leaving his 22-year-old target to flee in tears.

"His behaviour towards a second-day apprentice can be described only as pathetic," said Philip Chant, the chef and owner of the Bathwick Boatman restaurant in Bath.

He told Caterer and Hotelkeeper magazine: "This behaviour must not be tolerated in our kitchens. To protect our industry, the programme makers should instantly dismiss him."

John Campbell, executive chef at the Vineyard at Stockcross in Hampshire, also heaped criticism on the two celebrity chefs.

"The practices they are adopting are simply illegal. To make someone stand and say they are stupid is mental bullying," he said.

A spokesman for the ITV programme told the Daily Star: "The chefs do have tempers but have never been bullying.

"There have been tantrums, but JC and Gary Rhodes have also been encouraging the contestants when they do well.

"At the end of the contest you are going to have ten happy people who have had a chance to cook with two amazing chefs."