A Sunshine Coast business will be dished out some hard-to-swallow lessons on national television after a visit from one of Australia’s best known ‘tough love’ chefs.
Featuring in the new Channel 7 series – based off the highly-popular format that stars Gordon Ramsay – the owners of a popular Rosemount restaurant will be offered advice to help improve operations and re-attract diners.
Guru Life’s Jonny Bundellu and Katie O’Reilly will feature in Wednesday night’s episode of Kitchen Nightmares that will see outspoken, award-winning chef Colin Fassnidge provide emergency restaurant rescue for the struggling venue.
The episode will not be without its heated moments with clashes between Fassnidge and Mr Bundellu described as “too fiery for telly” on social media.
Mr Bundellu started Guru Life as a coffee roasting business six years ago and over time it has lost its relaxing feel thanks to what Fassnidge described as a “chaotic” menu and too much of an emphasis of having fun at work.
He told Sunshine Coast News a good friend and well-respected chef sent them a link to the show and without knowing much about it they applied.
“We were already a bit apprehensive about what we’d signed up for, being part of Kitchen Nightmares, and wondering what on earth we’d just done,” Mr Bundellu said.
“(Fassnidge is) a very well-known chef and from what we learnt about him a hard worker with good values, and also a fun guy.
“We enjoyed the experience and embraced the advice. It’s hard to hand yourself, business and relationship over to the hands of ‘making good telly’.
“But to be honest, each and every one of the crew members were beautiful people and we enjoyed spending the week with them.”
Mr Bundellu said they had taken advice, and then modified process to work for Guru Life.
“I think any chef will tell you that it’s through service and time to problem solve that you work out the kinks.
“We would have loved a whole month together but we took on the challenge and have nailed it.”
In describing the show, Fassnidge said viewers could expect to see raw television and that each episode had “a lot of heart and quite a bit of tough love”.
“I’m going to help these businesses the only way I know how: applying my learnings from running my own kitchens,” he said.
“I’ve made many mistakes myself, but I’ve learned to correct them, so I don’t make the same mistake twice.
“I hope that by sharing my good and bad experiences, we can teach these owners how to run everything correctly.”
He also said it was important that for Aussies to support local hospitality and that started with having well-functioning hospitality businesses.
Kitchen Nightmares continues 7.30pm Wednesdays on Channel 7 and 7plus.
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