Within the New Orleans food scene, classic dishes, like gumbo, feature robust flavor. While low and slow might describe barbecue, the long cooking times allow the nuanced, layered flavor to develop in a dish like gumbo. As seen in this Kitchen Nightmares 3 Southern Girls exclusive clip, the wait time for food might have been long but the flavor was rushed.
A few themes have emerged from this Kitchen Nightmares: Road to Super Bowl LIX season. While the owners assumed that success would be easy, cutting corners and ineffective leaders created chaos. From cheap ingredients to frozen food, the foundation was lacking.
Both Iberville Cuisine and Voleo’s Seafood needed a strong hand to right the course. It might have taken a moment to understand the severity, but those restaurants came around to the improvements.
The next restaurant that Gordon Ramsay assists is 3 Southern Girls. While the owners pride themselves in traditional Southern cuisine, personal struggles have drained their passion.
Check out this Kitchen Nightmares 3 Southern Girls exclusive clip.
First, the location of Gordon’s feast is quite unusual. Outdoor dining can be delightful, but a card table next to the back of the car feels more like a tailgate. On the other hand, this option might be better than sitting under dusty lights and at sticky tables.
Looking at the food, the Southern favorites cover the table. Unfortunately, the gumbo was not saving the best for last. As Gordon describes it, the spoonful lacks flavor.
Anyone who has attempted to make gumbo appreciates that the deep, dark, rich roux is the foundation to the dish. That ingredient cannot be rushed.
From there, the other ingredients lend their flavor. It is more than just throwing sausage, chicken, shrimp into a pot with some seasoning and rice. Over time, all the ingredients meld flavors yet never become one note. That constant tasting and stirring ensures that the journey to deliciousness is worth the time.
The telling moment in this clip is when Gordon says that it took an hour to get food, but the taste was lackluster. Slow service does not mean slow cooking. The combination of slow service and rushed execution shows that the culinary team has lost their passion. Personal struggles are overwhelming and it can be seen in the product that 3 Southern Girls are serving their guests.
Can these ladies find a way to rise from their despair and bring that southern charm and flavor to their guests? If anyone can help them recover, it is Gordon Ramsay.
Kitchen Nightmares 3 Southern Girls episode airs on February 4 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on FOX. Episodes can be streamed the next day on Hulu.