Originally Posted by Wonton Prejudice (Post 9681837)

If this place isn't a money laundering operation, I don't know what is.

Sammy screamed 'Don't call the police'. This was one of the only things he really stood up to his wife on. I think Sammy is involved in serious criminal shit and he doesn't want Johnny Law to come poking around and causing any disruptions to the money losing business here. I’m not sure if the fact that they don’t trust anyone else to run the place has anything to do with that, or whether they’re just nuts. If they were smarter, I feel like they could let it run itself. See point #4 for a possible reason for that.

The place is clearly hemorrhaging money. All those fresh veggies come at a huge premium in Arizona and no one is buying them since no one eats there. This is a tactic to inflate food costs and make the on-the-books profits (from crime) a bit more believable. You have high prices and ‘quality ingredients’ and on its face, it looks like a classy place dealing in high-quality, high-margin food that’s doing very, very well. In reality, they’re buying top-dollar with dirty money and selling nothing.

Putting all of that money into the facilities, kitchen equipment and the dining area is a way to build tangible equity in a property, paid for by dirty money, of course. This is similar to how house flipping has become the new Las Vegas for cleaning dirty money. Even if you put 100k of criminal money into a house and sell it for 80k, you still made 80k in clean money (and the write off for the business loss – more clean money).

And what you ask is Sammi’s other ‘legitimate’ business enterprise? Custom home building. Same ****ing principle: Build equity in something tangible with dirty money, sell it (at a loss or profit, who gives a ****) and money comes clean out the other side.

The compensation structure for servers is just another money cleaning tactic. The money from tips never hits the books. It’s pocketed immediately and spent on gas, food, clothes etc. All the sorts of stuff that is bought in a day that isn’t traced and is used up (burned, eaten, thrown out etc.) when it’s done.

You keep the clean, un-traceable cash coming in (tips), and then pay out more money in wages to lose money so that the money that comes in from crime doesn’t make the place look TOO profitable. If they weren’t so wretched and money hungry they would just let the girls work on tips like most people, but they’re so narcissistic, deluded and downright evil that they think they’re entitled to it and don’t know when to stop.

They are mean to people because well, they’re nuts, but also because Sammy doesn’t actually give much of a **** if many people come in or not. If a few quiet, agreeable customers come in and eat, so be it. For Sammy, this place is an annoyance. He hates being there and knows it’s a waste of his legitimate criminal time to have to deal with it.

He was just stupid and married a crazy ‘trophy wife’ who thinks she can cook and the less he has to do in a day in terms of dealing with angry customers, the better. Hell, he might have married her BECAUSE he thought she was stupid enough to believe she’s making money when no one comes in. To me that’s why a lot of that bad food is just thrown away; otherwise she gets crazy and causes more disruptions to the fence.

Ever wonder why he doesn’t know how to use the POS system, but insists on using it? Because one day one of those girls is going to see ALL of these tables and checks listed on there that never actually came in, and then she’ll ask why. Since she knows more about the system than he, she won’t buy the lie he tells her. I wouldn’t be surprised if that’s a small part of the reason for the staff turnover: They don’t want anyone knowing too much.

Because the thing is, at the end of the day, he can just make up checks and bills and act like all these customers came in and paid them lots of money for food, but just as long as the place isn’t completely empty all the time and then reporting big profits, there shouldn’t be any huge red flags so as long as the taxes keep coming into the IRS and the place keeps a quiet reputation.

But SOMEBODY just had to call Ramsey and blow the whole cover….

Originally Posted by Wonton Prejudice (Post 9681837)

If this place isn't a money laundering operation, I don't know what is.

Sammy screamed 'Don't call the police'. This was one of the only things he really stood up to his wife on. I think Sammy is involved in serious criminal shit and he doesn't want Johnny Law to come poking around and causing any disruptions to the money losing business here. I’m not sure if the fact that they don’t trust anyone else to run the place has anything to do with that, or whether they’re just nuts. If they were smarter, I feel like they could let it run itself. See point #4 for a possible reason for that.

The place is clearly hemorrhaging money. All those fresh veggies come at a huge premium in Arizona and no one is buying them since no one eats there. This is a tactic to inflate food costs and make the on-the-books profits (from crime) a bit more believable. You have high prices and ‘quality ingredients’ and on its face, it looks like a classy place dealing in high-quality, high-margin food that’s doing very, very well. In reality, they’re buying top-dollar with dirty money and selling nothing.

Putting all of that money into the facilities, kitchen equipment and the dining area is a way to build tangible equity in a property, paid for by dirty money, of course. This is similar to how house flipping has become the new Las Vegas for cleaning dirty money. Even if you put 100k of criminal money into a house and sell it for 80k, you still made 80k in clean money (and the write off for the business loss – more clean money).

And what you ask is Sammi’s other ‘legitimate’ business enterprise? Custom home building. Same ****ing principle: Build equity in something tangible with dirty money, sell it (at a loss or profit, who gives a ****) and money comes clean out the other side.

The compensation structure for servers is just another money cleaning tactic. The money from tips never hits the books. It’s pocketed immediately and spent on gas, food, clothes etc. All the sorts of stuff that is bought in a day that isn’t traced and is used up (burned, eaten, thrown out etc.) when it’s done.

You keep the clean, un-traceable cash coming in (tips), and then pay out more money in wages to lose money so that the money that comes in from crime doesn’t make the place look TOO profitable. If they weren’t so wretched and money hungry they would just let the girls work on tips like most people, but they’re so narcissistic, deluded and downright evil that they think they’re entitled to it and don’t know when to stop.

They are mean to people because well, they’re nuts, but also because Sammy doesn’t actually give much of a **** if many people come in or not. If a few quiet, agreeable customers come in and eat, so be it. For Sammy, this place is an annoyance. He hates being there and knows it’s a waste of his legitimate criminal time to have to deal with it.

He was just stupid and married a crazy ‘trophy wife’ who thinks she can cook and the less he has to do in a day in terms of dealing with angry customers, the better. Hell, he might have married her BECAUSE he thought she was stupid enough to believe she’s making money when no one comes in. To me that’s why a lot of that bad food is just thrown away; otherwise she gets crazy and causes more disruptions to the fence.

Ever wonder why he doesn’t know how to use the POS system, but insists on using it? Because one day one of those girls is going to see ALL of these tables and checks listed on there that never actually came in, and then she’ll ask why. Since she knows more about the system than he, she won’t buy the lie he tells her. I wouldn’t be surprised if that’s a small part of the reason for the staff turnover: They don’t want anyone knowing too much.

Because the thing is, at the end of the day, he can just make up checks and bills and act like all these customers came in and paid them lots of money for food, but just as long as the place isn’t completely empty all the time and then reporting big profits, there shouldn’t be any huge red flags so as long as the taxes keep coming into the IRS and the place keeps a quiet reputation.

But SOMEBODY just had to call Ramsey and blow the whole cover….

Originally Posted by Detoxing (Post 9682095)

If it was a money laundering scam, why would they want to be on National T.V?

Originally Posted by highBOLTage (Post 9682169)

Wife orchestrates it. She is probably in the dark on it as well as being in the dark on her being a terrible cook as the husband shielded her from the criticism/send-backs.

Originally Posted by Lprechaun (Post 9682299)

Now claiming their FB was hacked.... this is a priceless meltdown

Originally Posted by Detoxing (Post 9682095)

If it was a money laundering scam, why would they want to be on National T.V?

Originally Posted by Detoxing (Post 9682232)

Even if the wife orchestrated it, the Husband agreed to it. If the husband has the balls to say "don't call the cops" then he probably has the balls to say "don't call the show".

Originally Posted by Ecto-I (Post 9682120)

Most epic Facebook meltdown ever!
http://www.buzzfeed.com/ryanhatesthi...-facebook-ever

Originally Posted by Stanley Nickels (Post 9682320)

/b/res/480112635

They're on it.

Just in case you were curious.

Originally Posted by Wonton Prejudice (Post 9682430)

hax

http://i.imgur.com/dCUpNoy.jpg

Originally Posted by Wonton Prejudice (Post 9682430)

hax

http://i.imgur.com/dCUpNoy.jpg

Originally Posted by Wonton Prejudice (Post 9682430)

hax

http://i.imgur.com/dCUpNoy.jpg

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut (Post 9679478)

The thing is, I generally sympathize with people on Kitchen Nightmares because Ramsey kinda acts like he forgets how unbelievably hard running a restaurant is.

They fail...a lot. And the people that run them are often putting every thing they have into them, both their time and money. It's an all-consuming challenge that these people often undertake.

And then Ramsey shows up, calls them cocks and acts like it's just the easiest thing in the world and they're silly assholes for getting it wrong. Then he acts stunned when people get upset about it, as though any of us would be totally okay with having someone blast what we've given our lives to try to create.

But this ****ing lunatic...well she's beyond sympathy. This woman and her husband are just in another world. I've rarely seen anyone so far removed from reality. It's pretty incredible.

Originally Posted by The Bad Guy (Post 9685270)

I can see it both ways.

The restaurants are reaching out for help. They need the exposure, guidance and help. It's really not rocket science though when the business is empty and they cut corners with the food and staff, the profits are going to be in the tank.

What gets me is when the owners of the drowning business legitimately think the food isn't the problem. Of course it is.

If I was in that position, I would hope it was because the food sucked and I needed some help and guidance. If the food doesn't suck, and the staff is competent, there's a much bigger issue if there's no business.

Originally Posted by BWillie (Post 9677969)

I ****ing hate Gordon Ramsey and his schtick. Someone needs to put that prick in his place. Why do ppl watch these cooking and rrestaurant shows...they are terrible. Only reason I watch them is my GF puts that garbage on

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut (Post 9679478)

The thing is, I generally sympathize with people on Kitchen Nightmares because Ramsey kinda acts like he forgets how unbelievably hard running a restaurant is.

They fail...a lot. And the people that run them are often putting every thing they have into them, both their time and money. It's an all-consuming challenge that these people often undertake.

And then Ramsey shows up, calls them cocks and acts like it's just the easiest thing in the world and they're silly assholes for getting it wrong. Then he acts stunned when people get upset about it, as though any of us would be totally okay with having someone blast what we've given our lives to try to create.

But this ****ing lunatic...well she's beyond sympathy. This woman and her husband are just in another world. I've rarely seen anyone so far removed from reality. It's pretty incredible.

Originally Posted by Namor40 (Post 9686787)

Even after he's helped them, they go under.


Literally every single restaurant from Seasons 1 and 2 of Kitchen Nightmares is now out of business.


The interesting thing is that from the British version, most of the restaurants...some of them under new ownership, still remain open.

Originally Posted by Branden Albert's Huge Balls (Post 9679427)

Didn't ENDelt260 live near this place? Gawd, we could use his services now.

Originally Posted by jd1020 (Post 9686796)

And you could probably link these results to the different attitudes Ramsay portrays between the British and American version.

Yes, Ramsay seems more calm and collected in the British version. However, so our the restaurant owners. I don't think I've ever seen a British version where the owners of the restaurant are as completely helpless as these 2.

Originally Posted by Fish (Post 9686848)

LOL.... Grand Re-Opening....

Originally Posted by jd1020 (Post 9686796)

And you could probably link these results to the different attitudes Ramsay portrays between the British and American version.

Yes, Ramsay seems more calm and collected in the British version. However, so our the restaurant owners. I don't think I've ever seen a British version where the owners of the restaurant are as completely helpless as these 2.

Originally Posted by AndChiefs (Post 9686880)

Wait staff is paid 8-14 dollars an hour. Nowhere in that statement does it say they receive tips though. Just that they get paid more per hour.

Originally Posted by NewChief (Post 9686890)

I don't mind the show, but I just have a hard time believing that the food is that bad at every restaurant he goes to in the US.

Originally Posted by jd1020 (Post 9686901)

Why is it so hard to believe?

The food hasn't ALWAYS been the problem. But these restaurants aren't calling him up because they are so damn successful.

Originally Posted by blaise (Post 9686927)

Yeah, but it is kind of true. I've only seen the show I think three times and all three times he takes a bite and then spits it in a napkin and wipes off his tongue. It's really that bad every time? I could see him going, "This isn't very good. People won't pay for this." But to act like it's a cow turd every time just seems phony.

Originally Posted by Namor40 (Post 9686871)

One of my favorites was the lady who had the soul food restaurant, one of the very few times I've seen Ramsay try the food and go 'WOW."

Originally Posted by The Bad Guy (Post 9685270)

I can see it both ways.

The restaurants are reaching out for help. They need the exposure, guidance and help. It's really not rocket science though when the business is empty and they cut corners with the food and staff, the profits are going to be in the tank.

What gets me is when the owners of the drowning business legitimately think the food isn't the problem. Of course it is.

If I was in that position, I would hope it was because the food sucked and I needed some help and guidance. If the food doesn't suck, and the staff is competent, there's a much bigger issue if there's no business.

Originally Posted by fan4ever (Post 9686964)

If you watch the beginning of the show, the entire show, she is obviously trying to gain vindication from Ramsey, not advice, as she's sure the failing business is the result of "haters" on the blogs and such. She thought he was going to love her stuff...which made it all the funnier.

They are walking distance from my house...drove by yesterday on my way to an appointment...couldn't see if there was much activity inside, but there were a number of people gawking in through the windows.

Originally Posted by fan4ever (Post 9686964)

If you watch the beginning of the show, the entire show, she is obviously trying to gain vindication from Ramsey, not advice, as she's sure the failing business is the result of "haters" on the blogs and such. She thought he was going to love her stuff...which made it all the funnier.

They are walking distance from my house...drove by yesterday on my way to an appointment...couldn't see if there was much activity inside, but there were a number of people gawking in through the windows.

Originally Posted by NewChief (Post 9686890)

I don't mind the show, but I just have a hard time believing that the food is that bad at every restaurant he goes to in the US.

I mean, the food is so bad at every single place that he spits it out, calls it "dreadful," and pretends like he's been poisoned. I've eaten at a lot of places, but I've never had a reaction that extreme to anything I've ever eaten. I just wish that "reality" shows would get a little more real and a little less scripted/set shots.

Originally Posted by Fruit Ninja (Post 9687070)

The thing is, sometimes the owners have their chef's hamstrung on cooking crap.

Originally Posted by Fruit Ninja (Post 9687070)

The thing is, sometimes the owners have their chef's hamstrung on cooking crap. If you looked at alot of the shows, people are cooking frozen foood, or there are owners who are chef's that have lost their passion for cooking and just dont really care. Alot of it is the owners being so ****ing hardheaded. They have such a big menu, that its not smart to keep that much food in their freezers.

He simplifies the menu with good tasting dinners. He looks to see how the staff in the kitchen works, Alot of the time people are just not coordinated or people are just assholes making others miserable in a hot ass kitchen.

Some of the food he has said hey, this is alright, this is pretty good. I know i have seen him absolutely love desserts in some of them restaurants.

Originally Posted by Namor40 (Post 9686995)

Small world...I live just northeast of there. Hit up Butterfield's quite a bit more often than I should.

Originally Posted by bowener (Post 9687062)

I didn't feel like formatting this in here, so I will just link to it. It is a "point by point" case against Samy and how they think he is laundering money through this restaurant.

Link

It is nothing official, just somebody who thinks that is what is going on.

It is a pretty quick read-through, but again, it is all speculation. Something does seem quite off about the whole place though.

Originally Posted by blaise (Post 9686927)

Yeah, but it is kind of true. I've only seen the show I think three times and all three times he takes a bite and then spits it in a napkin and wipes off his tongue. It's really that bad every time? I could see him going, "This isn't very good. People won't pay for this." But to act like it's a cow turd every time just seems phony.

Originally Posted by Namor40 (Post 9687107)

The thing that frustrates me most is people who have NEVER worked in a restaurant who all of a sudden decide that they want to own one. If you're willing to put in the huge investment that owning a restaurant requires....it would be well worth it to at least spend a year working in a restaurant similar to the type that you want to open up, being in different positions, trying to get a broad view of what being in charge requires.

Originally Posted by Fruit Ninja (Post 9687144)

Well, alot of people think they can just jump into the deep end of the pool and make somethng successful. I agree its ALOT of damned work and people need to do some research. I have had a good friend try to open up a Mexican spot in Texas and it failed. It happens.

When you call in Gordon, let him do his magic and just say, YES SIR! He will help alot. Thats what i dont get, your the one that called him to help you, let him do what he does best.

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut (Post 9686987)

Ramsay - Judo Chef:

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/_XDW6xo5scU" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Go to about the 45 second mark - Ramsay's a pretty chill cat and I get the feeling he could probably kick a lot of asses if he felt so inclined.

Originally Posted by NewChief (Post 9686890)

I don't mind the show, but I just have a hard time believing that the food is that bad at every restaurant he goes to in the US.

I mean, the food is so bad at every single place that he spits it out, calls it "dreadful," and pretends like he's been poisoned. I've eaten at a lot of places, but I've never had a reaction that extreme to anything I've ever eaten. I just wish that "reality" shows would get a little more real and a little less scripted/set shots.

Originally Posted by SPchief (Post 9687334)

I tried to delete them but couldn't. What a load of shit. Later she was able to delete some of them.

Originally Posted by Fire Me Boy! (Post 9687372)

If, in fact, they'd been hacked and she wasn't able to log into the account (a story I don't believe), then it stands to reason she wouldn't have been able to delete the posts until after the account had been restored.

Originally Posted by Branden Albert's Huge Balls (Post 9685267)

Originally Posted by DJ's left nut (Post 9687493)

http://foodbeast.com/content/2013/05.../#.UZViSkojD9J

Nice little takeup on the whole thing...

Originally Posted by Fire Me Boy! (Post 9700381)

Ruh-roh.