The Restaurant, Season 2, Episode 6: Blaze of Glory

Remember at the end of the last episode when Rocco promised Laurent that if he needed to, he’d sleep at the restaurant? Well that’s what he’s doing; he and Yvonne are curled up in a booth together when Mamma arrives. Rocco makes coffee for the two of them, and Yvonne requests blueberry pancakes. Dating a chef has its perks.

It’s a snowy day in New York, and reservationist Michy is spending her morning fielding phone calls from people canceling their reservations. Uzay tells the rest of the staff that he arrived for work when Rocco and Yvonne were having breakfast. He thinks it’s crazy that they slept there.

Down in the kitchen, Rocco assures Gavin, Tony’s replacement, that his job is safe. Gavin is glad to hear it. Meanwhile, Michy tells Mamma that they had over 210 cancellations for that night. Wow.

At a staff meeting, Rocco tells everyone, “Disregard everything Jeffrey said yesterday.” Carol and Sarah, members of Jeffrey’s Corporate Task Force, don’t look amused. Rocco goes on to say that the next day, Jeffrey will be in telling the staff to disregard whatever Rocco told them. Rocco says this in a joking manner, but I imagine to the staff, it’s not really funny.

Jeffrey is headed to Miami to meet another potential Rocco replacement, former prizefighter and current chef Marc Randazzi. On his way to the airport, he calls Sarah and tells her to make sure no one puts any wood in the oven. After Tony almost caught the place on fire using wood last week, surely no one would do it again, would they? Well, I’m sure nothing will come of this. Heh.

The kitchen is buzzing at Rocco’s, and the customers love their food. Rocco is right in the thick of it, and has someone compare the price of domestic and Holland red peppers to see if they can justify using the tastier, but more expensive, Holland peppers.

Jeffrey arrives in sunny Miami and introduces himself to Marc. Jeffrey loves the atmosphere of Randazzi’s restaurant, and Marc’s wife explains that they wanted people to feel like they were at a friend’s home. Jeffrey declares the seafood salad to be the best he’s ever tasted. He absolutely loves everything he eats. Marc is confident that Jeffrey will also love his meatballs, and it looks like his confidence is justified – Jeffrey is delighted just at their smell. The team declares them to be even better than Mamma’s, and they think Marc could be serious, “Bye, bye Rocco serious.”

At Rocco’s, Gavin is irritated because Gabe is late. Laurielle, the appetizer chef, says he’s always at least 15 minutes late, but that today he’s 50 minutes late. Rocco and Gavin meet to review scheduling and they agree that they should fire Gabe. When he arrives, Gavin tells him not to bother changing and to go talk to Rocco. Rocco tells Gabe that while Gabe is a nice guy, his cooking skills aren’t up to par. Also, they’re trying to save money. Rocco says he’ll help him any way he can. So, which is it – is he not a good enough cook, or is it that they’re trying to save money? If he’s not a good enough cook, then why would Rocco offer him a recommendation? Or, if they’re just saving money, why would Rocco say he’s not good enough. As I’m wishing Rocco would just be honest, Gabe wipes away a tear.

Matt the bartender says he’s sorry to see Gabe go; he always liked him. Gabe tearfully says goodbye to everyone. In the basement, Rocco tells Laurent that he really likes Gabe, but he just can’t keep him. Laurent stoically says (because Laurent says everything stoically) that it’s just business.

Back in Miami, Marc says that he loved boxing just as he loves cooking for people now. Jeffrey jokes that Marc and Rocco should determine who will manage the restaurant in a boxing match. Marc serves giant wedges of cheesecake, and Jeffrey is practically drooling. Luke and Jeffrey tell Marc that if he ever wants to move to New York, they’ll find work for him. Marc says he’d consider moving to Siberia to work with them. They say they have a restaurant in mind.

The awnings outside Rocco’s are sagging with the snow, and bar manager Steve is struggling to clear it out. Rocco helps, coating himself in snow in the process.

In the kitchen, things aren’t so merry. Gavin and Billy, a line cook, get into an argument. Uzay happens upon it, and Gavin throws him some attitude, saying that he was promoted and is the chef, unlike “celebrity waiter” Uzay.

You’ll never believe this: there is wood in the fire. We’re treated to a nice shot of its burning embers. As we watch it blaze, Sarah calls to ask Rocco if there is wood in the fire. Rocco says he’s too busy to take the call. Sarah asks to speak to Shane instead and asks him the same question. Shane says he doesn’t know. Meanwhile, Gavin and Billy are still arguing in the kitchen.