Series 4 Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares: Morgans

Date Published:

23/10/2007

Gordon's advice

The restaurant's in Woolton, home to footballers and one of Liverpool's more affluent suburbs. Morgan's could be a lovely, local eaterie. But the footballers' wives are dining elsewhere. Just three people are booked for dinner. The restaurant is beautiful but the menu is weird: fillet of beef with vanilla and whisky sauce, and sausage with apricot mash are on offer. Gordon opts for pan-fried prawns - but the prawns are hard. The sausage is like something out of Jurassic Park, and Gordon can't get over the apricots in the mash. The best dish by far is the sticky toffee pudding. But Gordon discovers that's the work of sous chef Emma. And head chef Nick, who cooked the starter and main, is far from happy with Gordon comments that he's cooking expensive stodge.

But an even bigger problem is the front of house team: Sandy and her two daughters, Laura and Helen can't decide who's in charge. It's definitely a case of too many chiefs. Helen says she's resigned countless times. Sandy claims to be in charge, so Gordon looks at her accounts. They're a mess. Sandy has no profit forecasts or targets.

The next day, Gordon discovers why Phil's so defensive. He's not able to come in to prep in the morning before service, as Sandy doesn't want to pay him for this time. For the same reason, Nick doesn't buy the food from the wholesaler. Instead, Sandy stocks up at the supermarket. It's an eyeopener for Gordon as he pushes the trolley round just two hours from service!

During service, Phil, is self-taught and overly-confident. But he's a careless cook and burns food. Sandy decides to take over washing up, despite the fact that Morgan’s has a more than capable washer-up. She's so busy doing the dishes, she forgets she'd promised a customer, gravy, meanwhile his fellow diners have cleared their plates, and he's not happy. Neither's Gordon. He wants someone to take responsibility for the night's catastrophes. Helen speaks up and says it was a sham. Gordon admires her honesty. But with 50% of British restaurants closing down within three years, they've got to get their act together.

To save the restaurant, Gordon wants a radical shakeup. He starts with the restaurant's management. He says Sandy's not capable of being general manager as she can’t delegate so he puts level-headed Helen in charge. Laura is furious. Gordon points out that they need to change or they’ll go bankrupt. Next Gordon tackles the food buying. He takes Sandy and Phil to a local market where they find good produce in abundance. He then gets to grips with the menu, taking it back to simple rustic dishes and leaner prices. Then he takes Phil back to basics in the kitchen. Phil's keen and wants to learn.

Just when things seem to be improving, Sunday arrives. Gordon is amazed to find Morgan's closed. It's Helen’s day off but Laura's not arrived. Sandy has given herself the day off and won’t answer her door. Gordon can't find the table plan and is reduced to waiting tables. Now desperate, Gordon asks Helen to come in and take charge. Helen turns up. Gordon's back in the kitchen and finds Phil, yet again, burning food. Gordon discovers Emma's passion for cooking. He tells Sandy if Phil can't do his job properly, then she has to get rid of him.

To relaunch Morgan's, Gordon invites Hollyoaks celebs and WAGs aplenty. He suggests auctioning off some of Sandy's antiques to raise cash. Sandy is more than happy with her defined role. The relaunch night arrives and they're fully booked. Helen is a natural at cracking the whip and keeping Sandy and the waiters in line. But Phil has a problem: an order has gone missing and customers are waiting. He loses his concentration and makes silly mistakes. Luckily Emma plays a vital role in keeping it together. The local celebs flash their cash and love their food.

A month later, Gordon's shocked to learn that Phil's left Morgan's following a row. Gordon tracks him down and finds he's a sous chef in another restaurant, and is happy in that role. Off to Morgan's and Gordon is delighted to find Emma is now head chef , though he's slightly overawed that the place is now entirely run by females! Helen's computerised the accounts, and the previous week, the restaurant took £4k. They’ve been in profit for three weeks. Gordon tries Emma's own addition to the menu: braised beef. He's impressed. Gordon tells them to continue the good work, and then Morgan’s will certainly be the must-go neighbourhood restaurant.

by Sarah Jagger