THINGS every Hell's Kitchen Contestant should damn well know...

[Krom]

In the 6/8/2010 episode thread Allie said:

I still cannot believe someone goes onto this show not knowing how to cook risotto. They do it every year. I mean you fill out the application and then go perfect your risotto recipe.

Lets talk about that. What are the things that EVERY SINGLE ONE of these idiots, no matter how delusional or stupid they are, should know before they DARE to walk on set with Ramsay. It can be a skill, a dish, an approach (like "don't curse back at Gordon"), etc.

Yes, we know he (and the show) probably exaggerates things a hell of a lot. But for the sake of discussion lets assume that even if something isn't ACTUALLY so bad it should be spat up, tossed on the floor, or screamed about, that at a very minimum it should still be somewhat better.

I'll start with two more besides Risotto.

1.) Wellingtons. Make Wellingtons until every single person you know has had to eat dozens of them.
2.) learn how to properly boil water.

[fluff]

3) Scallops. ("They're rrraaaawwwwwww!!!!!!") Learn how to sear a damn scallop.
4) At least learn what dishes on the menu are, even if you don't know how to cook them.

[AJane]

5) Quit smoking. I smoked for 17 years and I know how differently food tastes after you quit. Ramsay does a taste test every season, and every season most of the chefs fail miserably.

6) Your "signature dish" should be something more than a dip or chicken wings. And practice making it look pretty on the plate. Plus, you know the first thing you'll have to do is make it for Ramsay - how can you NOT cook it properly?

[HaikenEdge]

7) Ramsey will yell at you, and if you get in his face, he will do things to you that won't make you a happy camper.

[waywyrd]

8) Don't reuse the same spoon you just used to taste the food with. Nasty!

9) Don't over/undercook the pasta. Basic cooking skills, people.

[Cornholio]

10) If you make a mistake (ie., drop meat on the floor or undercook it, throw pasta in the trash), just start over! Don't waste time trying to fix it as Ramsey will hate it and make you do it over anyway!

[Brooks]

11) Don't assume it is perfectly seasoned. Taste It!!!

[Badseed]

12) Don't stay up till 2 in the morning, they make you get up at 6.

[SQUATMAN]

13) Listen and communicate with your team and always acknowledge GR when he barks an order.
14) Watch out for souchef Scott sabotaging you
15) Don't have the attitude like Autumn thinking 'I'm not here to make friends'. A friend or two will watch your back, make the team run smoother, and if you're in the finale, having a team of axed contestants who don't hate your guts is probably a good thing.

[kerowyn66]

Wellington, spaghetti, risotto, turbot, and garnishes... know them all.
Maybe read his cook books, that might help.

Oh, and lamb and duck.