The Pressure Cooker
Encyclopedia
The Pressure Cooker is a once-off fly on the wall
documentary broadcast on RTÉ One
. It follows the successful efforts of celebrity chef Dylan McGrath
to obtain a Michelin
star for his business, Mint Restaurant
, in Ranelagh
, Dublin. It was broadcast on 4 February 2008 at 21:30. McGrath was noted in the Irish media and in the general cuisine profession for his repeated shouting and swearing at his staff during the filming of this documentary.
food critic Domini Kemp described him as a "creative genius". Mint Restaurant was described by Hot Press
as a "gastronomi
c playground". The restaurant has also received praise from newspaper The Sunday Business Post
.
, who appeared in the show Guerrilla Gourmet
with McGrath, appeared alongside him on the television chat show Tubridy Tonight
and criticised him live on air, describing his attitude as "appalling" and saying that Gordon Ramsay
(a British
chef) had "a bit of charisma about himself as well and a huge amount of passion". Dundon also questioned McGrath's methods of training his staff and said he would not have been required to shout at them so much if he had taught them better. Kevin Thornton
agreed with Dundon – the two appear together on the reality television series Heat
– describing McGrath's comments as "a mess" and "a waste of energy" and suggesting that "people like that will not go very far". Patrick Guilbaud
labelled McGrath "sad" on the RTÉ Radio One show, Conversations with Eamon Dunphy
, after witnessing him shouting and swearing at his Mint staff.
Fly on the wall
Fly on the wall is a style of documentary-making used in filmmaking and television production. The name derived from the idea that events are seen candidly, as a fly on a wall might see them...
documentary broadcast on RTÉ One
RTÉ One
RTÉ One is the flagship television channel of Raidió Teilifís Éireann , and it is the most popular and most watched television channel in Ireland. It was launched as Telefís Éireann on 31 December 1961, it was renamed RTÉ Television in 1966, and it was renamed as RTÉ One upon the launch of RTÉ...
. It follows the successful efforts of celebrity chef Dylan McGrath
Dylan McGrath
Dylan McGrath is an award-winning Irish celebrity chef. He was the owner of the now defunct Michelin star Mint Restaurant in Dublin. He recently opened 'Rustic Stone Restaurant by Dylan McGrath' on Georges Street in Dublin's City Centre and has been announced by RTÉ One as the Judge on the new...
to obtain a Michelin
Michelin
Michelin is a tyre manufacturer based in Clermont-Ferrand in the Auvergne région of France. It is one of the two largest tyre manufacturers in the world along with Bridgestone. In addition to the Michelin brand, it also owns the BFGoodrich, Kleber, Riken, Kormoran and Uniroyal tyre brands...
star for his business, Mint Restaurant
Mint Restaurant
Mint Restaurant was a Michelin star winning restaurant located in Ranelagh, Dublin in the Republic of Ireland. It was owned by the controversial celebrity chef Dylan McGrath...
, in Ranelagh
Ranelagh
Ranelagh is a residential area and urban village on the south side of Dublin, Ireland. It is in the postal district of Dublin 6. It is in the local government electoral area of Rathmines and the Dáil Constituency of Dublin South-East.-History:...
, Dublin. It was broadcast on 4 February 2008 at 21:30. McGrath was noted in the Irish media and in the general cuisine profession for his repeated shouting and swearing at his staff during the filming of this documentary.
Background
Prior to the show being filmed only four restaurants in Ireland had previously obtained a Michelin star. McGrath was described as "a driven, ambitious, determined, innovative, hot-tempered, bad-mouthed and very intense man" by RTÉ and ImageImage (magazine)
Image is an Irish lifestyle and fashion magazine launched in 1975....
food critic Domini Kemp described him as a "creative genius". Mint Restaurant was described by Hot Press
Hot Press
Hot Press is a fortnightly music and political magazine based in Dublin, Ireland founded in 1977. The magazine has been edited since its inception by Niall Stokes. According to the Audit Bureau of Circulations, it had a circulation of 19,215 during 2007...
as a "gastronomi
Gastronomy
Gastronomy is the art or science of food eating. Also, it can be defined as the study of food and culture, with a particular focus on gourmet cuisine...
c playground". The restaurant has also received praise from newspaper The Sunday Business Post
The Sunday Business Post
The Sunday Business Post is an Irish national Sunday newspaper published by Post Publications Limited. Post Publications is owned by Thomas Crosbie Holdings. According to the Audit Bureau of Circulations, Ireland, the average weekly circulation was 57,783 for the period January to June 2009. The...
.
Controversy
McGrath encountered ire from his fellow celebrity chefs for his alleged mistreatment of his staff which was evident during the documentary. Kevin DundonKevin Dundon
Kevin Dundon is an award-winning Irish celebrity chef, television personality and author, known for featuring on television series such as Guerrilla Gourmet and Heat. He is the author of the book, Full On Irish: Contemporary Creative Cooking and his recipes have been featured in publications such...
, who appeared in the show Guerrilla Gourmet
Guerrilla Gourmet
Guerrilla Gourmet is an Irish television series broadcast on RTÉ One. The series features professional chefs from various backgrounds, such as Dylan McGrath and Kevin Dundon, who each take on a new challenge...
with McGrath, appeared alongside him on the television chat show Tubridy Tonight
Tubridy Tonight
Tubridy Tonight is an Irish chat show hosted by Ryan Tubridy that aired for five series on RTÉ One between 2004 and 2009. The programme featured guest interviews , audience participation and live music from both a guest music group and the house band...
and criticised him live on air, describing his attitude as "appalling" and saying that Gordon Ramsay
Gordon Ramsay
Gordon James Ramsay, OBE is a Scottish chef, television personality and restaurateur. He has been awarded 13 Michelin stars....
(a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
chef) had "a bit of charisma about himself as well and a huge amount of passion". Dundon also questioned McGrath's methods of training his staff and said he would not have been required to shout at them so much if he had taught them better. Kevin Thornton
Kevin Thornton (chef)
Kevin Thornton is an Irish celebrity chef, radio and television personality and author, known for featuring on television series such as Guerrilla Gourmet and Heat and characterised by a supposed dislike of chips and confirmed dislike of pizza. He has written the book Food for Life and had his...
agreed with Dundon – the two appear together on the reality television series Heat
Heat (TV series)
Heat is an Irish prime time reality television series broadcast on RTÉ One. The programme sees two professional chefs, Kevin Dundon and Kevin Thornton, attempt to train amateur participants to each compose a restaurant menu. Each chef has won one series each. Each series, of which there have so far...
– describing McGrath's comments as "a mess" and "a waste of energy" and suggesting that "people like that will not go very far". Patrick Guilbaud
Patrick Guilbaud
Patrick Guilbaud is a French professional chef residing in Ireland and the proprietor of that country's most award winning restaurant, the self-titled Restaurant Patrick Guilbaud...
labelled McGrath "sad" on the RTÉ Radio One show, Conversations with Eamon Dunphy
Conversations with Eamon Dunphy
Conversations with Eamon Dunphy was an Irish radio programme, on which Eamon Dunphy interviewed various celebrities. It aired on Saturdays on RTÉ Radio 1.On July 7, 2009, Dunphy announced he would cease presenting his programme, to concentrate on sport....
, after witnessing him shouting and swearing at his Mint staff.