Results tagged “restaurantmakeover”

Each week, Torontoist examines the upcoming TV listings and makes note of programs that are entertaining, informative, and of quality. Or, alternately, none of those. The result: Televisualist.

So who has the best chicken wings in Toronto? That’s just the question that Brian and Robert Salnek of the marketing company Northern Management sought to answer this Wednesday by organizing the first annual Toronto Wing-Off. "We had looked up reviews, and we found that there was no definite answer as to who had the best wings," explained Brian. "The Americans make these things a chow-down—we wanted this event to be like a wine tasting, except for wings." The event, which was hosted by Tortilla Flats, featured five contenders—Hooters, Jack Astor’s, Duff’s Famous Wings, St. Louis Bar and Grill, and the Crown and Dragon—and seven judges, including Chef Robert L. Rainford of Food Network Canada's License to Grill and Robin De Groot, the former lead designer of the infamous Restaurant Makeover. Ten restaurants and bars were invited to compete, but since only five participated, we’re not sure if the contest definitively determined the city's best wings—the winner certainly has bragging rights though.

With Restaurant Makeover (one of our villains for 2007), restaurant owners literally put their livelihood into the hands of strangers, who match them dollar for dollar on a giant overhaul, hoping that they can help to improve whatever it is that isn’t working. In some cases it’s the food, sometimes the décor, or often a combo of both. The crack team of specialists swoops in and works its magic on what is almost always portrayed as a pitiful shell of a business to make it thrive. What these business owners—and most viewers—seem not to fully realize, however, is that Restaurant Makeover is 100% pure television, from its minute-by-minute formula to its faux meltdowns complete with dramatic hair-pulling and bleeped expletives. The show wrapped taping for good at the end of 2008 (according to a source, they feel they now have enough shows in the can to repeat them “ad nauseum” and continue to make a profit), but it continues to rile television viewers and commenters all over the web. Many restaurants have gone under immediately following their makeovers. So why do owners do it? What do they get out of it? What does Restaurant Makeover really want to get out of them? And is it all as bad as it seems?

Each week, Torontoist examines the upcoming TV listings and makes note of programs that are entertaining, informative, and of quality. Or, alternately, none of those. The result: Televisualist.

Torontoist is ending the year by naming our Heroes and Villains of 2007––the people, places, and things that we've either fallen head over heels in love with or developed uncontrollable rage towards over the past twelve months. Get your dose, starting Boxing Day and running into the new year, three times a day––sunrise, noon, and sunset.