Is Emeril Lagasse At the End of His Rope?

 

According to some comments he made at an event to promote his new TNT show, On the Menu, Emeril Lagasse is … rather bleak on the future of restaurants. And perhaps his own future.

The Week reports that while at the event, Lagasse went off on a tirade of sadness where he proclaimed “I have nowhere to go, really — other than broke.” Tell us what you really think, Lagasse:

“It’s becoming a very challenging industry to become a very successful average restaurateur,” continued Lagasse. “I can’t charge $300 a person in my restaurant or I would not be in business. Am I using any different ingredients? Not really. Am I using any caliber of service staff? I don’t think so. I think our service is as good or better than most places.”

“And then you add all the Obama nonsense to what it’s become in the last several years. I don’t have anything against Mr. Obama. I’m just saying the way that, you know… the government should stay out of things. […] Pretty soon, they’re going to wipe a lot of the middle restaurateurs and restaurant cooks. […] If it continues, then watch: you’re going to have high-end, and you’re going to have fast food, and you’re going to have chain restaurants.”

Oh. Oh my. Well, we guess that explains the TNT show, no?

[The Week]

RELATED: Emeril Lagasse’s New TNT Show Features Home Chefs Vying to Cook for Chili’s, Other Chains
Allen Salkin on FN’s Culture Crisis: ‘The Network Itself Doesn’t Know What A Food Network Star Is Anymore’

Have a tip we should know? tips@mediaite.com

Filed Under: