[Press Release - Released by BBC America]
World-renowned chef and restaurateur Raymond Blanc returns to BBC AMERICA in a third season of Last Restaurant Standing, with nine hungry couples vying for the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to open a restaurant with him. Last Restaurant Standing premieres Tuesday, January 5, 9:00p.m. ET/PT
After starting with little to no professional cooking experience and two weeks of elimination challenges, six of the nine couples are chosen to take over an empty restaurant, make it their own, and open to the public within a week. Every decision, every argument, every mistake they make is caught on camera. The couples are working and living together 24 hours-a-day, under enormous pressure – and only one will succeed.
From their first meeting with the Michelin-starred maestro, the couples are put in the deep end, facing a series of increasingly tough challenges – from serving afternoon tea to over 100 guests at a tea dance to making dishes to sell at a local farmers market using only fresh, local and seasonal produce. All are designed to test the creativity and practical skills they need in order to go into business with Raymond. Get it wrong and the doors are closed. Tough times on the high street mean Raymond Blanc is not in the market for dreamers – and the pressure is on to show him they have what it takes to survive.
“The industry is under tremendous difficulty,” says Raymond. “Every day restaurants are closing down. I must tell you that the customer has become demanding and picky… he wants the best value for money and expects great things. So the pressure is on us all. We must aim higher. We must do better.”
Throughout this series Raymond Blanc is a regular presence in the couples’ restaurants – scrutinizing their relationships, business ideas and cooking skills. No disasters or triumphs go unnoticed as the couples fight to keep their restaurants open.
Upping the pressure are Raymond’s eagle-eyed industry experts: Sarah Willingham and David Moore who, as investors in this year’s prize, are looking for a strong brand concept and service excellence.
BBC AMERICA brings audiences a new generation of award-winning television featuring news with a uniquely global perspective, provocative dramas, razor-sharp comedies, life-changing makeovers and a whole new world of nonfiction. BBC AMERICA pushes the boundaries to deliver high quality, highly addictive and eminently watchable programming to viewers who demand more. It is available on digital cable and satellite TV in more than 65 million homes.
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