What was discovered in Crazy Burger’s kitchen on Gordon Ramsay's Secret Service?

Gordon Ramsay's Secret Service on Fox TV has exposed shocking food safety violations at a Rhode Island restaurant. The celebrity chef went undercover to investigate Crazy Burger Cafe and Juice Bar, a popular eatery that gained fame after Guy Fieri's 2009 visit on "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives." The restaurant, owned by Michael Maxon for nearly three decades, has struggled with financial difficulties since COVID-19.

Ramsay’s undercover check at Crazy Burger turned up kitchen problems so bad that he warned the food,

“Could send you to the hospital.”

The series follows him as he digs into how struggling restaurants really run. At Crazy Burger, he spotted everything from meat stored at the wrong temperature to ingredients that were already spoiled. The episode, titled Crazy Burger, shows how a place that once had lines out the door can fall apart fast when no one is watching the basics.

Gordon Ramsay's Secret Service: What were the issues discovered in Crazy Burger?

The kitchen's refrigeration equipment caused significant health dangers. Ramsay observed that the primary refrigerator was set at 46°F instead of the recommended 37°F. This nine-degree temperature differential provides optimal circumstances for bacterial development and food degradation.

The temperature setting alone might result in foodborne disease outbreaks. Restaurants must keep adequate cold storage to avoid hazardous bacteria from proliferating. Another concern raised was that raw ground turkey sat in puddles of blood all over the kitchen. The sight left Ramsay visibly disturbed as he examined the unsanitary conditions.

Mushrooms showed signs of fungal contamination beyond their natural state. Ramsay noted finding "fungus on a fungus" during his inspection. The stale turkey prompted his strongest warning about potential hospitalization. Contaminated meat can cause severe food poisoning when served to customers.

The episode also noted that the spice rack was covered in dirt and debris. Basic seasoning ingredients had become contaminated through poor maintenance. Fryer oil had not been changed for weeks. Old cooking oil breaks down and can produce harmful compounds when heated repeatedly. These equipment issues showed a pattern of neglect throughout the kitchen operations.

Two former "Hell's Kitchen" contestants joined the investigation as undercover diners on Gordon Ramsay's Secret Service. Sammi Tarantino, the season 22 finalist and private chef, provided professional insight into the dining experience. Rock Harper, the season 3 winner and entrepreneur, evaluated the restaurant from a business perspective. Their combined expertise helped document the full extent of operational problems.

The secret diners gathered evidence about food quality and service standards without revealing their connection to Ramsay. Fox Network's press release highlighted the restaurant's mounting debts following the pandemic. Years of financial pressure had led to cost-cutting measures that compromised food safety.

What were the lessons learned in this episode?

Michael Maxon acknowledged the violations discovered during filming of Gordon Ramsay's Secret Service. He told The Providence Journal that getting "busted on some stuff" taught valuable lessons about restaurant management.

The experience led to menu simplification for better consistency. Focusing on fewer items allows staff to maintain higher quality standards. Maxon's willingness to accept criticism suggests potential for improvement under proper guidance. Ramsay's investigation exposed how quickly restaurant standards can deteriorate without proper oversight. The discoveries at Crazy Burger serve as a warning about the importance of consistent food safety practices.

The Gordon Ramsay's Secret Service episode demonstrates that even successful restaurants can face serious problems when management fails to maintain basic standards.

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You can watch Gordon Ramsay's Secret Service on Tuesdays on Fox and stream it the next day on Hulu.

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