Suvechha Sarkar
In Fox’s ‘Kitchen Nightmares,’ Chef Gordon Ramsay visits the restaurants that are on the brink of closing their doors and brings their struggles and amazing transformation stories before the audience. In episode 5 of season 9, titled- ‘3 Southern Girls,’ Gordon Ramsay visits Jefferson, Louisiana, to help a small but once-thriving restaurant. Owned by a passionate chef, Gabrielle Smith, AKA Gabi, the eatery has presently become a struggling business. With the weight of personal tragedy and the owner’s inability to delegate tasks to others, it is time for the chef to step in and decide its fate.
Gabi’s Inability to Seek Help is Seemingly the Reason Behind the Undoing of 3 Southern Girls
On February 29, 2020, the 3 Southern Girls opened its doors to customers for the first time. Gabrielle Smith, the owner and the head chef, discovered her love for cooking from her grandfather, who was also a chef. She learned about traditional old-school recipes from him, and it turned out to be her passion. However, her grandfather’s journey was not easy. He was raised in the neighborhood where the restaurant now stands, but due to segregation, he could not walk through its doors. Her grandfather had passed away after a while. Thus, the day when she started the business became a very emotional moment for her. She knows her grandfather is proud of her since she created a space based on his legacy.
For the first few years, things were going incredibly well for them. The customers loved the food, and the money was flowing. However, an unexpected tragedy struck Gabi when she got the call that her son had been in a serious car accident. She dropped everything immediately to be by his side and chose to keep her restaurant closed for a month. On top of that, she paid the employees from her own pocket, which ended up draining her savings. Although she was very happy that her son had completely recovered, she did not fully get back on track with her business.
Moreover, Monchel Parker-Johnson (her best friend and cook) and Tia (her sister and server) think that the owner struggles with asking for help. Gabi also despises being told what to do, which has slowed down the business, making customers unhappy with the service. The stress of handling everything on her own has also taken a huge toll on her, and she is getting exhausted with every passing day. Her sister notices that there is a decline in the food quality and the customers are walking out disappointed. However, the outlet now has an opportunity to revive itself since the Super Bowl is arriving, but the owner is skeptical whether she will be able to handle the pressure in her condition. As they reached a breaking point, her son Makhi Smith reached out to Gordon Ramsay for assistance.
Gordon Ramsay Notices That the Main Issue Lies Within Gabi’s Stubbornness
Upon his arrival, Gordon Ramsay first meets with Makhi, where he hears the devastating details of his accident and the impact it had on his mother. He admits that both her physical and emotional health is deteriorating, and without change, the restaurant and his mother may collapse. Gordon immediately realizes how small and cramped the space is. He then proceeds to talk with some of the customers and receives lukewarm feedback on the served food. While Gabi turns nervous, he gets down to business by ordering a selection of five Southern classics. Since the place is filled with customers, he improvises and sets up a table for himself near his car. Shortly after, he gets very disappointed with the kitchen’s slow pace and goes inside to ask for updates about his orders.
When the dishes finally arrive, Gordon remarks that the Cornbread is crumbly and the Shrimp is flavorless. To him, the Mac and Cheese feel more like spaghetti drowned in processed cheese. On the other hand, the Gumbo, which should be the star dish, is another disappointment because it lacks depth. He quickly calls for a staff meeting after the lunch hour is over and asks Gabi how much she will rank her food. Although she hesitates, he bluntly states that there is no Southern charm in the dishes he just had, and he expected something far more flavourful. Tia admits that they have been cutting down corners on quality to boost their efficiency because, back at home, the food tastes very different. Gordon discovers that Gabi has abandoned her grandfather’s recipes and is instead committing to her memory to cook them.
Gordon is baffled because these recipes are the foundation of this kitchen. She expresses that she is quite burnt out because she does a lot of the work herself. He notes that it feels like she is taking shortcuts to the recipes. When he enters the kitchen to understand how everything is done, he notices that the kitchen is not functioning properly because the owner is exhausted. He points out that problems like broken sandwich stations and increased customer waiting time arise because Gabi is micromanaging everything. The tensions rise to a boiling point when she refuses to listen to him. This makes him frustrated, and he ends up walking out of the restaurant. When he returns, he has a one-on-one conversation with her. The chef explains to her how she is holding the business back because of her stubbornness.
Gabi Finally Receives the Wake-up Call With an Unexpected Meet
To help her understand the importance of teamwork, Gordon takes Gabi to the Superdome in the heart of New Orleans to meet an unexpected guest. She is delighted to meet the NFL star, Craig Robertson. The star provides her with the lesson that just like football, running a restaurant is also a team sport. Craig tells her that no matter how skilled a particular player is, they will never be able to win alone. This message highly resonates with Gabi, and for the first time, she sees the value of letting go. Meanwhile, Gordon’s team transforms the restaurant’s unattractive decor and replaces it with warm and inviting colors.
As the staff returns to the eatery, they remain awestruck. Gabi becomes overwhelmed with her emotions and tries very hard not to break into tears. This is when the chef introduces them to the menu, and as everyone tries the food, they become impressed. He then asks her to promise that she will not take any fast tracks for the recipes and will strictly follow the instructions. As the restaurant relaunches, Gordon also decides to work side-by-side with the owner in the kitchen.
With considerable effort, Gabi finally steps back and lets her staff take control. At the end of the day, she is quite surprised since the kitchen runs more efficiently, and the patrons are getting their food faster. As the positive feedback starts pouring in, Monchel notes that this is the first time they have worked like a team. Makhi is very grateful to Gordon for helping his mother see that she does not have to do everything alone. When the time for his departure finally arrives, the chef and Gabi share a heartfelt moment, and he mentions that she is on the verge of greatness. For once, the owner truly feels ready to ask for help because she is confident that she deserves it.
3 Southern Girls Has Finally Become What Gabi Originally Envisioned
Two months after Gordon Ramsay’s visit, 3 Southern Girls is still hustling and bustling with customers. Gabi has embraced the change and has been working as a team. This has allowed her staff to handle the workload while she focuses on her part in the kitchen. As a result, the wait times for the dishes have grown incredibly shorter, and the food quality has drastically improved. Both regulars and newcomers are impressed with the changes, and the restaurant is finally back on track. With Gabi’s grandfather’s recipes receiving their original fame, the restaurant has evidently become a true Southern gem. The restaurant has currently expanded its reach by accepting online orders, which has made it easier for locals and tourists to try their cuisines. Likewise, they have prioritized fresh ingredients over anything to ensure their service remains top-notch.
As of writing, 3 Southern Girls has a 4.6-star rating on Google and 229 written reviews. Apart from being featured on the New Orleans tourism website, it also has a 4.6-star rating on Yelp. The establishment celebrated its 4-year anniversary in January 2025. This showcases that despite not having any experience running a restaurant or any professional training, they have truly persevered. Gabi is evidently following along the path of seeking help, just as Gordon had advised because they have been looking for an experienced Restaurant Manager and Kitchen Helper or a Line Cook. Following her grandmother’s red beans recipe, Gabi has truly mastered the dish, which has been an instant hit among the patrons. This has given her the opportunity to collaborate with Camellia Beans, a famous red bean brand in New Orleans. All in all, the team of 3 Southern Sisters has continued to show their resilience and create wonders with their culinary prowess.
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