"I'm Not Particularly Tough; I've Had Bosses Much Tougher Than Me"

It was the format that made him known to the general public. 'Nightmare in the Kitchen' premieres this Tuesday (10:50 PM) its ninth season on La Sexta, with chef Alberto Chicote (Madrid, 55 years old) at the helm. The show returns with new realities and conflicts but with a common goal: to save hoteliers and restaurants on the brink of collapse. Over its ten years of broadcasting, the show has averaged a 10.7% share and more than 1.8 million viewers.

-In the first episode, we see you encounter cockroaches in a restaurant. Is that the worst you've seen?

-When we talk about the worst of 'Nightmare,' it often has nothing to do with this. There are things that seem even worse to me, like that feeling of discouragement, disinterest, lack of work, or effort. In the end, these are things that are much harder to solve than a cockroach infestation. But yes, it does catch your attention when someone has such a problem and hasn't found a prior solution. No one is exempt from having a pest problem, but if you haven't addressed it, then you do have a problem.

-Have you softened after so many seasons of 'Nightmare in the Kitchen'?

-I don't think I'm particularly tough because I've had bosses much tougher than me. When we do 'Nightmare' with our client, we don't have much time to do little things. We have a week to solve many things, to resolve many problems, and to dot the i's. We have to get straight to the point. And if something isn't there, then it's simply not there.

-What can't you stand about a restaurant?

-Some have cleanliness issues; others lack management and care. And some owners simply don't care at all. I love this profession, and anything like that seems hurtful and enrages me a lot. If you're a Real Madrid fan, it bothers you when people criticize your team. I don't care about football, but I get angry when you mistreat a sea bass or don't keep things as they should be.

-In other editions, you reported that your electricity and gas were cut off during some recordings. Have you experienced another moment like that?

-This season we haven't experienced it directly, but we've been on the edge. You have to keep in mind that when someone calls 'Nightmare,' it's because they can't take it anymore. What happens? Most of the time, they reach situations where they haven't paid Social Security or their gas and electricity bills.

-Is there a lot of ego in restaurants?

-I think there's a bit of everything. The romantic side of running a restaurant is great: I love opening a restaurant; I'll be able to attend myself; my clients and friends will come... That's cool. What happens? Behind that, there's always a lot of work, dedication, and effort, but you also have to enjoy it. I always stand up for this profession because I don't think it's as sacrificial as people say. It's a job like any other where those who enjoy it wouldn't do anything else.

-Have you reserved December 31st in case you're asked to present the New Year's Eve countdown with Pedroche again?

-The truth is I don't know, and I say this every year because it's very true. What I know is that on December 31st, I'll be working somewhere, whether on TV or not. If Antena 3 wants me to do the countdown one more year, which would be the tenth already, then fine. Because it's something I love doing; I've learned so much from it, and well, I don't know how to express it, but it's always an honor for the network to count on me. Personally, I haven't heard anything about doing it yet, but at some point they'll let me know.