Filming In Brooklyn » Clinton Hill

A “Nightmare” of a meal at Mojito

Amy/FIB — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 19:01:00 +0000

This post originally appeared on SelfishMom.com on February 28th, 2010.

Back in May of 2009, Kitchen Nightmares – one of my favorite shows – filmed an episode in my neighborhood, at local Cuban restaurant Mojito. It’s never a good sign for a restaurant to make it onto the show, and I felt glad that I had never eaten there before. I’ve seen plenty of episodes with rotting food and bug-covered kitchens, and I’d told myself more than once that if I ever found out I’d eaten at one of the Kitchen Nightmares restaurants, I would promptly make myself throw up just for good measure, no matter how long ago the meal had been. Seriously people, kitchens crawling with bugs; food older than my kids; staff members that act so cringe-worthy on camera I can’t even imagine how much worse they are off camera.

But my love for my websites was apparently greater than my fear of food poisoning, because I managed to snag a reservation one of the nights they were shooting and convinced The Ass to go with me. I was hoping to write it all up for Filming In Brooklyn, but of course the production made me sign so many papers I decided in the end it wouldn’t be worth the headache and kept quiet (online, anyway) about our little adventure. So, basically, we paid a babysitter to watch our kids while we paid to go eat in a restaurant that we knew to be so incredibly bad it had made it onto Kitchen Nightmares. We did this willingly, enthusiastically even.

If you ever get a chance to eat during the filming of one of these shows, you want to do it on the last night – after Chef Gordon Ramsay has worked his magic and brought the restaurant around. We were definitely not there after the make-over. The food was pretty bad. But of course, we weren’t there for the food. We were there to see the show get produced, maybe hear a few expletives straight from Ramsay’s mouth, and perhaps even get on TV.

We were seated against the back wall of the restaurant, which gave me a good view of everything that was going on, and gave The Ass a great view of the back wall and the giant boom mic that would occasionally hover over my head. I would know it was there because we’d be talking about something personal – the kids, gossip, it was a date after all! – and all of a sudden The Ass would ask me how my food was, out of nowhere. That was the only way I knew we were on camera – the cameras were zooming in on us from across the room.

The cameras got close to us only when I sent something back. Sending something back is something that I hardly ever do. I mean, something has to be just downright awful, or simply the wrong order, for me to send it back. I’m more likely to leave hungry and never ever return. But we had been told on the way in that if we didn’t like something, we should let a producer know. I let the producer know that my rice and beans were pretty gross (come on, how do you mess up rice and beans?), and I would absolutely not say that I was pushed to send them back, but I was encouraged. Or rather, the producer looked so hopeful that I would send it back that I just couldn’t let her down. So I sent it back, and got something new, and that was that. The rest of the meal wasn’t great, but wasn’t worth sending back either.

The whole time we were there, we didn’t hear any shouting, didn’t see any drama, didn’t get to watch Chef Ramsay foam at the mouth. No staff members fled in tears. All in all, kind-of a let down. Chef Ramsay did wander through the dining room a couple of times but never came to our table. This was his night to observe, to see how the staff and owners do on their own before getting his help. No fireworks.

The episode finally aired this week (you can watch the Mojito episode of Kitchen Nightmares here) and while we don’t appear in it for even a split second, it’s a good episode, you should watch. It’s fun seeing how shows are made (and I really wish I could find a way to resurrect Filming in Brooklyn without giving up on sleep entirely), so if the show comes to your town you should try to get in. But remember, if you actually want good food, try to get a reservation for the last day!

Have a location shooting tip or some on location pictures? Please email Amy, or text the pictures to Amy@FilmingInBrooklyn.com, or tweet the pictures to @FilmingBrooklyn. Amy also blogs at SelfishMom.com. Purchases made by clicking on links from Filming In Brooklyn may result in this website receiving compensation from an advertiser or affiliate.

Mystery shoot in Clinton Hill

Amy/FIB — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 17:29:53 +0000

Please note: location listings are based on on tips, permits, and no parking signs, and are generally unconfirmed. Weather, schedule changes, and many other factors could affect the timing and locations of the shoots listed. If you can confirm any of the info listed below, please leave a comment on this post.

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Something is filming today on Washington Avenue near Gates. I didn’t realize productions were allowed to just put “Film Shoot” on the no parking signs and omit the permit number.

Originally posted on Filming In Brooklyn. Have a location shooting tip or some on location pictures? Please email Amy, or text the pictures to Amy@FilmingInBrooklyn.com, or tweet the pictures to @FilmingBrooklyn. Amy also blogs at SelfishMom.com.

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“White Collar” filming in Clinton Hill

Amy/FIB — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 19:10:33 +0000

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“No Parking” signs are lining Gates Avenue from about Grand to St. James, and the orange cones are out. But so far, no trucks have arrived and no actual filming is being done for White Collar. My guess is that they’re filming in another location first.

White Collar, a drama for USA, stars Matthew Bomer and Tiffani Thiessen.

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“Rescue Me” filming in Clinton Hill

Amy/FIB — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 05:10:06 +0000

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Rescue Me, starring Denis Leary, is filming on Tuesday in the vicinity of Gates and Downing. This is pretty much confirmed – cars are being towed already.

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“Rescue Me” in Clinton Hill

Amy/FIB — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 04:54:37 +0000

Rescue Me is scheduled to shoot in the vicinity of Gates and Downing, in Clinton Hill, on Thursday and Friday.

Mystery production filming right now in Clinton Hill

Amy/FIB — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 20:27:52 +0000

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I just got a tip from Lauren that something is filming on Myrtle Avenue between Hall and Washington. Anyone in the area have any idea what it is?

“Sex” and the brownstone

Amy/FIB — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 02:38:32 +0000

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Sex and the City 2 filmed today on Dekalb Avenue in Clinton Hill, in the same brownstone they’ve been using as Miranda’s (Cynthia Nixon) Brooklyn house since the last season of the TV show.

Production trucks lined Washington Avenue between Dekalb and Willoughby, with some spilling over onto side streets.

While there have been reports of the cast being mobbed by fans when the movie has filmed outdoor scenes in Manhattan, today’s scenes were reportedly all interiors so the screaming fans were thankfully absent, at least when I passed by this morning.

“Sex and the City 2″ in Clinton Hill

Amy/FIB — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 04:43:28 +0000

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Sex and the City 2 will be filming in the vicinity of Washington Avenue and Dekalb Avenue. It’s probably safe to say that the location is the brownstone on Dekalb between Washington and Waverly, first used as a location in the last season of the TV series when Miranda, Steve and Brady moved to Brooklyn. UPDATE: I totally forgot to thank Noah for the tip. Thanks, Noah!

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“Can’t Lose” filming in Clinton Hill

Amy/FIB — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 03:56:49 +0000

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Filming in Brooklyn reader Tim just let me know that something called Can’t Lose is filming on Saturday on St. James between Gates And Greene. I can’t find any info on this project but will try to check it out.

Mystery Actress in Clinton Hill

Amy/FIB — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 01:56:21 +0000

I went to where Going the Distance is shooting in Clinton Hill this afternoon. When I was there they were shooting interiors on the Pratt Campus on Willoughby and wouldn’t let anyone near. The movie stars Drew Barrymore, Christina Applegate, and Justin Long.

I wandered over to Myrtle between Washington and Hall where the trailers are, and knew that somebody big had to be inside one of them, since there were paparazzi gathered. I didn’t want to ask them who they were waiting for because they like to mess with people, and I’m pretty gullible.

A minute later, a pretty blond came out of the trailer marked “Erin” and got into a van, and while I got a few pictures, none of them show her face clearly, and I’m just not sure whether or not it’s Drew Barrymore. At first I was absolutely positive that it was not, but then I found these pictures of her taken this morning, and she looks different than she usually does – thinner, especially in her face. So it could be her, I have no idea. I kind of suck at this part.

Originally posted on Filming In Brooklyn. Have a location shooting tip or some on location pictures? Please email Amy or text the pictures to Amy@FilmingInBrooklyn.com.

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Reader pics from “Salt” and “Kitchen Nightmares”

Amy/FIB — Mon, 11 May 2009 18:44:37 +0000

A couple of Filming In Brooklyn readers sent in some great pictures from last week. Very much appreciated!

Salt at Floyd Bennett Field

First up is Salt, which filmed last Thursday in Floyd Bennett Field. A crew spent a week building a Korean border set. Preston sent this shot from the shoot:

If you look really really close you can see Angelina Jolie…having a coffee at a Starbucks in Queens? No idea if she was there or not. Looks like it was a really fun scene to stage though, so many different elements to put together. Thanks, Preston!

Kitchen Nightmares in Clinton Hill

Next we move to last weekend’s Kitchen Nightmares shoot. Jennifer got some great shots of star Gordon Ramsay outside of Mojito on Washington Avenue in Clinton Hill.

Too bad there’s no audio – I’m pretty sure he can’t walk up and down a ramp without letting a few F-bombs go.

Thanks Jennifer!

Originally posted on Filming In Brooklyn

Is Clinton Hill’s Mojito a Kitchen Nightmare? [Filming In Brooklyn]

Salt builds fake Korean border in Brooklyn [Filming In Brooklyn]

Salt‘s Korean border meets Hollywood in Brooklyn [Examiner]

Is Clinton Hill’s Mojito a Kitchen Nightmare?

Amy/FIB — Fri, 01 May 2009 22:44:10 +0000

UPDATE 2/28/10: I ended up going to a taping of Kitchen Nightmares at Mojito, but promised not to write about it until after the episode aired, which it did on February 25, 2010. I wrote about the Kitchen Nightmares filming on my other blog, SelfishMom.com.

“Kitchen Nightmares” sets up shop in Clinton Hill

I got a tip that the Gordon Ramsay show Kitchen Nightmares – one of my favorites – is filming at Clinton Hill’s Mojito restaurant. For those of you not familiar with the show, Gordon Ramsay – the much bleeped but brilliant chef/star of Hell’s Kitchen – descends upon troubled restaurants and attempts to turn them around. Some of the restaurants just suffer from bad management or awkward menus. But sometimes, they’re overrun with bugs or rodents, filled with rotting meat, or staffed by morons who drop food on the floor and put it back in the pan. I have no idea which end of this spectrum Mojito falls on, but basically, if you’re doing well you’re not going to end up on this show.

I stopped by for a few minutes this afternoon to confirm that filming was indeed going on, and it was. But I wasn’t able to see anything.

The production had most of their trucks and equipment set up inside and in front of Victor’s Garage, next to Mojito, thus minimizing the street space they needed.

Want to be on “Kitchen Nightmares”?

FIB reader Nathan sent me a link to a Myrtle Minutes post about the shoot, and it gives details on how to be a (paying) diner at Mojito this weekend during the shoot. If anyone goes, I’d love a report (if that’s possible – I’m guessing they’ll make you sign something saying that you’ll stay quiet).

Originally posted on Filming In Brooklyn

What’s Filming Monday?

Amy/FIB — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 03:22:42 +0000

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Fringe is filming in Williamsburg in the vicinity of Bedford and South 1st Street. Thanks to Brian for the tip and pic!

Fair Game, a movie about the Valerie Plame debacle, is shooting in Cobble Hill Park, between Congress Street and Verandah Place. Written by Valerie Plame and directed by Doug Liman (The Bourne trilogy), Fair Game stars Naomi Watts and Sean Penn.

Originally posted on Filming In Brooklyn

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Run’s House filming right now in Clinton Hill

Amy/FIB — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 00:14:04 +0000

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The popular MTV reality show Run’s House, starring Rev Run and his family, is filming right now (7:30pm) at Danny Simmons’ Corridor Gallery on Grand Avenue near Lexington in Clinton Hill (Run and Danny are brothers; hip-hop mogul Russel Simmons is the third Simmons brother). Our tipster, Andy Newman from The Local, reports that they’re staging a gallery opening for the reality show (yes, I do recognize what’s wrong with that sentence). Russel Simmons, as well as other MTV types, are expected to be there for the “opening.”

Originally posted on Filming In Brooklyn

B-Cat Filming On Fulton

Amy/FIB — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 18:46:35 +0000

Normally this isn’t even something that I would stop and ask about, but there’s been so little filming lately that when I saw a camera I got nosey. A B-Cat reporter stepped off of a city bus, walked to the camera and spoke about the rally that was just held on Fulton near St. James in Clinton Hill to protest bus service cuts.

It’s been lonely, if anyone has any tips, please send them my way…

Originally posted on Filming In Brooklyn