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Reality Show Chef Found Dead in Hudson River

Chef Gordon Ramsay with Joseph Cerniglia. Photo: Eric Liebowitz / FOX


The body of a man found floating in the Hudson River last Friday afternoon was identified as 39-year-old New Jersey chef Joseph Cerniglia, a 2007 participant in Gordon Ramsay's reality TV show "Kitchen Nightmares."

Cerniglia, owner of Campania, an Italian restaurant in Fair Lawn, N.J., was pulled from the river around 3 p.m. on Friday when police responded to a 911 call that a body was floating in the river, the New York Daily News reported.

Police still don't know how Cerniglia wound up in the river, but the department is conducting an open investigation, a New York City Police Department spokesman told Slashfood on Monday.

Cerniglia appeared on "Kitchen Nightmares" in 2007 to help revive Campania, which he told the Bergen County Record was deep in debt.

"We were very busy, but I couldn't seem to make a profit," Cerniglia said. "We kept getting deeper and deeper into debt. Our food costs were high, and we couldn't get our labor costs under control."

The show's web site reveals that "Joe confides to Gordon that he has lost $120,000 in eighteen months and owes his purveyors another $80,000... Gordon meets Joe's wife and sons. She confides to Gordon that if the restaurant folds, they will lose everything -- including their house."

After Ramsay helps get Campania back on its feet, "in the weeks following Gordon's visit, Campania's customers are happy, profits are up and Joe has regained control of the front and of the kitchen," the site says.

Filed Under: Chefs, News
Tags: campania, gordon ramsay, joseph cerniglia, kitchen nightmares

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Reader comments (Page 1 of 5)

Lee

9-27-2010 @3:24PM Lee said... Chef Joe really impressed me, as did his wife. Very sincere, hard-working people, trying to fulfill their dreams; and Chef Ramsey seemed to be more invested in this than usual, probably because he's an attentive father as well. I am very sorry for the family's loss and hope they will be able to reasonably recover from this tragedy.
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Debbie

9-29-2010 @1:33PM Debbie said... Now that's the kind of response that should be here. Heartfelt condolences to a life lost, not all the other bickering and insensitive gargage.

Jules

9-27-2010 @3:25PM Jules said... Beth, what a horrible comment to make even if you obviously dislike Gordon Ramsey. What has he ever done to you to warrant that despicable comment?! On the contrary, he has helped countless people, their families, and/or their employees to either improve and save their restaurants or he has helped people pursue culinary careers either in his restaurants or from his cooking shows. I am sure based upon your rude and insensitive comment that you are such a joy (not!) to be around. Instead, a chef, still young at 39, has left his wife a widow and their sons without a father since being found dead. Maybe you should go take a swim in the Hudson River.
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Joe

9-27-2010 @8:55PM Joe said... hey Jules, maybe you shouldn't beleive everyhting you happen to see on TV? I understand where you're coming from and you sound like a very nice person and I'm sure not defending what that other lady said either ok. Only, what we all happen to see on the TV sure doesn't, by a long shot, tell the whole story about people. Those two people sure are not saints, just folks like you and me doing what they can to get by the only way they know how. I'm not saying they are bad just saying they are aren't nothing but good either. They've done their share of bad things to others in business, don't for one-second think they haven't.

Sandra

9-27-2010 @3:27PM Sandra said... What a nasty and unnecessary comment posted by Beth.
Anyway, I actually remember this episode and remember his wife crying to Gordon. I hope this has nothing to do with the depts owed. There will be a lot of speculation but my sympathies to his family.
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ashleigh

9-27-2010 @4:44PM ashleigh said... to "mannamedjoe" -- why would you accuse "Sandra" of anything, least of all of not using her real name?! It sounds far more like a real name than YOURS, Mannamedjoe!! I use MT real name, so why shouldn't she, and why accuse her of not doing so?! Your comment mystefies...

I feel sad for the chef, and hope it wasn't criminals who killed him for not paying his $200k in debts... A tragic story all the way around...

Sandra

9-27-2010 @4:58PM Sandra said... So I guess 'mannamedjoe' is your name given at birth...you are off your rocker. Why would I make up a name like Sandra and why would it even matter to you? You were just lacking intellegent input.

Thanks Ashleigh!

Beth

9-27-2010 @11:11PM Beth said... What do you want? An apology? Ramsay is a manufactured villain but it seems like he enjoys it too much. Bullies like Ramsay deserve what ever they get. My first comment WAS on impulse but as a formerly bullied child I take notice when abusive people get theirs and I don't have to do a thing to facilitate it because what comes around goes around. As far as TV goes it's the biggest corporate bully of all and tv's producers are the biggest manipulators of all. Btw, I don't watch "Ramrod's" show any more but I do read and watch the news. Get off my back people!

Holly

9-28-2010 @6:13AM Holly said... To Everyone,
I have not been on here before, but take it that Beth's comments as a previously bullied child were somewhat ugly and insensitive to Chef Ramsey. To her, I say as the mother of a bullied child, learn to deal with bullies with humor and confidence. Don't take your past and project it onto those that may seem like bullies, but as adults are trying to teach tough love so others can save themselves. I was in the restaurant business for 10 years, and it is a tough business - one of the worst. It eats people alive - apparently literally. It is horribly sad what is happening to people these days in this economy, that is apparently nowhere near recovering despite what some like to say. I have watched Chef Ramsey and he is tough, but needs to be with those that get in over their head and have no clue when they get into this business, as hard as they work. Over 90% of restaurants fail. To the rest that show sympathy to the now deceased chef, congrats on your humanity. To "mannamedjoe", I have no clue what your problem is. Just know this everyone - when I got on these "chats" before I found that after a while I would be talking to the same person with several different names pretending to be several different people that got their rocks off yanking everybodies chains. It just sucked up time and everyone was used. You decide -

Sandra

9-29-2010 @6:49PM Sandra said... Beth please...I and millions of others are formerly bullied children, but that does not make your comment any more valid. If those are your thoughts on people that express themselves differently than you do, then maybe your time would be better spent in a therapists office to help you adapt to society and the different personalities that live in it.
I don't need an apology from you, because nothing you said will alter anything in my existance...I simply pointed out your comment was unnecessary. You don't have to agree with me, and I don't have to agree with you. That's one of the perks of living in a country where we can express ourselves. When posting on a public site, be prepared for no respone, praise and/or critism.
I could care less if you love or hate Ramsey, you're entitled to your opinion.

Jim

9-27-2010 @4:05PM Jim said... Half of the restaurant business is culinary and the other half is business (controling costs and increasing sales) Have to be able to do both. I am a CPA that had a restaurant, I found out.
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rick

9-28-2010 @3:50AM rick said... Don't forget that "controlling costs and increasing sales" is not enough - you also need to have competant, reliable employees who show up for work on time, do their jobs right, and are also good with the public.

Cocoa973

9-27-2010 @3:37PM Cocoa973 said... May God bless the wife, family, relatives, and friends of Joseph Carniglia. And may he rest in peace. You are in my thoughts and prayers.


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susan

9-27-2010 @5:40PM susan said... My heart goes out to his family and friends.As for Chef Ramsey,I love him and would like to see him and Judge Judy do something together.That would be a hoot!!
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Deb

9-27-2010 @4:08PM Deb said... That is sad. I think i remember this episode. Nice family. And Beth you are rotten for wishing it was Ramsey.
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Linda

9-27-2010 @5:05PM Linda said... I don't think she necessarily wishes Ramsey dead, but if given the choice between Ramsey, the raving lunatic, and Cerniglia, the man portrayed as a struggling family man, it would seem that Beth would have preferred to see her least favorite of the two choices meet an untimely demise as opposed to her most favorite of the two choices. Oh wow. Deductive Reasoning. I think I failed that chapter in school.

Q

9-27-2010 @5:54PM Q said... Linda --- Nice spin...!!!

Becky

9-27-2010 @4:04PM Becky said... I love Gordie :)
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Q

9-27-2010 @4:11PM Q said... Joe was deep in debt in New Jersey....!!! Hhhhhhhmmmmm... I wonder...!!!...What could possibly have happened to Joe...???...!!!
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Sunny

9-27-2010 @4:12PM Sunny said... What a bunch of nasty and unnecessary replies to Beth's obvious tongue-in-cheek post about Gordon Ramsey. He may have helped people in his bid for fame and money, but he's a gigantic A**HOLE. I dare you to deny it!
Reply

81 Comments / 5 Pages

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