Owners of Amy’s Baking Company moving past ‘Kitchen Nightmares,’ launching new menu
Oct 3, 2014, 10:26 AM | Updated: 10:45 am
PHOENIX — Amy and Samy Bouzaglo, the owners of embattled Amy’s Baking Company in Scottsdale, Ariz., said they are moving past last year’s disastrous appearance on Fox’s “Kitchen Nightmare” and are launching a new menu.
“We are paying attention to the customers’ dietary needs and the wants of our customers,” said Amy. “Everybody has lightened up and we’re getting ready to lighten up as well and just make it fresh, clean, easy fast food.”
The eatery introduced a new menu Thursday that will help reduce wait times and Amy’s workload in the kitchen, Samy said. It will also reduce all item prices below $10.
For the Bouzaglos, the new menu closes the door on their disastrous appearance on Fox’s “Kitchen Nightmares.” After the episode aired last year, the couple came under attack online.
Amy said they have received thousands of death threats and daily abuse but they are pushing on.
“We’re taking everything negative and turning it positive,” she said.
Despite the new outlook, Amy said she and Samy do struggle at times to get past how frequently people are ready to lash out without having ever met them.
“Does the world really not get it? Do they really not know that the show was fake? Do they not understand that we were set up? Do they really have that tiny of a mind that they can’t open their mind and they believe everything that’s on TV?”
Amy said she no longer responds to a majority of online comments, one of the things that made them a target in the first place. She has turned her online energy into working with bullied kids on Instagram and ignoring her detractors.
“I don’t take any of that personally because I know who I am,” she said. “Not one drop of my self-worth matters from what anybody thinks about me because the people that think anything about me don’t know who I am as a person and I am nothing but a good person. I’m not worried about what anybody thinks about me.”
While a lot of people sought to mock and deride the Bouzaglos, Amy said that wasn’t the only kind of feedback they received.
“I’ve learned a lot,” she said. “I’ve learned how closed-minded they are, but I’ve also learned how beautiful people are and how supportive people are.”
They may have a new outlook on life, but that doesn’t mean things will always be calm at Amy’s Baking Company.
“People should come to try us if they want excellent, fresh, affordable food and sometimes you get a side of entertainment. You never know. It depends on the day,” Amy laughed.
“We’re the nicest people in the world if you leave us alone and let us serve you good food that’s made from our heart,” Amy said, still laughing. “But if you try to cause trouble and mess with us, we may chase you like a guard dog and we might even bite you.”
KTAR’s Sandra Haros, Jordan Allen and Sonny Scott and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
