On February 24, 2012, Cafe Hon was featured in an episode of the Fox network's Kitchen Nightmares with Gordon Ramsay.

[3] In 2002, the distinct flamingo sculpture was introduced above the restaurant, created by local artist Randall Gornowich.

[5][citation needed] Whiting and the city finally reached an agreement, in which the permit fee would be at least $400 a year,[7] and the flamingo returned.

[16] On November 7, 2011, during the taping for Kitchen Nightmares, Whiting held a press conference with Gordon Ramsay present where she announced that she would be relinquishing the "Hon" trademark.

"[2] Whiting said that the controversy over trademarking the word "Hon" had a huge toll on her business and her own health.

Since it was first revealed in December 2010 that "Hon" was trademarked to her, she estimated a "20 to 25 percent drop off" in sales and that she needed to sell her individual retirement accounts (IRAs) just to meet payroll.