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Gordon Ramsay

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Gordon Ramsay
Born November 8, 1966
Glasgow, Scotland

<tr><th>Cooking style</th><td>French cuisine</td></tr><tr><th>Restaurants</th><td>Gordon Ramsay at Claridge's, Royal Hospital Road, Boxwood Café, Angela Hartnett at the Connaught, Maze, Pétrus, Banquette, The Savoy Grill, Verre, Gordon Ramsay at Conrad Tokyo, Cerise by Gordon Ramsay, Gordon Ramsay at The London</td></tr><tr><th>TV Show(s)</th><td>Hell's Kitchen (UK), Hell's Kitchen (US), Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares, The F-Word, Boiling Point & Beyond Boiling Point</td></tr>

Gordon James Ramsay OBE (born 8 November 1966) is a British celebrity chef and one of only three chefs in the UK whose restaurant is rated at three Michelin stars.

Contents

[edit] Early years

Born in Scotland, Ramsay was brought up in England after his family moved to Stratford-upon-Avon. As a youngster he played football for Oxford United's youth side where he was spotted by a scout for Scottish giants Rangers. He completed trials for the Glasgow club and signed as a youth player at the age of 12. He was released from the club following a knee injury, from which he was unable to regain full fitness.

Ramsay's father was a PE instructor who wanted his son to pursue a football career, with the ultimate goal of playing for Rangers.[citation needed] After being released by the Scottish team, he offered to help Ramsay find a position on a Third Division side. However, Ramsay went against his father's wishes and took up a catering career, which was suggested by his mother. <ref name="Guardian Unlimited">"Mad for it". Guardian Unlimited. Retrieved on 1 August, 2006.</ref>

[edit] Professional chef

When he was 19, Ramsay turned his hand to cookery and worked with Albert Roux in London and Guy Savoy and Joel Robuchon in Paris before becoming head chef of the newly-opened Aubergine restaurant in 1993.

By 1996, the restaurant had been awarded two Michelin stars. After a dispute with the management he left Aubergine in 1998 to open his own eponymous restaurant, in Chelsea. The restaurant gained three Michelin stars in 2001, making Ramsay the first Scot to achieve that feat.[citation needed]

From his first restaurant his empire has expanded rapidly, first opening Petrus, where six bankers famously spent over £44,000 on wine during a single meal in 2001, and then Amaryllis in Glasgow, and later Gordon Ramsay at Claridge's. Restaurants at the Dubai Creek and Connaught Hotels followed, the latter branded his protégée, Angela Hartnett's, name. Ramsay has now begun opening restaurants outside the UK, beginning with Verre in Dubai. Gordon Ramsay at Conrad Tokyo and Cerise by Gordon Ramsay both opened in Tokyo in 2005. In November, 2006, Gordon Ramsay at the London is scheduled to open in New York City <ref name="NY Restaurants"> "Ramsay: I will devour my New York rivals". Times Online. Retrieved on 17 Nov, 2006.</ref>.

Ramsay once said that his three aims in life were to win a Catey, receive 3 Michelin stars, and be knighted.[citation needed]

[edit] Awards

Ramsay is one of only three chefs in the UK to maintain three Michelin Guide stars for his restaurant (the others being Heston Blumenthal and Alain Roux). He was appointed OBE in the 2006 honours list "for services to the hospitality industry".

In July 2006 Ramsay became only the third person to have won three Catey awards, the biggest awards of the UK hospitality industry. Ramsay's two previous Catey awards were in 1995 (Newcomer of the Year) & 2000 (Chef of the Year). The other two triple-winners are Michel Roux and Andrew & Jacuie Pern.

In September 2006, he was named as the most influential person in the UK hospitality industry in the annual CatererSearch 100 list, published by Caterer and Hotelkeeper magazine. He overtook Jamie Oliver, who had been top of the list in 2005 <ref name="CatererSearch">"Gordon Ramsay is the most powerful figure in British hospitality". CatererSearch. Retrieved on 17 Nov, 2006.</ref>.

[edit] Gordon Ramsay Holdings

All of Ramsay's business interests (restaurants, media, consultancy) are held in the company Gordon Ramsay Holdings. Run in partnership with his father-in-law Chris Hutcheson, Ramsay owns a 69% stake valued at £55m <ref name=Holdings>"Ramsay cooks up a £10m move abroad". Times Online. Retrieved on 17 Nov, 2006.</ref>. The UK restaurants continue to rapidly expand under Marcus Wareing as Chef Patron.

Having on previous ventures acted as a combined consultant/brand, in November 2006 Ramsay announced plans to create three restaurants in the United States in partnership with private equity group Blackstone Group, who are refurbishing each of the chosen hotel locations into five star locations at a cost of £100M per hotel. At an investment of £3m per restaurant for the 10-year lease, all the restaurants will offer the chef’s trademark modern European cuisine, and will open in 2006/2007 at:

Ramsey acts as a consultant to numerous catering organisations, and was recruited by Singapore Airlines as one of its "International Culinary Panel" consultants <ref name="Singapore Airlines">"International Culinary Panel -- Singapore Airlines". Singapore Airlines Official Website. Retrieved on 17 Nov, 2006.</ref>.

[edit] Media

[edit] Television

Ramsay's first foray in television was in two fly-on-the-kitchen-wall documentaries: Boiling Point (1998) and Beyond Boiling Point (2000).

In 2004, Ramsay appeared in two British television series. Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares aired on Channel 4, and saw the chef troubleshooting failing restaurants over a two-week period. Hell's Kitchen was a reality show, which aired on ITV1, and saw Ramsay attempt to train ten British celebrities to be chefs, as they ran a restaurant on Brick Lane which opened to the public for the two-week duration of the show.

In May of 2005, the FOX network introduced Ramsay to American audiences in an all-new edition of Hell's Kitchen produced by Granada Entertainment and A. Smith & Co. The show follows a similar premise as the original British series, showcasing Ramsay's perfectionism and infamous short temper. In August 2005, shortly following the Season 1 finale, Hell's Kitchen was picked up for a second season. In August of 2006, FOX announced that "Hells Kitchen" has been picked up for a third season in 2007.

His most recent series is a food-based magazine programme titled The F-Word, which launched on Channel 4 on 27 October 2005. A major part of the series focused on growing your own Christmas dinner which included raising his own turkeys. He mockingly named his turkeys Antony, Ainsley, Jamie, Delia, Gary and Nigella. These are in reference to famous celebrity chefs in the UK.

In July 2006, Channel 4 announced that it had re-signed Ramsay to an exclusive four-year deal at the network, running until July 2011. <ref name="Channel 4">"Channel 4 re-signs Gordon Ramsay in exclusive 4 year deal". channel4sales.com. Retrieved on 29 July, 2006.</ref>

In 2006, Ramsay took part in a television series for ITV1, following the lead-up to Soccer Aid, a celebrity charity football match, in which he played only the first half, nursing an injury picked up in training. Ramsay captained the Rest of the World XI against an England XI captained by Robbie Williams. However, his involvement was limited after he received a four-inch cut in his calf.

Ramsay is expected to lend his voice on an episode of The Simpsons' 18th season, where he teaches Homer Simpson how to cook. <ref name="Simpsons">"Ramsay's kitchen to appear on Simpsons". Yahoo News (UK and Ireland). Retrieved on 6 August, 2006.</ref>

On October 13 2006, he was guest host on the first episode of Have I Got News for You's 32nd series, his appearance on which was slated by many critics and viewers, just like his guest appearance in 1999.

[edit] Print

Since 1996, Gordon Ramsay has published thirteen cookbooks. His most recent release, Gordon Ramsay's Sunday Lunch and Other Recipes from The F Word coincided with the second series of The F-Word. Ramsay also contributes to The Times' Saturday magazine in the form of a food-and-drink column.

[edit] Libel

In June 2006, Ramsay won a High Court case against the London Evening Standard newspaper, which had alleged, after reports from previous owner Sue Ray, that scenes and the general condition of Bonaparte's had been faked for Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares. Ramsay was awarded £75,000 plus costs. <ref name="Libel">"Chef Ramsay wins £75,000 damages". BBC News. Retrieved on 20 July, 2006.</ref> Ramsay said at the time: "I won't let people write anything they want to about me. We have never done anything in a cynical fake way."

[edit] Public image and reception

Gordon Ramsay's reputation is built upon his goal of culinary perfection.<ref name="Times Online">"Ramsay swears by good service". Times Online. Retrieved on 1 August, 2006.</ref> Since the airing of Boiling Point which followed Ramsay's quest of earning three Michelin stars, the chef has also become infamous for his fiery temperament and use of expletives.<ref name="Times Online">"Ramsay swears by good service". Times Online. Retrieved on 1 August, 2006.</ref> Ramsay famously ejected food critic A. A. Gill (along with his dining companion, Joan Collins). Gill stated that "Ramsay is a wonderful chef, just a really second-rate human being."<ref name="Chef Trouble">"Gordon Ramsay: Chef terrible". BBC News World Edition. Retrieved on 1 August, 2006.</ref> Ramsay has also had confrontations with his kitchen staff, including one incident that resulted in a police complaint filed by a pastry chef.<ref name="Scotsman">"Ramsay in hot water after scuffle on the set of US show". NEWS.Scotsman.com. Retrieved on 1 August, 2006.</ref> Despite his fevered actions, Ramsay has a loyal staff and has retained 85% of them since 1993.<ref name="femalefirst">"Gordon Ramsay Interview". femalefirst.co.uk. Retrieved on 1 August, 2006.</ref> Ramsay's ferocious temper has made him a favourite of television networks in both the United Kingdom and the United States, where his programmes are currently produced.<ref name="About">"Gordon Ramsay". About - Gourmet Food. Retrieved on 1 August, 2006.</ref>

Ramsay is known for his stance against vegetarianism: in one incident, he admitted to having fed a dish to a vegetarian party that contained chicken stock.<ref name="femalefirst">"Gordon Ramsay Interview". femalefirst.co.uk. Retrieved on 1 August, 2006.</ref> On the second series of The F-Word Ramsay showed a softened stance after learning about intensive pig farming practices including castration and tail docking. On the programme, Ramsay commented, "It's enough to make anyone turn fucking vegetarian, for God's sake. And I've always sort of knocked vegetarians and vegans for missing out on the most amazing flavour you can get from meat. But you can see why so many people change instantly."<ref>The F-Word, Series 2, Episode 6 2006.07.26 </ref>

[edit] Personal life

Ramsay married Cayetana Elizabeth Hutcheson (known as Tana), a Montessori-trained schoolteacher, in 1996. Tana was engaged to Ramsay's best friend when they first met, and has said that she couldn't stand Ramsay when she first met him. Both Gordon and Tana were engaged when they met, but both relationships were on the wane. The couple presently have four children: Megan, twins Jack and Holly, and Matilda. Ramsay's father-in-law, Chris Hutcheson, is responsible for the business operations of Ramsay's restaurant empire. <ref>"Scott Descendant Chart". Scott Family Web. Retrieved on 1 August, 2006.</ref> <ref>"How does our Gordon grow? ". Guardian Unlimited - The Observer. Retrieved on 1 August, 2006.</ref>

On November 15, 2002, Ramsay was breathalysed and arrested and charged with driving under the influence of excess alcohol. While he remained charged, he was informed by police that the case would be discontinued. <ref>"Ramsay charged with drink-driving". Scotsman.com - News. Retrieved on 1 August, 2006.</ref>

[edit] Charity work

Gordon Ramsay has been involved in a series of charitable events and organizations.

[edit] Trivia

  • In September 2005 he expressed an interest into moving into football again with the proposed takeover of Greenock Morton football club<ref name"Greenock Morton">"Morton warn off celeb cheff Ramsay". BBC News. Retrieved on 17 Nov, 2006. </ref>.
  • Gordon Ramsay was nominated as a candidate for Rector at the University of St Andrews, but beaten at the polls by Simon Pepper<ref name"St. Andrews">"New university rector is welcomed". BBC News. Retrieved on 17 Nov, 2006. </ref>. Despite a publicity campaign, Ramsay never visited St Andrews and did not appear in press interviews.
  • Ramsay has size-15 feet and has his shoes custom-made<ref name"Shoe size">"Ramsay's Steps to Success". contactmusic.com. Retrieved on 17 Nov, 2006.</ref>.
  • Ramsay starred in part of a Give Blood television advertisement, in which he said that another man in the advert had saved his life through a transplant. This man was one of the potential cadets in the 2005 Reality TV show, Space Cadets. Any viewers curious about the large-haired man had their suspicions clarified when he, on the show, stated he had in fact been in an ad with Gordon Ramsay, but also stated that he had just been picked randomly at the pub, and had not actually donated any blood to Ramsay.
  • Gordon Ramsay completed his 7th Flora London Marathon on 23 April 2006 (official time 3H 46 mins 10 secs)<ref name"Marathon Time">"Latest quotes from the celebrity runners". Official London Marathon website. Retrieved on 17 Nov, 2006.</ref>. He aims to complete 10 in 10 consecutive years.
  • During Top Gear, he stated that his current cars are a Ferrari F430 and a Range Rover Sport Supercharged, the latter replacing the Bentley Continental GT he owned before realising that Jordan had the same car.
  • Ramsay currently holds the top spot on Top Gear's celebrity leader board, with a lap time of 1.46.38<ref name="Celebrity Laps">"Top Gear Celebrity Laps". Top Gear Official Website. Retrieved on 17 Nov, 2006.</ref>
  • On his show Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares, Ramsay has stated that he is afraid of dancing, especially in front of people.

[edit] Restaurants

  • Gordon Ramsay at Royal Hospital Road (three Michelin stars)
  • Gordon Ramsay at Claridge's (one Michelin star), Mark Sargeant (chef partner)
  • The Boxwood Cafe at the Berkeley Hotel
  • The Connaught Hotel (one Michelin star), Angela Hartnett (chef partner)
  • The Savoy Grill (one Michelin star)
  • Banquette at the Savoy Grill
  • Petrus at the Berkeley Hotel (one Michelin star), Marcus Wareing (chef partner)
  • Gordon Ramsay at Conrad Tokyo, Tokyo
  • Verre at the Hilton Dubai Creek, Dubai
  • Maze, Jason Atherton
  • La Noisette, Bjorn van der Horst

[edit] Filmography

[edit] Bibliography

  • Gordon Ramsay’s Passion For Flavour (1996)
  • Gordon Ramsay’s Passion For Seafood (1999)
  • Gordon Ramsay A Chef For All Seasons (2000)
  • Gordon Ramsay’s Just Desserts (2001)
  • Gordon Ramsay’s Secrets (2003)
  • Gordon Ramsay’s Kitchen Heaven (2004)
  • Gordon Ramsay Makes It Easy (2005)
  • Gordon Ramsay Easy All Year Round (2006)
  • Gordon Ramsay's Sunday Lunch and other recipes from the F word (2006)
  • Humble Pie (2006) (Autobiography)

Master Chefs Series

  • Pasta Sauces (1996)
  • Fish And Shellfish (1997)

Cook Cards

[edit] References

[edit] Footnotes

<references />

[edit] Press coverage

[edit] External links

it:Gordon Ramsay ja:ゴードン・ラムゼイ nl:Gordon Ramsay sv:Gordon Ramsay

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