Gordon Ramsey

[Snorkelboy]

No, actually he has Micehelin stars which means he gained his 'celebrity' 1) thorugh being an amazing cook and restaruanteur and 2) being known for fearsome temper

His celebrity is soemthing that came along way afterwards, built around his fiery temper and the reputation he gained . The fact he's popular is nothing to do with him trying to Ainsley fucking Harriot.

So?

 

[Smølfine]

It made me laugh!

Shockin you loike!

 

[Orang Utan]

I have worked in a lot of restaurants previously and Ramsay seems like a good chef - most of the chefs I worked with were abrupt and were so busy they did not have time for pleasantries - the better they were the ruder they were - staff may not like the way a chef talks to them, but they want to absorb some of his experience and skills, so they put up with it - anyway it is better for everyone anyway that the milksops are weeded out quickly because they have no place in a high-pressure environment like a kitchen. One chef made me the kitchen porter call a commis 'boy' for a week and he had to call me 'chef' - just to punish him for cocking something up (he was told he was lower than a kitchen porter so ought to be looking up to one). I was a lowly kitchen porter but it wasn't difficult to get it wrong, so usually the chefs had a lot of time for the KPs - it was the commis chefs that got the worst of it.
Having said that, one Italian chef assaulted me once because I said 'what?', instead of 'pardon, chef'

 

[Athos]

I read somewhere the Mr Ramsey thought it was 'hilarious' when he tricked a table of vegetarians into to eating meat


Wanker IMO

Whenever a vegetarian tries to cajole me into eating a Linda McCartner quorn sausage, they invariably claim that I won't be able to tell it's not meat! Perhaps it's true!

 

[aqua]

sorry but that chef last night

the state of the kitchen

 

[Snorkelboy]

Having said that, one Italian chef assaulted me once because I said 'what?', instead of 'pardon, chef'

so was this unnaceptable (and illegal) behaviour reported to the police?

 

[Orang Utan]

He then 'fired' me and I complained to the hotel manager. He gave me another job, but not in the kitchen. Italian chef stayed (he was very very good).

 

[aqua]

nah you see he should have been dealt with too, there is no need for that behaviour and I did say earlier on I didn't excuse Ramseys language

what I did say was that the head chef HAS to manage their kitchen perfectly and that needed a strong individual

 

[Orang Utan]

I dunno, he's in charge, he can cuss all he wants - it's just his method - training to be a chef is like being in the army - the minute you step out of line, you get bawled at and abused, but it's all part and parcel of the trade. Makes a man out of you

 

[Snorkelboy]

nah you see he should have been dealt with too, there is no need for that behaviour and I did say earlier on I didn't excuse Ramseys language

what I did say was that the head chef HAS to manage their kitchen perfectly and that needed a strong individual

Yes, but he's a wanker because he's bullying and abusive, not because he's a strong individual.

 

[aqua]

sorry no I meant orang's chef

and his assault

 

[Dubversion]

i was more bothered by the dreadful supper jazz version of The Congos that they used throughout.

 

[Orang Utan]

i was more bothered by the dreadful supper jazz version of The Congos that they used throughout.

Ah - so that was it - I couldn't place it.

 

[Griff]

The 'cabaret' reminded me of 'Phoenix Nights' for some reason.

 

[Utopia]

You've gotta respect Ramseys standards & passion for food & that idiot Head Chef just didn't have a clue, loved his 'signature dish' dead classy!!!

 

[Orangesanlemons]

Grrr... really wish I'd seen this, sounds fantastic.

Okay, I'm a head chef, and while I dislike bullying or (heaven forbid) assault, I've seen a fair bit of both as I worked my way up. In the early nineties in Leeds (where both decent restaurants and jobs in general where thin on the ground) kitchen tyrants could more or less do as they pleased as long as they came up with the goods - where else were you going to work - Maccy Ds?
These days, in London particularly, the explosion in restaurants and gastropubs has tipped the balance away from the bully to some extent. Places are crying out for decent chefs - even decent comis and potwashers - and if you have a twat for a boss you simply leave and move to somewhere a little more considerate. The only place this doesn't apply is a) in rural/less populated areas and b) right at the top end of the scale, where the likes of Ramsey and White ply their trade.
Personally I'd love a few months in Ramsey's kitchen: okay, I'd be called all the names under the sun, but the knowledge I'd pick up would more than compensate for the bruised ego. Ramsey may be an ogre, but he's the best in the business, and the fact that his staff retention rate is something like 85% (a phenomenal figure, trust me) tells its own story.

He does sound like an awful prick tho', agreed

 

[Stobart Stopper]

We have had a meal cooked by him a few years ago and it was the best food I have ever tasted. OK-he's a grumpy old fucker but he's a perfectionist. I quite enjoyed that programme last night, those two fuckwits deserved everything they got IMO.

 

[fanta]

Did anyone see this last night

The show that alledgely has Ramsey try to turn around resturaunts in a week



the bloke last night

the 'head chef'

Yeah I did and thought it was quite amusing.

I do like a chef who can swear well!

 

[Orang Utan]

Grrr... really wish I'd seen this, sounds fantastic.

Okay, I'm a head chef, and while I dislike bullying or (heaven forbid) assault, I've seen a fair bit of both as I worked my way up. In the early nineties in Leeds (where both decent restaurants and jobs in general where thin on the ground) kitchen tyrants could more or less do as they pleased as long as they came up with the goods

Leeds in the early 90s is where most of my horrific KP experiences were - we may have worked in the same restaurants

 

[Orangesanlemons]

Leeds in the early 90s is where most of my horrific KP experiences were - we may have worked in the same restaurants

Hahaha... it's possible.

Let's see. Early nineties would've been Zacks, Whitelocks, Big Apple Bar & Diner (christ, the stories I could tell about that place), Shears Yard, Cockpit/Rockit, probably some others that I've erased from my memory.

Any matches?

 

[Orang Utan]

Nope! I was at Weetwood Hall, Haley's and Leodis very briefly - Leeds is a bigger place than I thought! Worst place was Yates (I still feel guilty about not calling Environmental Health)
Whitelocks is that tiny ancient bar in an arcade innit? I loved that place.

 

[Orangesanlemons]

Nope! I was at Weetwood Hall, Haley's and Leodis very briefly - Leeds is a bigger place than I thought! Worst place was Yates (I still feel guilty about not calling Environmental Health)
Whitelocks is that tiny ancient bar in an arcade innit? I loved that place.

I used to work with someone who'd done time at Yates and he said pretty much the same. Haley's used to place 'staff wanted' ads in the YEP every bloody week: always struck me as a little off-putting.

Whitelocks was indeed lovely: have some very fond memories of that place. Was run in it's prime by Fred & Julie who later went on to the Headingley Taps (where I also worked, gawd help me).

 

[Orang Utan]

Haley's had a psycho chef (very Ramsayesque to keep on topic - loved throwing dishes at the waiters if they did not pick up the plates quick enough) and they paid badly - though it was a good restaurant.
Sorry everyone - as you were -

 

[Idaho]

Ramsey may well be an arsehole. And I wouldn't want the man in my house. But I'd happily eat a meal he cooked and he makes enjoyable tv. Why do people want celebrities to be sanitised and perfect before permitting enjoyment?

 

[dwen]

yeh twas a good programme, had to admire that bloke though for blagging his way into being head chef when he couldn't even cook an omlette...

i can see what people are saying about ramsay being a good chef, but hes such an macho arrogant cunt that i just want to castrate him with a carving knife

 

[Griff]

Anyone know if Ramsey actually played a game for the first team of Glasgow Rangers or not?

I've done a search and it just says he was a professional footballer with Rangers.

 

[kea]

he was a junior i believe. got released aged about 16.
edit: here:
http://observer.guardian.co.uk/osm/story/0,6903,708139,00.html

I played two first-team games, against St Johnstone and Morton. Both away and both shit in the sense that I played 20 minutes and 10 minutes. Of course it's so competitive that when I made it into the squad of 18 I wet myself with excitement, I was over the moon. But I was also very, very nervous. The games were really violent, not like the football we see nowadays.

And then I got my bad injury. I tore my ligaments, and it was a heart-ache. I worked my way back to fitness but Jock Wallace was the Rangers manager then, and he was a Scottish version of Mike Tyson. When he wanted to rip your arse out, he would crucify you.

Some people ask me today how I can be so firm - but when you worked under Jock Wallace there is no pussyfooting around when you want standards. I still remember him telling me they were letting me go. He was fucking ruthless. We were only in there about five minutes and I wanted to cry but I couldn't cry because I wouldn't even dream of crying anywhere near Jock Wallace, and I wouldn't give him the pleasure of seeing me crying, and I wouldn't give the pleasure to my father of seeing me crying.

I didn't know it was coming. I had to take it on the nose, and he said, quite clearly, 'We will continue to monitor your progress and you will be invited back but we cannot commit a seasonal contract for second year on the trot'. I just thought, 'You bastard.'

 

[Snorkelboy]

Why do people want celebrities to be sanitised and perfect before permitting enjoyment?

Who said that? I think lots of us are just commenting that he's a wanker. Which is fair enough really seeing as he makes money out of TV programmes because of his wankerish behaviour.

 

[farmerbarleymow]

Whitelocks is that tiny ancient bar in an arcade innit? I loved that place.

I used to frequent Whitelocks a lot in the early nineties as well - a lovely pub

 

[Wolfie]

I used to eat and drink in Whitelocks when I worked in Leeds in the 90's ...

hey aqua maybe we should set up a restaurant, be really crap, and then get gordon to come give us a week-long tuition! what an idea ....

there's a place for sale near me I'd love to buy - lovely little restaurant over looking a bay on the Welsh sea side - fancy going thirds?