Tag: Ramsey

Our only Scotsman who features in the Icon issue. Born in Johnstone, Renfrewshire in Scotland and raised in Stratford-upon-Avon under his father Gordon and his mother Helen, Ramsey has since become arguably the most famous chef in British history.

His childhood, according to his autobiography, was marred by his father’s alcoholism. He can be found to describe his childhood as neglected due to his ‘hard-drinking womaniser’ of a father. It ultimately led him to fly the nest at the relatively early age of sixteen and move into his own flat in Banbury.

He was a talented football in his youth too, playing for Scottish giants Rangers up until his late teens, where his career was cut short by injury. It’s disputed whether Ramsey ever played for the first team, he claims he did but both the club and club historians claimed he didn’t.

Either way, we appreciate talent when we see it and Ramsey got further to achieving most teenage boys dreams then we ever did and for that we salute him. His injury led him to continue his studies, where he went to college and gained a qualification in hotel management. In the early 80s, he worked as a commis (or basic) chef at a local hotel, all was going swimmingly until he developed a sexual relationship with the owners wife which didn’t exactly make his work environment the most ideal.

Alas, a move to London followed and young Gordon worked in a small handful of restaurants until an opportunity opened up under Marco Pierre White. Ramsey’s incredible talent led him abroad to study French cuisine in great depth, which can still be found in his menus to this day. He chose to stay in England over staying in Paris where he was offered a job. White discouraged him from taking the job and he moved back to London to work under Albert Roux.

He quickly progressed and was offered the number two position in one of Roux’ projects in the Alps where he remained until 1993. A move back to London occurred and two years later the restaurant he worked at was awarded two Michelin stars. At just 31, he set up and opened his own, wholly owned restaurant which rapidly gained accolades and recognition. It was awarded three Michelin stars, truly placing it in the world’s elite group of restaurants. Three Michelin stars is the highest catering accolade you can be awarded.

Now internationally renowned, he owns restaurants all over the world and presents TV shows. Not just any TV shows either, he’s successfully managed to “crack America” – something four very famous musicians from Liverpool couldn’t quite manage, but this is Ramsey’s page, not theirs.

You’ll find it difficult to find somebody who has never seen a Gordon Ramsey TV show. Ranging from “Hell’s Kitchen” in the early noughties, an innovative reality cooking show in which British celebrities battle it out to be named the best celebrity chef, right through to today’s series of “Kitchen Nightmares”, where the authoritative Ramsey heads to failing restaurants, tears both dining room, menu and owners to pieces before transforming them into a potential local hotspot for eating out in their local area. “Hell’s Kitchen” was so popular that he now has an American version of the series, where he heads all over the states to sort out chefs, owners and restaurants alike.

He’s not just been recognised by us of course, her majesty is also a fan, awarding Gordon an OBE in 2006 for services to the industry. A man of many talents, cooking, football, televisual and even writing; he has several books out, which have becoming international best sellers – especially his autobiography “Roasted in Hell’s Kitchen.”