Gordon Ramsay facts for kids
Ramsay in 2006
|
|
| Born | Gordon James Ramsay 8 November 1966 Johnstone, Renfrewshire, Scotland |
|---|---|
| Cooking style | European |
| Education | North Oxfordshire Technical College (Apprenticeship) |
| Spouse | |
|
Rating(s)
|
|
|
Current restaurant(s)
|
|
|
Television show(s)
|
|
Gordon James Ramsay (born 8 November 1966) is a famous British chef, restaurant owner, TV host, and writer. He started his restaurant company, Gordon Ramsay Restaurants, in 1997. His restaurants have won many special awards called Michelin stars. Right now, his restaurants hold eight of these stars! His most famous restaurant, Restaurant Gordon Ramsay in Chelsea, London, has had three Michelin stars since 2001. Gordon Ramsay became very well-known after appearing on the TV show Boiling Point in 1999. He is now one of the most famous chefs in the world.
Gordon Ramsay is known for his strong personality on TV. He is very strict and direct, especially when talking about food and cooking. He has hosted many popular TV shows about cooking and restaurants. Some of his most famous shows include the British series Hell's Kitchen (2004) and Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares (2004–2009). He also hosts American versions of Hell's Kitchen (since 2005), MasterChef (since 2010), and MasterChef Junior (since 2013).
In 2006, Queen Elizabeth II gave him an award called an OBE for his great work in the food industry. He was named the top chef in the UK in 2000. In 2006, he won another important award, becoming one of only three people to win three "Catey Awards." Forbes magazine reported that he earned about $70 million in 2020, making him one of the highest-earning celebrities.
Contents
Gordon Ramsay's Early Life
Gordon James Ramsay was born in Johnstone, Scotland, on 8 November 1966. His mother, Helen, was a nurse, and his father, Gordon Sr., worked in different jobs. He has an older sister, a younger brother, and a younger sister. When he was nine, his family moved to England and he grew up in Stratford-upon-Avon. His family moved often because of his father's changing jobs.
When he was young, he worked washing dishes at a local Indian restaurant. Gordon dreamed of becoming a footballer. He was chosen to play under-14 football when he was 12. However, he had many injuries, and a serious knee injury forced him to stop playing. At 16, he moved out of his family home and into his own apartment.
Starting His Cooking Career
Gordon Ramsay became interested in cooking when he was a teenager. After his football dream ended, he decided to focus on cooking at age 19. He went to North Oxfordshire Technical College to study hotel management. He says he chose cooking college "by complete accident."
In the mid-1980s, he worked as a commis chef (a junior chef) at the Wroxton House Hotel. He then moved to London and worked in several restaurants. He was inspired to work for the famous chef Marco Pierre White at Harveys restaurant.
After almost three years at Harveys, Ramsay wanted to learn more about French cuisine. He went to Paris to work with famous Michelin-starred chefs like Guy Savoy and Joël Robuchon. He trained in France for three years. After this intense training, he took a break and worked as a personal chef on a private yacht in Bermuda. This job allowed him to travel to Sicily and Sardinia, Italy, and learn about Italian cuisine.
Becoming a Head Chef
.jpg)
When Gordon Ramsay returned to London in 1993, he became head chef at La Tante Claire, a restaurant with three Michelin stars. Soon after, Marco Pierre White offered him a head chef position and a share in a new restaurant called Aubergine. Aubergine quickly earned its first Michelin star, and then a second in 1997.
In 1998, Ramsay decided to open his own restaurant in Chelsea, called Restaurant Gordon Ramsay. His father-in-law, Chris Hutcheson, and former colleagues helped him. In 2001, this restaurant earned its third Michelin star. This made Ramsay the first Scottish chef to achieve this amazing feat.
.jpg)
After his first restaurant became successful, Gordon Ramsay's restaurant business grew very quickly. He opened other restaurants like Pétrus and Gordon Ramsay at Claridge's. He also opened restaurants outside the UK, starting with Verre in Dubai. In 2005, he opened two restaurants in Tokyo. In 2006, Gordon Ramsay at The London opened in New York City.
He opened his first restaurant in Ireland in 2007, but it closed in 2013. In 2008, he opened his first restaurant in the Western US, in Los Angeles, which also closed later. In 2011, he opened his first Canadian restaurant in Montreal, but it closed in 2013.
Awards and Achievements
Restaurant Gordon Ramsay in London was named the top restaurant in the UK in 2001 and received its third Michelin star. In 2006, Queen Elizabeth II made him an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for his contributions to the food industry. He almost missed the ceremony because his plane was delayed!
In July 2006, Ramsay won the "Independent Restaurateur of the Year" award. This made him one of only three people to win three "Catey Awards." He had previously won "Newcomer of the Year" in 1995 and "Chef of the Year" in 2000. In 2013, he was added to the Culinary Hall of Fame.
Gordon Ramsay has also set Guinness World Records. In 2017, he set a record for the 'Fastest time to fillet a 10 lb fish' in just one minute and five seconds. Later that year, he set another record for the 'Longest Pasta Sheet Rolled in 60 Seconds', which was 1.45 metres long. In 2023, he and Nick DiGiovanni set a record for the largest Beef Wellington, weighing over 25 kg!
Gordon Ramsay's Businesses
All of Gordon Ramsay's businesses, including his restaurants, TV shows, and advice services, are part of a company called Gordon Ramsay Holdings Limited. He owns most of this company. In 2005, he started advising Singapore Airlines as part of their "International Culinary Panel."
In 2006, Gordon Ramsay Holdings bought three pubs in London and turned them into gastropubs (pubs that serve high-quality food). These included The Narrow and The Warrington. In 2010, Chris Hutcheson, Ramsay's father-in-law and business partner, left his role as CEO.
In 2012, Ramsay opened The Fat Cow in Los Angeles, aiming for a relaxed neighborhood restaurant. This restaurant closed in 2014. That same year, he opened Gordon Ramsay Steak in Las Vegas, which has since opened in other cities.
In 2013, he partnered with footballer David Beckham to open Union Street Café in London. This restaurant served Italian food. Later, in 2020–21, two other Gordon Ramsay restaurants, Street Pizza and Bread Street Kitchen & Bar, took over its location. Also in 2012, Gordon Ramsay Burger opened in Las Vegas, and has since expanded to other cities like Chicago and Seoul.
In 2018, Ramsay opened his first Gordon Ramsay Hell's Kitchen restaurant, based on his popular TV show. Several more locations have opened or been announced since then. In 2018, he also opened his first Street Pizza restaurant, offering "bottomless" pizza. More Street Pizza locations have opened in London, Dubai, and the USA.
In 2019, Ramsay made a big deal with a company called Lion Capital to create Gordon Ramsay North America (GRNA). They planned to open many new restaurants in the USA. These plans were slowed down by the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2020, Ramsay opened his first Street Burger restaurant in London. In 2021, he launched his own brand of California wines and opened The Gordon Ramsay Academy, a cooking school in Woking, Surrey.
Gordon Ramsay on Television
Gordon Ramsay first appeared on TV in documentaries like Boiling Point (1999). In 2001, he helped a burger chef learn new skills on the show Faking It, which won an award.
In 2004, Ramsay starred in two British TV shows. Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares showed him helping struggling restaurants improve in just one week. Hell's Kitchen was a reality show where he trained ten celebrities to be chefs.
In 2005, the Fox network brought Ramsay to American audiences with an American version of Hell's Kitchen. This show is famous for Ramsay's high standards and strong reactions. He also hosted an American version of Kitchen Nightmares, which started in 2007. In 2018, a new show called Gordon Ramsay's 24 Hours to Hell and Back premiered, similar to Kitchen Nightmares but with a faster timeline.
Ramsay has also hosted five series of a food show called The F Word. This show features cooking competitions, food investigations, and even raising animals for a special meal. Celebrities often cook against Ramsay, and diners judge the dishes without knowing who cooked them. The American version of The F Word started in 2017.
In 2010, Ramsay became a producer and judge on the American version of MasterChef. He was joined by other chefs like Graham Elliot and Joe Bastianich. He also starred in travel shows about his visits to India (Gordon's Great Escape) and Asia. He hosted Ramsay's Best Restaurant, a British series from his own production company.
In 2010, Ramsay joined other chefs for The Big Fish Fight to raise awareness about wasting fish. In 2012, Fox announced Ramsay's show Hotel Hell, which is like Kitchen Nightmares but focuses on struggling hotels.
Guest Appearances
Gordon Ramsay has made many guest appearances on other TV shows. In 2005, he was featured in CNN International's Quest. In 2006 and 2008, he played in Soccer Aid, a charity football match with celebrities, to raise money for UNICEF.
He has appeared on the BBC's Top Gear, where he talked about his cars. He also appeared in a National Blood Service advertisement, saying that blood donations saved his life after a serious injury. In 2006, he was a guest host on the comedy show Have I Got News for You. In 2007, he appeared in the Extras Christmas special.
In 2008, Ramsay was a guest on Big Brother: Celebrity Hijack, where he guided the housemates in a cooking challenge. In 2011, he appeared on American Idol, challenging the top contestants to make omelettes. He also voiced a character in The Simpsons episode "The Food Wife" in 2011. In 2017, he made a guest appearance on New Girl and a South Korean TV show called Please Take Care of My Refrigerator. He also voices the character Bolton Gramercy in Big Hero 6: The Series, a chef with a fiery temper, much like himself.
Gordon Ramsay's Personal Life
Family Life
Gordon Ramsay married Tana Hutcheson, a schoolteacher, in 1996. They live in both Los Angeles and London and have six children. Their daughter Tilly Ramsay is also a TV chef. Their son Jack is a Royal Marines commando, and their daughter Holly is a fashion designer.
Gordon Ramsay owns three houses in Cornwall, England. In 2020, one of his properties in Fowey was put up for sale.
Car Collection
Gordon Ramsay loves cars, especially Ferraris. He has a large car collection in the UK, which includes:
- Ferrari LaFerrari
- Ferrari LaFerrari Aperta
- Ferrari F12tdf
- Ferrari Monza SP2
- Ferrari 488 Spider
- Ferrari 488 Pista
- Ferrari 812 Superfast
- Ferrari 575 Superamerica
- Aston Martin DBS Superleggera
- McLaren Senna
- McLaren 675LT Spider
- Porsche 918 Spyder
- BAC Mono
He has shown his car collection in a video on his YouTube channel.
Charity Work
Ramsay is involved in many charity events. He completed 10 London Marathons in 10 years, supporting the Scottish Spina Bifida Association. He has been an Honorary Patron for this charity since 2004. He has also hosted annual fundraising dinners for the association at Stirling Castle.
In 2005, Ramsay worked with Indian chef Madhur Jaffrey to support the VSO, a charity that helps with HIV and AIDS in India. Gordon and Tana Ramsay were the first couple to become ambassadors for the women's charity Women's Aid in 2005. They ran a marathon to support this charity. Ramsay has also participated in the charity football event Soccer Aid several times to raise money for UNICEF. In 2020, he and Tana became ambassadors for Cornwall Air Ambulance.
Life-Threatening Experiences
In 2008, while filming a TV show in Iceland, Ramsay had a scary experience. He was hunting puffins and fell off an 85-meter cliff into the icy water. He managed to swim back to the surface by taking off his heavy boots and clothes. His film crew rescued him with a rope. He said he thought he was "a goner" and was "panicking."
In June 2024, Ramsay was in a bicycle accident in Connecticut, USA. He got a lot of bruises on his left side. He later shared on social media that his helmet saved his life and stressed how important it is to wear one when cycling.
See also
In Spanish: Gordon Ramsay para niños
Images for kids
-
Ramsay in 2006
-
Ramsay cooking in 2006
-
Gordon Ramsay at Claridge's restaurant
-
Ramsay on The F Word Series 3 in 2007
-
Ramsay and the U.S. Army at Fort Irwin during MasterChef Season 5 in 2014
-
Ramsay on the BBC's Gardeners' World in 2008
-
Ramsay in 2010
