Hell's Kitchen

Bios

Name:

Gordon Ramsay

Hometown:

London UK

Occupation:

World Class Chef

Scottish by birth, Gordon Ramsay was raised in England after his parents moved south to Stratford-Upon-Avon. His first career break came while playing football for Oxford United, where he was spotted by a Glasgow Rangers scout in an F.A. youth club match. After completing trials he was signed by the Scottish champions at the age of 15. Three years later he gave up professional football and went back to college to complete a course in hotel management.

Ramsay moved to London, where he joined Marco Pierre White in the early days of Harvey's in Wandsworth. After a couple of years Ramsay moved to Le Gavroche to work alongside Albert Roux. This was followed by three years of working in France in the kitchens of Guy Savoy and Joël Robuchon, where he was able to enhance his expertise in classic French cooking.

In October 1993, Ramsay became chef of the newly opened Aubergine, where he won many accolades, including two Michelin stars within three years of opening.

Ramsay's first book, "Passion for Flavour," was published in 1996. His second book,"Passion for Seafood," was published in 1999. "A Chef for all Seasons" was published in 2000, followed by "Just Desserts" in 2001 and "Secrets" in 2003.

In 1998 at the age of 31, Ramsay set up his first wholly-owned restaurant, Gordon Ramsay, on the former site of La Tante Claire in Chelsea. A year later he opened Pétrus with his protegé Marcus Wareing as Chef Patron, in St. James's. Within seven months it had won a Michelin star.

In June 2000 Ramsay won the Chef of the Year Award at the Cateys. His restaurant Gordon Ramsay was voted the Top Restaurant in the UK with a score of 28 in the 2001 London Zagat Survey, and was also named as the best Fine Dining Restaurant in the 2001 Harden's Guide. These ratings continued in 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005. On Jan. 19, 2001, the original Gordon Ramsay restaurant gained its third Michelin star in the Michelin Great Britain & Ireland Red Guide. In October 2001 Ramsay opened Gordon Ramsay at Claridge's, which gained a Michelin star in 2003.

Gordon Ramsay Holdings Limited took over the food and beverage operation at the Connaught Hotel in October 2002 and installed chef Angela Hartnett, whose restaurant Menu won its first Michelin star in January 2004.

In 2003 Gordon Ramsay Holdings re-launched the Savoy Grill with Marcus Wareing. The restaurant achieved its first Michelin star in 2004. This was followed by the opening of Boxwood Café at The Berkeley alongside the Michelin-starred Pétrus, which had moved from St. James's. Finally, Banquette launched at the Savoy in December 2003.

In May 2004, Ramsay headed "Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares," a series of four one-hour programs that saw Ramsay attempt to rescue restaurants around Britain in need of immediate assistance. The show, which was awarded a BAFTA (British Academy of Film and Television Arts) Award, was launched simultaneously with Ramsay's recipe book "Gordon Ramsay Kitchen Heaven." This was followed by ITV's "Hell's Kitchen," where Ramsay was given two weeks to train celebrities into Michelin-star chefs.

2005 saw a second series of "Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares," followed by Season One of HELL'S KITCHEN on FOX. Ramsay also starred in "The F-Word," a high-octane food show in which the action was set against the backdrop of a full working kitchen. Over the course of the show, Ramsay and his brigade prepared a three-course meal for diners.

Ramsay sixth book, "Gordon Ramsay Makes it Easy," came out in 2005. He also launched his eighth restaurant, Maze, in London's Grosvenor Square alongside Head Chef Jason Atherton. Winner of a host of awards, the acclaimed restaurant offers a flexible menu focusing on French Cuisine with Asian influences.

In July 2005, Ramsay opened his first restaurant in Japan at the Conrad Tokyo, the city's newest luxury hotel, with Head Chef Andrew Cook in charge of the kitchen. Topping off an extraordinary year, Ramsay was awarded an OBE (Order of the British Empire) in the New Year's Honours list.

In 2006, a third season of "Kitchen Nightmares" aired in the UK and Season Two of FOX's HELL'S KITCHEN ranked No. 1 in its time period among key demographics. In the UK, a second season of "The F Word" was screened in June, garnering strong ratings and accompanied by the publication "Gordon Ramsay's Sunday Lunch and Other Recipes from 'The F Word.'" In May, a range of Gordon Ramsay tableware became available in partnership with Royal Doulton.

Ramsay's eponymous restaurant, Restaurant Gordon Ramsay, reopened in September 2006 following a major refurbishment. It retained its No. 1 position as the UK’s top gastronomic experience as rated in the 2007 Harden's Guide.

Ramsay’s autobiography, "Humble Pie," was published in October 2006. Detailing an an honest account of his life in and out of the kitchen, the book topped many of the best-seller charts and is currently leading in its recently released paperback format.

In November Ramsay made his U.S. restaurant debut with the opening of Gordon Ramsay at The London, in The London NYC Hotel in New York. Formal dining takes cues from Restaurant Gordon Ramsay on Royal Hospital Road in Chelsea, whereas The London Bar offers a more casual dining and bar experience, modeled on the small-plates concept of Ramsay's latest British restaurant, Maze.

2007 has been another eventful year, kick-started by the award of one Michelin star to La Noisette in Knightsbridge and a second star for Petrus in the Michelin Guide 2007. In March, Ramsay opened his first pub, The Narrow in London's Limehouse. Located in a historic building on the banks of the River Thames, The Narrow serves classic British dishes in a relaxed environment. Gordon's second pub, The Warrington, will open in Maida Vale later this year, following a major restoration and renovation. In his eighth cookbook, "Gordon Ramsay’s Fast Food," Ramsay shows readers how to prepare great-tasting, real fast food in less time than it would take to have a pizza delivered.

2008 will see many more exciting projects, including the launch of Gordon Ramsay at The London, West Hollywood, and the opening of a restaurant at the newly built Terminal 5 at Heathrow Airport, London.

Ramsay lives in the UK with his family.