Gordon Ramsay on 'Nightline': Fed Up with Critics; Weighs Staff
Nightline continued its "Platelist" series last night with none other than Gordon Ramsay. He does the standard cooking demo and the brief biography but shares some particularly harsh words for food critics:
"Unfortunately, today at the age of 41, my persona gets judged over my substance, which is really frustrating," he said. "I've been cooking for 21 years, and it shows on the wrinkles of my face. But here's the scenario: I'm now being judged by individuals that know less about food than I do. But yet, you have to take it like a man. Well I don't want to take it like a man anymore. I'm fed up with the sarcasm, the damn right rudeness and more important, the arrogance of food critics. Have they actually spent a 16-hour shift cooking 70 to 80 lunches, 120 to 150 dinners short staffed, fish cook is not turning in, produce inconsistent because of the weather?"
Oddly, Nightline cut out parts of the interview from the broadcast and posted larger excerpts to its website: Ramsay, the serial marathon runner and strong believer in physical fitness, insists that his staff be fit, expecting them to hit the gym, going so far as to weigh his chefs every time they step into the kitchen:
"Staying fit is part of the important role of a chef today. I think the days of the balding, alcoholic, fat chef have long gone. The pressure on young chefs today is far greater than ever before in terms of social skills, marketing skills, cooking skills, personality and, more importantly, delivering on the plate. So you need to be strong. Physically fit," he said.
"So my chefs get weighed every time they come into the kitchen. And they run. And they seriously look after themselves. They have free memberships to the local gyms, and more important, I need them to … not just to train their palate but to look after themselves."
Video after the jump.
Gordon Ramsay on 'Nightline', Part 1
Gordon Ramsay on 'Nightline', Part 2
Previously
In Videos: Don't Burn Gordon Ramsay
In Videos: 'Hell's Kitchen' Uncensored, Season 2 Episode 1
Gordon Ramsay Is Not a Jerk; He Just Plays One on American TV
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19 Comments:
If he weren't so arrogant, rude, crude and full of himself, people would probably go easier on him. He brings on the criticism full throttle, and I believe it's all done for publicity.
Boscompb at 9:52AM on 06/20/08
Gordon rocks... Plain and simple. Big fan. Someday I hope to taste his food!
suburbangourmet at 9:54AM on 06/20/08
@Boscompb
But I agree with him on the food critics... Sometimes I wonder if they really know what good food tastes like, what proper seasoning means...
suburbangourmet at 9:55AM on 06/20/08
1. He's only 41? I guess anger really does age a person.
2. How does he propose to keep his chefs from balding?
juliec at 10:11AM on 06/20/08
Anyone who has watched his BBC shows has seen a much different person. (the Fox shows are cartoons) I love Chef Ramsay. His recipes are a pleasure to make and taste really fantastic....nothing too fussy, simply delicious. He is a perfectionist, demanding extremely high standards- from himself first, then his staff. I admire his work ethic and would love to eat in one of his restaurants. Plus, I find his cursing/explosive TV persona fun!
StripeyChef at 10:25AM on 06/20/08
@juliec...Maybe a free turn at Hair Club for Men is included as a perk of working for him, along with the free gym membership. BTW, I, too, was shocked to learn that he's only 41.
It's funny that he remarks about the pressures on young chefs in terms of having personality and social skills. Being blunt and to the point is great when appropriate, but a person with social skills knows when to incorporate that trait into their interactions with others and when it's best to take a different approach. Hopefully Gordon isn't holding himself up as the role model for the modern chef when it comes to personality and social skills.
holdthemayo at 10:37AM on 06/20/08
I love Chef Ramsay and I applaud him for requiring all his staff at least try to be physically fit by giving them gym membership, I wish my employer did that! Although, I don't agree with weighing them before they go to work. That is too over the top for me.
Carosone at 10:40AM on 06/20/08
First let me say that I love Ramsay...
...but the guy can't have it both ways. He built his recent TV fame on his over-the-top performances, not his cooking, so naturally that's the way the majority of the population will judge him.
If you want to be judge on your food skills alone, stay in the kitchen and away from the TV cameras and reality shows.
Tactful_Cactus at 1:02PM on 06/20/08
Bravo, Gordie!
foodvox at 1:46PM on 06/20/08
If Ramsay is worried about what the critics think, he might try putting something decent on the plate, which he has so far failed to do in the United States. He's trotting out the same argument of every half-assed playwright, film director, painter, sitcom star, novelist and trequartista since time immemorial. Unfortunately, the only thing that counts is results - A's for effort pretty much stop in grade school. Or as football fans are fond of saying: ``Scoreboard!''
condiment at 2:22PM on 06/20/08
I have no idea what it is about him, I love him too.
I applaud his desire for his team to show full commitment as well;
marry me please gordon? lol
hungrychristel at 2:24PM on 06/20/08
From what I understand, Gordon can cook a storm but because he doesn't try to get cute and cuddly, insert your Legasse reference here, for the media he is labeled a as a jerk. If there was a hidden camera in the kitchen of any known chef they'd all be labeled as jerks because they don't take any guff from their staff for numerous reasons. You only get to be the best by pushing yourself and all who are working for you to be the best possible with no excuses for second place. I appreciate that Gordon stands by his work, legacy and self. He isn't putting on any P.R. image. Gordon is Gordon whether you like it or not. Bravo!
Bunnyman at 7:07PM on 06/20/08
What StripeyChef said.
Don't judge Ramsay if you haven't watched his shows on BBCAmerica. The F Word is a great show about cooking and food, and enormously entertaining. And several episodes of the UK version of Kitchen Nightmares have literally brought me to tears. Ramsay's commitment to food and cooking and his desire to help the failing restauranteurs succeed is inspiring.
In contrast, the stuff on FOX is simply tawdry. I can't watch Hell's Kitchen at all. Kitchen Nightmares is okay if you can manage to tune out the cheesy narrator and pretend it's the BBC show.
kurteye at 7:57PM on 06/20/08
Fantasy moment: Gordon Ramsay tries to get Julia Child and James Beard on his scales....
pthom at 8:37AM on 06/21/08
Ha! Great fantasy moment, pthom. Surreal, indeed.
Julia C and Jimmy Beard were both cooking teachers, though. And writers. Not chefs working in - or in charge of - a large production-scale kitchen of a certain level.
There's that old saying that comes round from time to time, also. "Never trust a skinny chef." Which actually is one of the silliest things I've ever heard. Personally I put my trust in people whom I'd most like to emulate or be like - so a healthy fit chef who can also do their job well is the one that I'm going to trust. :)
Gordie's excessive personality on TV is something his viewers have asked for and created along with him, in a sense. It wouldn't be there if there wasn't a huge demand for it. He's been quite kind and wonderfully adept in being able to fill the bill for those who hunger for this sort of thing.
foodvox at 11:46AM on 06/21/08
Gordon- excellent chef, excellent promoter. But as a fat, bald, alcoholic cook, I must take exception to his remarks.
mucosal at 2:14PM on 06/21/08
I love Gordon Ramsay - America/The Fox Network has exacerbated the more explosive side of his personality. As others have commented, the BBC persona is entirely different and extremely likeable.
It didn't seem like in his interview he was commenting on critique of his shows or his personality, but rather his cooking and food. I agree that many food critics (and the ever-growing community of food bloggers) can't hold a candle to his depth of experience, nor can they to so many other great chefs, so I can understand the source of his frustration. He must be doing something right to be as successful as he is, and it didn't start with a TV show.
Jeana at 3:03PM on 06/21/08
I agree with Chef Ramsay's comments
paris221966 at 9:46PM on 06/21/08
I like Ramsay well enough, but weighing his staff is straight-up bonkers. What, does he give the men in his kitchen prostate exams as well, to ensure that they're still able to pitch their tents effectively ? Does he examine their skin for melanoma and then scold them for spending too much time in the sun? Bollocks.
BangieB at 10:01AM on 06/23/08