Gordon Ramsey
 

OK, I'm in Love with this Guy. My Friends and Family think I'm nuts. The first time I seen him on TV, that was it. Love at first bite.

I would love to eat at one of his restaurants in London. So I could use some recommendations and advice. I'm sure they are not cheap or easy to get into.

Help anyone?

Thanks, Theresa in Detroit.

we ate at his place at Claridges; worth it, fantastic!

Not hard to get into, had concierge of our hotel years ago book it for us.

good luck!

Our opinions on him differ - I cannot stand him! :) However, we did eat at Claridges as well and it was fabulous. I would highly recommend it.

Eating at Restaurant Gordon Ramsay on Thursday. Bookings are taken for 2 months in advance - it took me nearly an hour of constant redialling to get through and I only got a reservation as a cancellation came in whilst I was on the phone.

3 course a la carte £85pp. 7 course prestige £110pp.
Wine - I found one at £21, otherwise they looked to be from £38 upwards. And then there is 12.5% gratuity.

Go to www.GordonRamsay.com for details of all the restaurants.

We ate at Royal Hospital Road - DH said it was the best meal he'd ever had, I thought it was maybe my 3rd or 4th best. Then, they took bookings 1 calendar month in advance from 9am; but on a recent thread on this subject, someone said it's now two calendar months. I started dialling at 9, got through about 9.15 & had the choice of 6.30 or 9.30. As well as enjoying the meal, we did get to meet the man himself ! (And I got a kiss !!)

If you have an e-mail address you don't mind publishing here, I can send you a piece I wrote about it.

WOW, as usual leave to the fodor's people to come up with the spot on info and fast. I don't mind at all publishing my email...
[email protected] and I so look forward to reading that article about GR. And Thanks for the GR link, I'm gonna look into it NOW!

he has also opened a restaurant in the dubai hilton if you are ever in that neck of the desert.

My ex-husband (#13) and I ate at Gordon Ramsay in January, 2000, after returning to London from Hogmanay in Edinburgh. The food was extraordinary.

I don't think he is physically attractive, however; that pockmarked face is dreadful. With all that money, he really should see about getting some plastic surgery.

Thingorjus

What were the best meals you had, caroline?

Just emailed a reservation request for Foxtrot Oscar. I'm waiting on a return email. Wish me luck.

Caroline. I enjoy reading you here. Are you a writer?

You also might have a little more luck if you try a lunch reservation (if you're unable to get a dinner reservation).

Oh I'm with you on Gordon Ramsay - he may not be conventionally attractive, but my god is he sexy!

Nothing to add about eating in his restaurants as I've never had that pleasure, but good luck in getting a reservation and do be sure to report back abut the food!

Fellow 'foodie' and lover of GR (the Chef, not the man) heading to Dubai first few days of June. Thanks for the info, had no idea he had a restaurant there.
That may be Rick Stein & GR in the one trip........

(Eating at Jamie Olivers 15 in Melb 10 Feb!!!)

I slightly know someone who met him in person, and he said that GR is much nicer than he portrays himself to be. He was also very kind to a child guest. I've never seen the show, so can't comment.

mamaw, I have e-mailed you my write-up. Foxtrot Oscar ?

I've now met GR twice (once at a book-signing) - he was very kind both times & I do find him very sexy too. He's just sort of big & overwhelming ! Not sure he is a nice man generally, though.

111op, at the time I visited RGR, I thought I'd had better meals at Altnaharrie in NW Scotland (which is sadly no more) and Winteringham Fields in N. Lincolnshire. Since then, I'd also rate Hibiscus higher : we went there when it was in Ludlow, first with one star and then with two - it has now just moved to London & regained its first star there last week.

palmettoprinces, you are too kind ! I wish I were a professional writer but sadly no. I wrote up the piece on RGR for an Edinburgh-based foodie organisation's website.

Gordon Ramsey's at Claridges does a 3 course set lunch (you do get to choose between 3 options for each course) for £30.

Thanks caroline. I've never heard of any of the restaurants, but I guess that's expected since I don't live in the UK. I'll keep an eye out for Hibiscus though now that it's in London.

Have you been to Pied-a-Terre? I guess it's ok. I still prefer GR but I had lunch there only.

I think lunch at GR started at 40 pounds (that was the one I had, I think, in 2005).

Hi again 111op. No, I haven't been to Pied a Terre. My fave nice restaurants from when I lived in London are generally not still there or have changed hands - like Stephen Bull & Kensington Place. We still usually visit London once or twice a year, though (for art exhibitions), & so can sometimes combine that with a gastronomic pilgrimage. Next time we are there I want to go to St John.

Ludlow used to be a great place to visit and I expect still is, although now there are slightly fewer reasons for going. It has a great annual food festival - we went two years running and rented a cottage for a week - and used to have 3 Michelin-starred restaurants (Hibiscus, the Merchant House and Mr Underhill's). Good food shops & market too - and all in what's not much more than a large village (pop 9000 I think) ! It's a pretty and historic place, too.

This has now reminded me that I also want to make a trip to the Walnut Tree near Abergavenny - we went when Franco Taruschio had it, it then went through a slump but now Shaun Hill (who used to have the Merchant house in Ludlow) is in charge. Abergavenny also has what I think is supposed to be the biggest and best annual food festival, but we haven't been yet.

Obsessed with eating & drinking, moi ? :-)

Thanks caroline. It's interesting reading. I guess I probably won't get a chance to visit any of these places. (I had to look up where Ludlow is -- looks like it's near Birmingham?)

Some clarification. I made a post above saying that I do not like Gordon Ramsay. As I do not know him I take that back. :)

However, his TV personality grates on me in the worst way - even more than Anthony Bourdain. I read some information by a chef who worked with GR who said that his TV personality is exaggerated but not a lot. After watching his shows (I don't any more) I practically feel like taking a bath.

Regardless I admire his passion and wit. Everyone has positive traits! And as I said, his food is fabulous.

Hi 111op. I suppose Ludlow is probably not far from Birmingham, being sort of south-west-Midlands-ish - not far from the Welsh border. Not sure as I've barely been to Birmingham ! On one visit to Ludlow we drove from Edinburgh and on the other, I got the train from Cardiff (quite short & scenic from what I remember) and DH got the train from Manchester.

I looked up the location on Google maps. And it looked like the largest city nearby I recognized was Birmingham.

It did look iike it's near Wales (or in Wales?). But being ignorant of UK geography, I didn't want to say something that's probably wrong. :-)

It is close to Wales. We were fortunate enough to eat at Ludlow a few years ago. The borders area is just gorgeous!

Oh I'm with you on Gordon Ramsay - he may not be conventionally attractive, but my god is he sexy!>>>>

He makes me laugh. Him and Duncan Bannatine. Every time they pull one of their big scowly "hardman" faces they look as camp as Liberace's Christmas Special.

It is common knowledge about Mr Ramsay's fairly regular trips to Stoke isn't it?

Hey Everyone! How's it going? My day is starting out wonderful. I just got done cooking and cleaning up from breakfast that I made for me and the grandbaby. She's playing house and I'm playing travel expert wannabe.

Caroline Thanks for sending me the info via email. Since I'm at my DD, I can't view it, this computer here won't let me, so when I get home tonight I will read it.

And I think GR is sexy. I mean HOT! Though I would never run my kitchen at the restaurant like he does, I'm shocked at the way he does, I can't stop watching, kinda like a train wreck.

I did receive confirmation for my reservation!!! So I am excited to have dinner there at FTO. I have been calling our tour guide to make sure I can slip out and go without a problem. I'm really excited now.

I can't wait for GR show to come back on. I'm hoping soon.

Have a great day. And if anyone's interested I posted on the Paris page about an article in the Detroit News about Blacks Love affair with Paris.

Theresa in Detroit.

Looks like Gordon is eyeing up Prague for his next venture:
http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/s...in-prague.html

GR has another restaurant at the Ritz-Carlton Powerscourt, Co. Wicklow Ireland: http://www.ritzcarlton.com/en/Proper...ay/Default.htm

Very busy guy.

Haven't tried F.O. but hearing good reviews. Claridges is still the main one, some people rave about the chef's table (personally I don't think it's worth the costs) though some people are not keen into rather stuffy-ish service/ambience.

Don't bother with Maze--more of a concept (grazing dining), food too clever and too miniscule.

IMHO, lunch is ok but not specutacular, always got that rushed mid-day meal feel. If you really appreciate food, I'd go for dinner.

Waiting for his newest dining venue in Maida Vale to open this month.

W9, surely Royal Hospital Road is the main one ? It's the one with three stars.

You are right. It's just the Claridges happened to be more centrally located in my personal universe...