Biography of Gordon Ramsay

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

Gordon moved to London where he joined Marco Pierre White in the early days of Harvey's in Wandsworth. After a couple of years Gordon 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. Here he was able to enhance his expertise in classic French cooking.

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

Gordon's first book, Passion for Flavour, published by Conran Octopus, was published in October 1996. His second book, Passion for Seafood, was published in May 1999. A Chef for all Seasons was published by Quadrille in September 2000 followed by Just Desserts in September 2001 and Secrets in 2003.

In 1998 at the age of 31, Gordon 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 protégé Marcus Wareing as Chef Patron, in St. James's. Within seven months it had won a Michelin star.

In June 2000 Gordon won The Chef of the Year Award at the Cateys. His restaurant Gordon Ramsay was voted the Top Restaurant in the U.K. 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 19th January 2001 Restaurant Gordon Ramsay gained its third Michelin star in the Michelin Red Guide Great Britain & Ireland.

In October 2001 Gordon opened Gordon Ramsay at Claridge's which gained a Michelin star in 2003.

Gordon has extensive consultancy agreements with a number of blue chip companies including Singapore Airlines, Booker Cash and Carry Limited and Aramark Limited.

At the beginning of October 2002 Gordon Ramsay Holdings Limited took over the whole of the food and beverage operation at The Connaught Hotel with Angela Hartnett at the helm. Her 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 with the opening of Boxwood Café at The Berkeley. At the same time the Michelin starred Pétrus came from St. James's to join Boxwood Café at The Berkeley.

May 2004 saw Gordon Ramsay star in the Channel 4 series Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares, a series of four one-hour programmes, later to be awarded a BAFTA. The programme was launched simultaneously with Gordon's recipe book Gordon Ramsay Kitchen Heaven published by the Penguin Group. Shortly after this, Gordon was given two weeks to direct a group of celebrities towards Michelin standard cooking in the ITV series Hell's Kitchen.

2005 confirmed Gordon as one of the UK's major television talents. A second series of Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares was followed by the very successful US version of Hell's Kitchen for Fox TV. November brought the debut of Channel 4's The F-Word, a high-octane food show with cooking, topical VT's, food campaigns and celebrity guests. All the action was set against the backdrop of a full working kitchen and over the course of the show Gordon and his brigade prepared a three-course menu for diners.

May 2005 saw Gordon release his sixth book, Gordon Ramsay Makes it Easy published by Quadrille. This includes a DVD with recipe demonstrations, a new concept in cookery book publishing. Gordon also launched his eighth restaurant, Maze, in London's Grosvenor Square with Jason Atherton. Winning instant acclaim and a host of awards, showcasing a flexible grazing menu focusing on French Cuisine with Asian influences in an informal and relaxed environment.

In July 2005 Gordon opened his first restaurant in Japan at The Conrad Tokyo, the city's newest luxury hotel with Andrew Cook leading the kitchen brigade.

The year was rounded off with Gordon's award of an OBE in the New Year's Honours list.

In 2006, a third series of Kitchen Nightmares appeared on Channel 4. A second series of the US Hell's Kitchen was shown in the USA and ranked number 1 in its period among key demographics. In the UK a second series of Channel 4's The F-Word was screened in June, which received fantastic ratings, 3.9 million viewers, and 17.3% of the total share. Alongside The F-Word ran a TV publication by Quadrille: 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. The second phase launched in October, focusing on oven to tableware.

In September 2006, Gordon’s eponymous restaurant, Restaurant Gordon Ramsay (68 Royal Hospital Road) reopened following a major refurbishment in excess of £1 million. Restaurant Gordon Ramsay retained its number one position as the country’s top gastronomic experience as rated in the 2007 Hardens Guide, as well as gaining the highest ratings for service and food.

In October 2006 Gordon’s autobiography, Humble Pie was published by Harper Collins. The book, which details an honest account of his life in and out of the kitchen, has topped many of the best seller charts and is currently leading the charts in its recently paperback format.

In November Gordon made his stateside debut with the opening of Gordon Ramsay at The London. The restaurant, located at 151 West 54th in The London NYC Hotel (formerly the Rihga Royal), is part of the LXR Luxury Resorts collection. The hotel has undergone a $50 million refurbishment by designer David Collins. Formal dining, with seating for 45, takes cues from Restaurant Gordon Ramsay on Royal Hospital Road in Chelsea, whereas The London Bar offers more casual dining and bar experience for up to 70 guests alongside a further 45 seats for guests to drink in the bar. Modeled on the small-plates concept of Gordon Ramsay’s latest British restaurant, Maze, The London Bar offers a daily changing menu of market specials alongside a variety of tasting dishes. Josh Emett, previously Head Chef at The Savoy Grill in London is the resident Chef de Cuisine.

2007 has been an equally eventful year kickstarted by the award of one Michelin star to La Noisette in Knightsbridge and a second star for Pétrus in the Michelin Guide 2007. In March Gordon opened his first pub, The Narrow in London’s Limehouse (44 Narrow Street, London E14 8DP). Located in a Grade II-listed building on the banks of the Thames, The Narrow serves classic British dishes in a relaxed environment. Gordon’s second pub, The Warrington will open in Maida Vale (93 Warrington Crescent, London W9 1EH) later this Autumn following a major restoration and renovation.

This summer, Quadrille published Gordon Ramsay’s Fast Food which is Gordon’s eighth cookbook and follows the success of Gordon Ramsay's Sunday Lunch. In it, Gordon shows readers how to prepare great tasting, real fast food in less time than it would take to have a take away delivered taking its cue from the latest BAFTA nominated series of Channel 4’s hit food show, The F Word. FAST FOOD shows Gordon at his most compelling as he creates outstanding dishes which are not only fast but fresher and healthier than ever before.

2008 sees many more exciting projects for the group with the launch of Gordon Ramsay at The London, West Hollywood and the opening of a restaurant at the newly built Heathrow, Terminal 5.