Gordon Ramsay says "Use local ingredients, you %$#&ing @*&$#%*!
Foul-mouthed and unexpectedly green TV chef Gordon Ramsay wants to move up from terrorizing would-be cooks on his TV show Hell's Kitchen to telling the whole restaurant industry what to do.
In an interview with BBC News, Ramsay says that all fruit and vegetables served in restaurants should be locally sourced and in season. "I don't want to see asparagus on in the middle of December. I don't want to see strawberries from Kenya in the middle of March. I want to see it home grown."
He said WHAT?!? 10 Meanest Gordon Ramsay Quotes
Ramsay feels so strongly about the issue that he's calling for laws which would require restaurants to use seasonal produce or be fined. According to the story, he's already spoken to UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown about the idea, no doubt shrieking abuse at jet engine decibel levels, with the terrified head of state cowering behind his desk mumbling "Yes chef, yes chef."
I'm a little torn here. The use of seasonal, local food is a great idea with very tangible social and eco-benefits, especially when it comes to reducing greenhouse gas emissions from transportation. On the other hand, laws requiring the practice would be expensive and unenforceable, and as an Oxfam spokesperson points out, possibly devastating to African famers who rely on food exports for their living.
Also, if the real-life Ramsay is anything like the person we see on TV, he's such a rude, loathsome bully that I'm inclined to disagree with him just on principle. Still, at least he's using his celebrity to raise awareness for a good cause, and kudos to him if his tirade convinces more restaurants to go locavore.














Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
5-12-2008 @ 9:59AM
aggie_ga said...
Good for Ramsay for speaking out, though I think that legislation would be taking it a bit too far. I'm going to assume that the only television show exposure you've had to Gordon Ramsay is the American Hell's Kitchen. Try watching the F-word or Ramsay's Kitchen nightmares on the BBC; both show a more rounded individual who actually cares about the food and people.
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5-12-2008 @ 4:10PM
sarah gilbert said...
unenforceable or no, i'd be all for rules requiring restaurants to use local ingredients! i can imagine a number of ways this could be worded to be useful but not punitive, like, '75% of fresh produce will be sourced locally' or something.
that way you could still import lemons and those kenyan strawberries for garnish, but you wouldn't be serving asparagus appetizers in august.
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5-12-2008 @ 8:25PM
Kathy said...
I love Gordon , He is tough but he demands things be done right , As it should be , that is the problem , Most don't care how it comes out or if they use moldy food , He has two shows Both are excellent
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5-12-2008 @ 9:03PM
Sueh said...
I've worked in restaurants with good and bad, and I believe Chef Ramsey teaches as it should be taught. There is a lot of pressure and stress in a kitchen and if you can't deal with it and know what you are doing you shouldn't be there. Slow or bad service and food looses customers! Glad he "green" but I think legislation is pushing it too far.
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5-12-2008 @ 9:04PM
John Palazzini said...
This guy is nothing more than an assholeeeeee......
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5-12-2008 @ 9:04PM
patrickgawne said...
I love Chef Ramsay. I have worked in more than 70 restaurants and the very best ones were run by egomaniacal tyrants. It's a very simple principle, the exec. chef is God and as God, He/She is responsible for every little thing that happens in His/Her kitchen. I always had good experiences with that kind of chef, but I was more than happy to be Mr. Spock to someone else's Captain Kirk.
I completely agree with the idea of using locally grown produce.
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5-12-2008 @ 10:34PM
Bob said...
If you have worked in 70 restaurants it would seem you are very old or an employee that has not been held in great esteem.
5-12-2008 @ 9:07PM
Alekos said...
as a chef and a business owner I understand and feel every damn word his says. produce should always be fresh, in season and local. to hell with foriegn trade when it comes to having the best frigging product on a plate.... I don't want produce that looks like a 80 year old naked hag
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5-12-2008 @ 9:47PM
BOOD said...
I respect Chef Ramsay, but his show is unrealistic and insulting. As a former chef myself, I understand the need for perfection in 5-star cuisine. But they need to have contestants that are a little more knowledgeable in the culinary field. I mean, c'mon- a stay at home dad? A bartender? A receptionist? And then to scream at them for not knowing what to do? That's like telling them to be a Dentist and them yelling at them for drilling into the wrong tooth. At least have more qualified cooks like Top Chef does.
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5-12-2008 @ 9:49PM
what said...
No more laws. Let the restaurant owners and patrons decide. I like Ramsay and I do believe in using local fresh food, but what about choice and freedom??
Enough with new limitations already!! We live in a free market society.........at least that's what they want us to believe.
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5-12-2008 @ 10:30PM
JBBR91 said...
Ramsey needs to learn how to communicate without yelling $%*^ at everyone. I could enjoy his show if he wern't such an AS****E
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5-12-2008 @ 10:34PM
JBBR91 said...
profanity is the sign of lack of commmunication skills.
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5-13-2008 @ 3:22AM
Cman said...
F#ck #ff...and I bet my vocabulary is larger than yours...
5-12-2008 @ 10:59PM
deb said...
For those who base their opinion of Chef Ramsey only on Hell's Kitchen, need to take a step back. Watch his other shows, or better yet read his autobiography.
Most people have different sides to their personalities; the fact that his abrasive side sells more product on US television isn't the whole picture.
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5-12-2008 @ 11:00PM
patrickgawne said...
Actually, I was in rather great demand. Technically, I only worked for 16 different companies. I left and was rehired by 9 of them, always at a higher rate of pay than previously.I often worked more than one full time job at a time as I absolutely loved working in restaurants.For many managers, I was the go-to-guy, as I was willing to put in a full shift at my regular rest. and then go pull another full shift in another unit in the chain that was experiencing labor difficulties. In 23 years I worked in all those many restaurants and I was fired exactly once and that was over a personality dispute with a manager I felt was inept and I foolishly let her know so. The only reason I am no longer in the restaurant business is that I contracted antibiotic resistant Staph A and can no longer handle or serve food.
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5-12-2008 @ 11:40PM
Willy said...
TMI!!!
5-12-2008 @ 11:45PM
patrickgawne said...
I agree. TMI. Just didn't want Bob to think I was a slacker.
5-12-2008 @ 11:51PM
bruschd said...
he is a very good chef but i think its taking it a bit to far to make laws and you cant tell me in the restaurant he has in dubai evrything is local
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5-13-2008 @ 12:00AM
Dee said...
Who died and left Gordon the dictator. The incredible economic effects of this plan are mind numbing so I won't go into that. However, if you watch his shows you know that local restaurants use local ingredients and it seems to work for them. That's great...if it is a choice. I get a little bent when someone starts taking away my choices. If I would like a strawberry in the middle of winter, and my restaurant offers it, I will buy it. My choice Gordon, not yours.
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5-13-2008 @ 12:35AM
Frank said...
i agree with Dee & John 100% Gordon Ramsay does seem to be a jerk,i can't stand the guy,i think he is annoying as hell and needs to just go away. The dude thinks he can run everybody's culinary life,come on get real idiot.