The Real Reason Gordon Ramsay Lost His Michelin Star
Gordon Ramsay is a renowned chef and has a lot to be proud of. He has built a reputation for himself over the years and is considered a prominent name in the field. According to his official website, Ramsay originally hoped to become a professional footballer, but changed his mind after suffering an injury. He then studied hotel management and worked with some of the most respected chefs in the world, including Albert Roux, Guy Savoy and Marco Pierre White. Ramsay’s hard work has not gone unnoticed for too long; just three years after starting work at Aubergine in London, Ramsay earned two Michelin stars for the restaurant. Since then, the renowned chef has only grown and developed as a chef, earning several more Michelin stars throughout his illustrious career. However, he hasn’t always kept those prestigious awards. Read on to find out why Ramsay lost some of his Michelin stars.
Ramsay lost quite a few Michelin stars
According to Cheatsheet, Ramsay has really worked his way up through his career at a number of respected restaurants, a feat that saw him earn 16 Michelin stars during his time as a chef. Unfortunately, he has lost a lot of Michelin stars and currently holds just seven. To be clear, it’s not uncommon for restaurants to lose their coveted Michelin stars. Still, Ramsay has found his losses difficult to come to terms with. “I cried when I lost my stars,” he lamented. “It’s a very emotional thing for any chef. It’s like losing a girlfriend. You want her back.” Oh dear! So why did Ramsay lose those stars in the first place? The reason is simple: his food was inconsistent. Still, Ramsay remains extremely popular in the industry. His restaurant, Restaurant Gordon Ramsay, has held three Michelin stars since 2001; Ramsay is also the first Scottish chef to earn three Michelin stars. Impressive.
Ramsay has faced unexpected hurdles
In 2013, Ramsay suffered a blow when his restaurant, Gordon Ramsay at London in New York City, lost both of its Michelin stars. According to Eater, this was unprecedented; no restaurant had ever lost two Michelin stars at the same time due to quality concerns. Well, it’s not as simple as it seems. It’s true that Ramsay was a key part of the restaurant when it opened in 2006 and was awarded two Michelin stars just two years later. However, in 2009, Ramsay, facing financial difficulties, decided to sell the restaurant and hand it over to the London Hotel. According to a representative, “Gordon Ramsay is not involved in the day-to-day running of the restaurant or kitchen, due to the licensing agreement, but he will be in touch about updates and changes at the restaurant.” However, Ramsay’s reputation has clearly suffered because of the loss of his Michelin stars. For Michelin officials, Gordon Ramsay in London simply failed to maintain the impression of quality and delivered uninspiring meals. As Michelin Guide director Michael Ellis explained, “We had a problem with consistency, and consistency is very important to us.”
He Really Takes Michelin Stars Seriously
Ramsay has expressed his displeasure with chefs who do not take their Michelin stars seriously, eventually returning them to the organization or refusing to accept the honor in the first place. For Ramsay, it is a team effort and everyone loses out if a chef decides not to accept the title (via The Straits Times). “Whether it’s an Emmy, an Oscar, a Bafta, or a Michelin star, it’s a reward, not just for the chef, but for the staff, who are just as focused as the owners,” he explained. Other chefs like Sébastien Bras, who gave up his three Michelin stars, have said it was too much pressure for him and his team to worry about. Another chef, Andre Chiang, expressed that he didn’t want to be reviewed by Michelin officials because he wanted to experiment at his restaurant in Taiwan without the added stress. Of course, Ramsay disagrees and continues to value his Michelin stars. Ramsay also said that Michelin stars are actually very helpful for diners, who can use them as a guide when choosing a restaurant to dine at, the Associated Press reported.
