Gordon Ramsay’s social media project culminates in cookbook
NEW YORK (AP) — How did Gordon Ramsay spend his pandemic lockdown? By going crazy in the kitchen, of course.
The chef with countless books, restaurants and TV shows returned home to Cornwall, England, with plenty of mouths to feed last year when he did a series of Instagram livestreams about cooking meals in 10 minutes or less. The fast-growing endeavor he started on YouTube the year before has culminated in “Ramsay in 10,” his latest cookbook filled with recipes made in less time.
“There’s a lot of joy in cooking things that don’t have to take 60 or 70 minutes at a time,” he told The Associated Press in a recent Zoom interview from Los Angeles. “‘Ramsay in 10’ is a miracle because it’s the first time in 20 years that someone has said to me, ‘Stop. Pause.’” The world has become accustomed to seeing a nimble—and sometimes terrifying—Ramsay save failing restaurants, judge chefs competing for awards, climb Sicilian rocks in search of the perfect octopus. But the world is not accustomed to seeing him running around his kitchen with his wife, Tana Ramsay, and their children, ages 2 to 23. The Instagram Live videos have captivated thousands of fans with the rare joy of watching Ramsay cook in real time.
“No passports. No flights. No schedules,” he said of the shutdown. “You’re not filming. You’re at home cooking breakfast, lunch, dinner. If you told me that two years ago, I would never have believed you. We had to be incredibly creative.” and make it quick, easy, and hassle-free.”
He’s always thinking about the stress the pandemic has put on families.
“Every doctor and nurse is on their knees, and every hospital is overwhelmed with anxiety and stress,” Ramsay says. “And so what I want to do is alleviate that stress.”
Among his 100 recipes that come together in a flash: a humble omelet made with mozzarella and shiitake mushrooms, and another with fish sauce and shrimp. There’s a one-pan pumpkin pasta with amaretti crackers and lemon thyme, and a quick smoked cod kedgeree that uses precooked rice.
Ramsay fills his book—his 31st—with tips and tricks for stocking the pantry and refrigerator for home cooks on the go. He calls these recipes the ultimate fast food—no faster than a frozen meal in the microwave, but faster than takeout. And he gives home cooks a pass on the clock, touting his status as a seasoned expert.
“The way I used to write cookbooks was to think I was going to be judged by every chef on the planet,” Ramsay says. The recipes had 152 ingredients. Cooking at home was completely different and I learned so much more.”
His book “Ramsay in 10” will be released on November 2 from Hachette Book Group.
At home, Tana is usually the one doing the cooking.
“She’s a great home cook,” he says. “It was the first time I’d ever cooked properly at home. It’s like running a restaurant with no one coming home.”
Ramsay, 54, seems to be a constant presence on streaming and television in the U.K. and the U.S., and with his own production company, the shows just keep coming. They include “Hell’s Kitchen,” “MasterChef” and “MasterChef Jr.”, “Kitchen Nightmares” and “The F Word.” His latest show, “Next Level Chef,” will premiere on Fox in January, with chefs, home cooks, social media stars and food truck owners competing to be crowned king or queen of food.
