Gordon Ramsay
1981
From Football to Fine Dining
Gordon's 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.
1986
London calling
Gordon moved to London where he joined Marco Pierre White in the early days of Harvey's in Wandsworth. This sparked his London based career which is now firmly established.
1988
Gordon at Le Gavroche
Gordon moved to Le Gavroche to work alongside Albert Roux, gaining more knowledge and ideas for his own personal development.
1989
Training in France
Gordon spent three years working in France in the kitchens of Guy Savoy and Joël Robuchon. Here he was able to enhance his expertise in classic French cooking.
1993
Gordon at Aubergine
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.
1996
Gordon in print
Gordon's first book, 'Passion for Flavour', was published by Conran Octopus in October 1996.
1998
Opening of Restaurant Gordon Ramsay
At the age of 31, Gordon set up his first independently owned venture, Restaurant Gordon Ramsay, Royal Hospital Road, on the former site of La Tante Claire in Chelsea.
1999
Gordon and Marcus open Pétrus
Gordon's second book, 'Passion for Seafood', was published in May 1999. In September of that year, Gordon, together with Chef Patron Marcus Wareing, opened Pétrus in London's exclusive St.James's. Within seven months it had won a Michelin star.
2000
Chef of the Year
In June 2000 Gordon won The Chef of the Year Award at the Cateys. In September, Gordon's third publication 'A Chef for all Seasons' was launched by Quadrille.
2001
Michelin awaits, and Gordon Ramsay at Claridge's opens
On 19th January 2001 Restaurant Gordon Ramsay gained its third Michelin star in the Great Britain & Ireland Red Guide. It was also 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.
In September 2001 the inaugural Gordon Ramsay Scholarship took place, offering young chefs the opportunity to win an array of prizes and have their career mentored by Gordon.
Also in September 2001, 'Just Desserts' was published. A month later Gordon opened Gordon Ramsay at Claridge’s to great critical and public acclaim and in January 2003 was rewarded with the presentation of a Michelin star. 2001 also saw Gordon open his first International restaurant, Verre at The Hilton Dubai Creek Hotel.
2002
Gordon and Angela open Menu at The Connaught
In October 2002, Gordon Ramsay invited Chef Angela Hartnett to take over and re-launch the food and beverage areas of The Connaught Hotel in London’s Mayfair. Angela became the first ever female Executive Chef of a five star hotel in London and was awarded a Michelin star in January 2004 for MENU and The Grill.
2003
Gordon and Marcus open The Savoy Grill and Banquette
In May 2003 The Savoy Grill opened under the guidance of Marcus Wareing after extensive refurbishment. The opening of Banquette and the Laurent-Perrier Bar followed swiftly in November 2003. The Savoy Grill was awarded a Michelin star in January 2004, the first in the restaurant’s 100-year history.
Also in May 2003, Gordon opened the uniquely styled Boxwood Café at The Berkeley alongside Michelin starred Pétrus, recently moved from St. James's. At Boxwood Café, Head Chef Stuart Gillies creates an inspired seasonal menu with emphasis on British ingredients presented with daily market specials.
In September 2003, Gordon's fifth book 'Secrets' was published by Quadrille.
2004
Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares programme
May 2004 saw Gordon Ramsay star in the Channel 4 series 'Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares', a series of four one-hour programmes, which was awarded a BAFTA in 2005 for Best Feature. The programme was launched simultaneously with Gordon's recipe book 'Gordon Ramsay's Kitchen Heaven' (published by the Penguin Group). Shortly after this, Gordon was given two weeks to train a group of celebrities into Michelin star chefs in the hit ITV series 'Hell's Kitchen'.
In 2004, Gordon took the Gordon Ramsay Scholarship to New Zealand to add a more international flavour to the competition and held the final at The Restaurant Show in London.
2005
Opening of maze, Tokyo and an OBE!
A second series of 'Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares' was followed by the very successful US version of Hell's Kitchen (co-produced by Fox and Granada). May 2005 saw Gordon release his sixth book, 'Gordon Ramsay Makes it Easy' (published by Quadrille) which includes an interactive DVD. Gordon also launched his eighth restaurant, maze, in London's Grosvenor Square alongside Head Chef Jason Atherton. Winning instant acclaim and a host of awards, the restaurant offers a flexible grazing menu focusing on French Cuisine with Asian influences in an informal and relaxed environment.
In July 2005, Gordon opened his first restaurants in Japan in the city’s newest luxury hotel, The Conrad Tokyo. Head Chef Andrew Cook leads the kitchen at Gordon Ramsay at The Conrad Tokyo and Cerise by Gordon Ramsay.
November saw the debut of Channel 4's 'The F-Word', a high-octane food show with cooking, topical VT's, food campaigns and celebrity guests.
Most exciting of all, Gordon was awarded an OBE in the New Year's Honours list.
2006
Launch of New York restaurant
Gordon will launch his first New York restaurant in September 2006 at The Rihga Royal Hotel (151 West 54th Street), which is currently undergoing a $50 million refurbishment under the direction of designer David Collins. Similar ventures are planned for 2007 in LA and Miami.
A third series of 'Kitchen Nightmares' is underway on Channel 4 and a second series of the US series of 'Hell's Kitchen' is imminent. Series two of Channel 4's 'The F-Word' is planned for Summer 2006 with a TV tie-in to be published by Quadrille: 'Gordon Ramsay's Sunday Lunch and Other Recipes from the F-Word'. Gordon Ramsay by Royal Doulton will be available from May 2006.
In May 2006 Gordon Ramsay unveiled his new range of tableware in partnership with Royal Doulton. The understated and elegant collection brings a simple proffessionalism to home dining.
October saw the publication Gordon’s autobiography, Humble Pie, published by Harper Collins. The book, which details an honest account of his life in and out of the kitchen, has topped the best seller charts and has recently been published in paperback.
La Noisette, Sloane Street's fine dining restaurant with chef patron Bjorn Van Der Horst at the helm opened in July 2006. The restaurant went on to win its first Michelin star in January 2007.
In November, Gordon made his stateside debut with the opening of Gordon Ramsay at The London. The restaurant, located in The London NYC Hotel (formerly the Rihga Royal), is part of the LXR Luxury Resorts collection.
2007
Opening Cielo and two stars for Pétrus
In January 2007 Gordon Ramsay Holdings opened Cielo at the exclusive Boca Raton resort in Florida under the guidance of Angela Hartnett.
Back in the UK, Gordon Ramsay Holdings opened their first pub, The Narrow in London’s Limehouse. Located in a Grade II-listed building on the banks of the Thames.
Gordon Ramsay Holdings received two Michelin stars in January. La Noisette received it's first star and Pétrus was awarded its second.
In October Quadrille published Gordon Ramsay, 3 Star Chef; containing 50 of Gordon’s signature dishes from Restaurant Gordon Ramsay.
October was also the month that saw the publication of Gordon’s follow up to Humble Pie. Titled Playing with Fire, the book gives insight into Gordon's success and his company.
Finally October saw two exciting new openings with the fifth international restaurant Gordon Ramsay at Powerscourt at the Ritz Carlton Hotel, Ireland and Gordon’s second pub, The Devonshire in Chiswick.