Tough-guy Ramsay to aid young chefs on new show

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. — Gordon Ramsay’s, dare we say it, softer side comes out when the formidable chef presides over aspiring kid cooks on a new reality show.

Kids between eight and 13 who love to work in the kitchen will face off on MasterChef Junior, debuting Sept. 27 on Fox. Ramsay is the expletive-spewing restaurateur and star of such Fox shows as Kitchen Nightmares and Hell’s Kitchen. The new show is based on a popular British series.

“I don’t think I swore once,” Ramsay told the Television Critics Association on Thursday.

“Twice,” corrected Gavin, a 10-year-old contestant from San Francisco, adding that Ramsay’s cursing was directed at servers during a restaurant challenge, not the kids.

“We know the F-word means food,” Ramsay said.

The contestants knew of Ramsay’s fiery reputation as a demanding taskmaster, but nine-year-old Sarah from Pacific Palisades, Calif., said, “He can’t be really mean because we’re kids.”

Ramsay, a father of three daughters and a son, told the budding chefs when their food wasn’t good enough.

“I’m brutally honest and I think the kids appreciate that,” Ramsay said.

To soften the blow, they were sent home in pairs during eliminations.

“We hate saying goodbye,” Ramsay said. “We let them down gently.”

Tommy, an 11-year-old contestant from Palos Verdes Estates, Calif., said, “He was giving us tips on making it better.”

Several of the seven kids at the TV critics panel said they hope to pursue careers in food when they grow up. Ramsay said he enjoyed mentoring the kids and teaching them lifelong skills about eating healthy foods.

“Learning to cook for yourself is so important to set them up for the rest of their lives,” he said.

Joining Ramsay on the judging panel are restaurateur Joe Bastianich and chef Graham Elliot.

The first audition round features 24 kids split into three groups of eight to create seafood, pasta or desserts.

The top 12 finalists earn a white apron and advance to a series of challenges and cook-offs. The eventual winner earns $100,000.

Sarah, a contestant on the TV show Master Chef Junior, makes fun of judge/executive producer Gordon Ramsay during a panel discussion in Beverly Hills, Calif.