GordonRamsay

The fiery chef talks about banning his mum, having a kitchen nightmare and his new series Ramsay’ s Future Food Stars

● The future of our food industry has never been more exciting. I’ve spent the last 21 years at Restaurant Gordon Ramsay nurturing, supporting and mentoring some of Britain’s greatest chefs and that’s truly why I think investing in the next generation of talented individuals is so important. ● I’m fed up with the stigma attached to the formality of

dining. I was asked recently whether I’m fine with people taking photos of their food in my restaurants. Of course they can. Who am I to say they can’t?

● What really gets my goat in my restaurant is when I am working the line and the food goes out, and someone puts salt and pepper on it straight away. My mum always does it and I swear if she does it one more time I’m going to ban her!

● At the start of my career, I did a stint at a resort in the French Alps. One day the head chef asked me to put the fresh bouillabaisse outside in the freezing cold to chill it. By the evening it had festered and formed a thick froth on top. It was absolutely disgusting.

● In an early season of Hell’s Kitchen in London a lady had had too much to drink and went to punch me. I have a black belt in karate. I love boxing. I can look out for myself. But do I want to fight? No. I want to cook.

Ramsay’sFutureFoodStars sees Gordon search the country for talented food and drink entrepreneurs to invest in – Thursdays on BBC1 at 9pm