1) Gordon Ramsay
It’s been a rather trying year for the expletive-prone British chef, but still Gordon Ramsay’s influence stretches around the globe — as shown by the fact that you voted him the ‘Most Influential Celebrity Chef’ in last month’s Caterer F&B Survey.
Ramsay started out by working in a series of restaurants, before joining Marco Pierre White at Harvey’s. After nearly three years, he moved to work for Albert Roux at Le Gavroche, followed by a stint in Paris under Michelin-starred chefs Guy Savoy and Joël Robuchon.
Not long after his return to the UK, White offered to set Ramsay up as head chef at the Rossmore, owned by White's business partners.
Renamed Aubergine under Ramsay, it went on to win two Michelin stars.
Ramsay left this partnership in 1997 and opened his own restaurant in Chelsea — Gordon Ramsay at Royal Hospital Road, which today boasts three Michelin stars.
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He is one of only three UK chefs to retain three stars for his restaurant, the others being Alain Roux and Heston Blumenthal.
Today, Ramsay boasts a sizeable restaurant empire — including Verre by Gordon Ramsay at Hilton Dubai Creek — and also acts as a consultant to numerous catering organisations.
He has made numerous television appearances, including well-known series such as Boiling Point, Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares and Hell's Kitchen, which have lead to international stardom.
To read more about Ramsay’s difficulties this year, click here.
What did you think about the Top 20 Most Influential Chefs ranking?
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Sep 7, 2009
Many thanks to James and Aj for their comments. I'd just like to emphasise that the Top 20 Most Influential Celeb Chefs listing was compiled on the basis of votes cast by F&B professionals who took part in the Caterer F&B Survey last month. The listed celebrity chefs needed to be not just intern...
Sep 7, 2009 , United Arab Emirates
We all know these people - would it not have been better and more appropriate to focus on the Talent that we have in The Middle East? There are many amazing Chefs in the hotel industry in the Middle East that deserve some recognition as well??