Celebrity chefs back British bacon - Feb 21 2008
Gordon Ramsay and other celebrity chefs are backing a campaign to support British bacon.

The F word star branded it a "complete disgrace" that the future of British pig farming is in jeopardy.

Farmers lose about £26 for every pig sold for slaughter, the industry has warned.

Rick Stein and Tom Aikens are among the other top chefs backing Waitrose Food Illustrated's Save our Bacon campaign.

Gordon said: "It's British pig farmers who produce the world's best pork and it's a complete disgrace that their future is in jeopardy.

"That's why I'm giving my backing to the Save our Bacon campaign.

Rick added: "I find it very sad to think that the British banger could become a luxury food item.

"The only way we can change this is to support the producers on our doorstep and be prepared to pay fairly for good food."

Waitrose is urging shoppers to buy British bacon and pork to support farmers.

Gordon to start chef academy? - Jan 30 2008
Gordon Ramsay has apparently vowed to set up his own chef academy to battle poor standards in catering colleges.

The loud-mouthed TV chef, 41, who has built up a culinary empire with several Michelin-starred restaurants and successful cookery shows, has said his apprentice scheme will be his next project.

Gordon told the Daily Star: "I’m fed up, not just with the NVQ standards, but at what’s coming out of our catering schools. I want to set up my own apprentice scheme where students experience everything from a most amazing pub to a one, two or three Michelin-starred establishment."

He added: "I’m not talking about fast-track courses - I’m talking about 18 months to two-year courses issuing our own diplomas."

And it seems cooking will not be the only subject on Gordon’s curriculum.

"If they want to spend three months in a florists, followed by a two-month stint with one of our bakers, then we’ll arrange it," he added.

Ramsay reveals ideal Christmas gift - Dec 21 2007
Celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay has revealed what is at the top of his Christmas wish list this year - a set of floodlights.

The Michelin Star cook, an ex-footballer, has asked for the lights for the football pitch in his back garden.

Father-of-four Gordon played for Rangers as a teenager and said he still enjoys having a kick-about after Sunday lunch. Asked what he would like for Christmas, he told Glasgow-based Real Radio: "I’ve got a full-sized football goal in my back garden and after Sunday lunch we bend it like Beckham round the posts.

"What I’ve requested this time is some floodlights."

The chef also revealed that his young children only get one gift each. The rest are delivered unopened to a refuge run by his mother in Somerset.

He said: "Anything else that comes in by way of extra presents from friends, family and customers goes straight to the refuge."

The interview with Gordon Ramsay will be broadcast on Real Radio on Boxing Day.

Ramsay sets sights on Heathrow star - Dec 13 2007
Gordon Ramsay has set his sights on creating the world’s first Michelin-starred airport restaurant at Heathrow’s new terminal, according to reports.

Plane Food is said to have cost the chef £2 million and will be his ninth restaurant in the capital when it opens next year in Terminal Five at the airport.

Ramsay hopes to add to his clutch of Michelin stars for his other restaurants with the new venture, according to the Evening Standard.