By Emily Mitchell
I wouldn’t be surprised if Gordon Ramsay’s favorite word was, well, let’s just say it rhymes with duck. The word is synonymous with his blunt, in-your-face approach to teaching aspiring chefs how to be top chefs on Hell’s Kitchen. However, there was not a swear word to be heard during a recent interview where he answered some questions about the sixth season of Hell’s Kitchen, which premieres tonight, Tuesday, July 21 at 8pm EST on FOX. Plus, want to know what he would have for his last meal on Earth? Keep reading!
This season, Chef Ramsay has once again recruited 16 chefs who will be competing for the coveted prize of becoming head chef at one of the world’s grandest restaurants. That restaurant is the Araxi Restaurant in Whistler, British Columbia, Canada. The time and location could not be more pristine for this prize, as the 2010 Winter Olympics will be held in the area. And Chef Ramsay also bragged about the restaurant’s quality. “To have 95% of the ingredients sourced, food and wine, within [a] 100 mile radius, that’s a dream come true for any chef.”
There are a few changes in this season’s premiere from last. The first episode of every season begins with the each new hopeful cooking up his/her signature dish. However, this season the signature dish competition will become a challenge, men vs. women. The premiere will also feature one of the aspiring chefs going head-to-head with Chef Ramsay himself during an elimination round.
As the seasons go by the chefs on the show continue to be more talented. Says Chef Ramsay, “Chefs have gotten better, which is great news. [It] makes my life a lot easier. I can be more creative in terms of the menu.” Everything seems to be getting grander with each season, not to mention that over 13,500 people attempted to get on Hell’s Kitchen this season.
“I had an amazing time, and more importantly, we’ve been a lot more creative in terms of the challenges and entered in a few twists and turns that are completely different. This year is going to be very interesting.”
Chef Ramsay also has some ideas for the next season, which they have already begun casting. “My dream next year is to take it to a “live week extreme” so you actually see what it’s like across the board, making it bigger and broader.”
Hell’s Kitchen aside, I snuck in a fun question.
If you could have any meal prepared for you, who would prepare it and what would it be?
I took my wife last summer to Thomas Keller’s Napa Valley French Laundry. We had dinner with David and Victoria [Beckham]. I had one of the most amazing dinners ever. So if my last supper was ever going to be cooked by a chef, it would have to be Thomas Keller.
What did you have?
started off with the most amazing potato and caviar soup, chilled. Then I had Ahi tuna, which was phenomenal. Then I had a roasted Foie Gras wrapped in fig leaf. So, yes, that’s what I shall take to my grave.
Live Hell’s Kitchen would be awesome – the latest one seemed to be MASSIVELY edited, epsecially the start of the first episode – same facial expressions occurring multiple times, soundbytes all choppy and different.
In Australia we have seen uncensored and uncut – it was great much less yelling and drama – a more realistic service with the great Gordon Ramsay actually helping the chefs!