Gordon Ramsay: 'Philippines sleeping beauty of Asia'

FANS of world-renowned British celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay finally got the moment they've been waiting for. Ever since the opening of the Gordon Ramsay Bar and Grill Philippines at Newport Resorts World in August 2024, Ramsay's absence from the country left many wondering why the culinary icon hadn't yet visited. But on Monday, Ramsay arrived in Manila with a bang, apologizing for the delay but more than making up for it with thrilling announcements: he is in talks to open three more restaurants in the Philippines, including the possibility of bringing the iconic Hell's Kitchen to the country.

Ramsay's Hell's Kitchen brand, inspired by the hit television cooking competition of the same name, is renowned for its dramatic, high-pressure environment where chefs battle for culinary supremacy. The restaurant counterpart mirrors this intensity with its signature dishes like Beef Wellington and lobster risotto. There are currently Hell's Kitchen restaurants in several locations, including Las Vegas, Dubai and London, making Ramsay's plans for a Philippine branch a major milestone.

At the Gordon Ramsay Live in Manila event, however, the 58-year-old culinary and media superstar was far from the fiery and sharp-tongued chef that audiences know from his television shows. Receiving a rockstar welcome at the Newport Performing Arts Theater, he charmed the crowd with his warm and engaging personality. As he addressed the full house audience — many of whom were culinary students he specifically asked his Philippine team to invite — Ramsay remarked, "It's so nice to see you all, and right over there," pointing to large contingents from Ändern Colleges, Le Cordon Bleu, Ateneo de Manila Institute, University of Santo Tomas, De La Salle-College of Saint Benilde and Center for Culinary Arts, "honestly — that is the future of the culinary Filipino industry."

Ramsay further thrilled the packed theater when he expressed deep admiration for the Philippines, calling it the "sleeping beauty of Asia" when it comes to rising cuisines and declaring that Filipino food is the next big thing to captivate the world's palate.

"Filipino cuisine, for me, is like the sleeping beauty of Asia. It's now prominent, and it can give Southeast Asia a big kick up the ass and really become one of the front runners across Asia. There's no reason why it can't. And to be part of that and to share it with the [my] team [here in Manila], honestly, it's a dream."

In fact, when asked about his favorite dish among the countless creations he has tried in his countless travels, Ramsay easily said, "Sisig." He even raved several times about a Filipino restaurant in Melbourne, Australia, called Serai and shared how "a young Filipino chef who grew up in Manila" came up with a delicious and impressive sisig taco dish he just couldn't get enough of.

"Just seeing what he's doing with that evolution of Filipino food was exceptional," Ramsay said.

Another highlight of the event was a cooking showdown reminiscent of Ramsay's popular television series, with four Filipino chefs competing to impress the culinary legend. Notable participants included actress-restaurateur and chef Judy Ann Santos, who also hosted the Philippine franchise of Ramsay's "Master Chef" reality competition and online celebrity chef Ninong Ry, along with culinary student Danica Lucero and Gordon Ramsay Bar & Grill PH Head Chef Bea Therese Qua. With 10 minutes on the clock, each one prepared and presented their innovative takes on the iconic Filipino dessert, Halo-Halo, giving Ramsay a sweet taste of the local culture. Ninong Ry infused coco jam in his Halo-Halo; Santos, black sesame polvoron; Qua added a locally sourced salt to some caramel, but it was surprisingly novice chef Lucero's dash of sour kamias that got Gordon's all-coveted nod.

Capping off the event, Newport World Resorts and Gordon Ramsay Philippines pledged P10 million to support various charitable organizations and initiatives focused on food security for communities and the nation as a whole.

Ramsay flew to Manila early Sunday morning to work closely with his Filipino team at the Gordon Ramsay Bar and Grill, which has been fully booked since its launch last year. He said he has been visiting markets at dawn and will continue through Tuesday, and is highly impressed with the Philippines' freshest catch and ingredients.

"The freshness is incredible — you know, from the live squid to shellfish. It's just awash with incredible ingredients. That's 90 percent of our battle: the ingredients. Manila's blessed with fantastic ingredients," he said.

Beyond his admiration for the ingredients, Ramsay emphasized his deep commitment to his Filipino team, highlighting their passion and dedication.

"I arrived at 5 a.m. yesterday morning, had breakfast with the kids in the kitchen, got up to speed, understood where they're from and what it meant to them [to work at the restaurant], but more importantly, just to say thank you. They've done such an amazing job. It's very hard to open a restaurant that is fully booked from day one, so what they've achieved and how hard they've worked — it means so much to me."

As the event drew to a close, Ramsay echoed his heartfelt words for the team of Gordon Ramsay Bar and Grill Philippines. "Getting to meet the real essence of Manila and really understanding the power behind the cuisine has been extraordinary," he said. "So, God bless you all. Today's been exciting. Thank you very, very much."