Gordon Ramsay defends new Asian restaurant post scathing review by Asian critic which sparked debate on cultural appropriation
Gordon Ramsay took to defending himself post a scathing review which referred to his new Asian restaurant as a "real life Ramsay kitchen nightmare." Ramsay slammed the accusations of cultural appropriation at his restaurant.
According to a review on London Eater, food writer Angela Hui revealed that she was "the only east Asian person in a room full of 30-40 journalists and chefs." Hui took to social media to share pictures of posts and said that she could only "drink through the pain that this is an 'Asian' event." Hui also described the restaurant's approach as "Japanese? Chinese? It’s all Asian, who cares."
While at the event, Hui shared that Ramsay said that the head chef Bren Orpwood was "way more qualified and experienced than me in this field" because of having done a lot of research and traveling to South Asia for "many months".
In response to the criticism, Ramsay shared that "Despite the very positive feedback from guests, there was, regrettably, one offensive response from the night which I have to call out. The slew of derogatory and offensive social media posts that appeared on Angela Hui's social channels was not professional."
"It is fine to not like my food, but prejudice and insults are not welcome, and Ms. Hui's comments around my Executive Chef and his wife, calling her a 'token Asian wife', were personal and hugely disrespectful," he added. "Gordon Ramsay Restaurants do not discriminate based on gender, race or beliefs and we don’t expect anyone else to. I may not agree with all reviews, but if someone is going to be critical, then I expect them to be professional and have some integrity."
Hui had written in her online review, "The pop-up dinner took place in a futuristic-looking plain white event space called Ice Tank in Soho, which felt more seedy nightclub than Asian eating house. Or, perhaps, that is Ramsay's vision of a vibrant (nee 'authentic') Asian eating house. I was the only east Asian person in a room full of 30-40 journalists and chefs."
On the other hand, Ramsay had described the evening as a "warm, buzzing and brilliant night to celebrate what has been a long-time vision for me." The diners were able to sample dishes such as mini wagyu pastrami burger accompanied by an Asian chili jam and smoked duck breast with plum and Japanese nashi pear.
