5 best moments from 'Being Gordon Ramsay' as chef bares soul in Netflix documentary
International celebrity chef and reality television icon Gordon Ramsay is famous for his high-octane drive for perfection in the kitchen. The chef's personality and career are once again the subject of a recently released Netflix documentary that promises to shed light on chapters of the multiple Michelin-star-winning chef that have hitherto remained overlooked. Dropping all six episodes together on February 17, 'Being Gordon Ramsay' chronicles the daily trials and tribulations of Ramsay as he undertakes his biggest project to date - the opening of four new restaurants and a culinary academy at the 22 Bishopsgate skyscraper building located in London. Here are our picks for the top five moments from the documentary that you can't miss.
1) Ramsay's other name and his troubling childhood
'Being Gordon Ramsay' illuminates a key chapter from Ramsay's childhood, one in which his name was almost confirmed as Scott, but was subsequently changed to Gordon. The chef, however, would have preferred Scott over Gordon since he believes, "Scott's a lot better than fucking Gordon", as told by him to his wife Tana. Ramsay also remembered how he was christened as Gordon, taking his father's name, and that soon after his birth, doctors thought that he wouldn't survive more than two hours.
2) Ramsay's years as 'right-hand man'
Ramsay started working with Chef Marco Pierre White during his early twenties. He claims to have been 'transformed' by Pierre White's instruction and training and refers to him as his mentor. "He was like a father figure," Ramsay commented, "He had the gift of this Picasso; he put food on the plate like no other." He worked rigorously for 18 hours every day through six days of the week while he was an apprentice.
3) The only item Ramsay could afford on the menu
The documentary also suggests that Ramsay could afford to include oxtail on the menu of his first restaurant. Owing to budgetary constraints, filet mignon was out of the picture. Despite this, The Restaurant Gordon Ramsay, established in 1998, went on to hit it big after earning three Michelin stars by 2001. The restaurant is open to this date, and Ramsay remarked, "When you get that third star, everyone says it's a sigh of relief, but it's not a sigh of relief. It's fucking magical."
4) Ramsay and his wife, Tana
Ramsay married his wife, Tana Ramsay, at an early age. Both met while in different relationships. Ramsay recollected, "I was looking at my mate thinking, 'Oh my god, your girlfriend is fucking gorgeous, she looked like a young Julia Roberts." Tana, on the other hand, didn't fall in love with Ramsay at first sight and remembered, "I thought he was really arrogant, really full of himself; he used to really irritate me, it took about a month, and then we were both single."
5) Tilly follows her father's footsteps
Lastly, one of the most memorable moments from the Netflix documentary illustrates how Ramsay's youngest daughter is following in his footsteps. Tilly is currently attending the Ballymaloe Cookery School in Ireland. Ramsay visits Tilly at her school while being covered by the documentary crew. 'Being Gordon Ramsay' is exclusively available on Netflix.
