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Famous food critic Jay Rayner has launched a scathing attack on chef Gordon Ramsay, calling him a "sad, inadequate man" who he says glamorises bullying in kitchens.
Rayner, who is one of the UK's leading critics, hit out at Ramsay on Twitter in repsonse to a recent compilation clip showing some of Ramsay's worst meltdowns on Kitchen Nightmares – basically him lettting rip at people running restaurants with both barrels.
When Gordon Ramsay loses it, be afraid. pic.twitter.com/ezmtRQMPgz
— Channel 4 (@Channel4) April 15, 2018
Rayner had this to say in response to the clip:
What a sad, inadequate man. This is everything that has been wrong about restaurant kitchen culture. Because he suffered violence and abuse as a young cook, Ramsay thinks it’s character building and so the cycle continues. All he’s doing is glamourising bullying. https://t.co/u48jHu8L9M
— Jay Rayner (@jayrayner1) April 16, 2018
His tweet has been liked over 4800 times, with many people in the industry agreeing with Rayner, some arguing it could be the reason there is a chef's crisis. Rayner also told Munchies that the clips were "antiquated and out of date, and are just not where kitchen culture either is or should be going ... footage of Gordon Ramsay at whatever point in his career, and whether it's done for the camera or not, shouting at people like that is just not helpful. Plus, it just makes him look like a tosser. You're only cooking tea, you're not saving people's lives.”
However, others have leapt to Ramsay's defence, saying he's right to be angry about dirty kitchens and sub-standard food, or arguing that his angry persona should be taken with a pinch of salt.
Glamourising this kind of bull shit really sets us back. No wonder we can’t find any chefs. https://t.co/QRnwI1bnXO
— Stevie Parle (@StevieParle) April 15, 2018
It’s basic stuff, nobody should have to put up with that in the work place, just like we no longer allow teachers to hit children,
— Franklins (@FranklinsSE22) April 16, 2018
You think they're like that all the time? I've worked with chefs that have worked for @GordonRamsay and they say he's the most encouraging and passionate chef they've worked with, nothing like the tv version of him
— JP (@Jon_Pearce_) April 16, 2018
Not bomb disposal but to guys like Ramsay it's a matter of life and death. Be thankful there are guys that talented to have graced our industry, particularly in the UK and dragged us forward.
— Chris Graham (@Deg_Ar_Bra_Nu) April 16, 2018
A number of chefs have recently spoken out about why the angry chef persona is no longer acceptable in today's top kitchens, including chef Daniel Clifford, who says that winning his second Michelin star turned him into a monster in the kitchen.
What do you think? Is Ramsay perpertuating a bullying culture in kitchens? Let us know your thoughts over on our Facebook page.
