Ramsay-Oliver feud reignites

March 31, 2015 by
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Jamie Oliver & Gordon RamsayJamie Oliver and Gordon Ramsay’s long-running feud had been quiet for a few years, but recent remarks by both men have brought the tensions back to the surface.

According to The Telegraph, Oliver recently commented that “Gordon will do anything to try and take the p*** out of me because he is deeply jealous and can’t quite work out why I do what I do and why he can’t do that. He is too busy shouting and screaming and making our industry look like a bunch of shouters and screamers.”

The chefs’ bickering traces back to 2009, when Oliver criticised Ramsay for his disparaging comments about an Australian TV presenter. Ramsay responded by calling Oliver a “one-pot wonder.” The back-and-forth exchange of insults continued for a time but seemed to be over until recently, when Ramsay called Oliver out on not attending the opening of one of Oliver’s own restaurants in Hong Kong. Ramsay told CNBC: “Two British chefs, Jamie Oliver and Gordon Ramsay, rubbing shoulders together in Hong Kong. At least I’m here, I came to my opening, right? If you’re going to open a restaurant in Hong Kong at least turn up.”

Oliver has since told an Australian news agency that he regretted his recent remarks about Ramsay. Both chefs are popular with EYB Members, but Oliver is on more Bookshelves by a wide margin. The online poll at The Telegraph, which asked who readers thought was the more successful chef, has Oliver up by 20 points on Ramsay. How would you respond to the survey?

Category: Food Biz People

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11 Comments

  • KarinaFrancis  on  March 31, 2015

    Jamie all the way! His recipes are good, accessible and ones that I use regularly. Jamie gives back and uses his fame to raise awareness and generally improve eating standards worldwide, that is a big contributor to his success. Gordon is a very talented chef with a bad boy tag, maybe not the best branding choice.

  • Jane  on  March 31, 2015

    Jamie 100%. I own most of his cookbooks and cook from them regularly. I have a couple of Gordon's cookbooks and I don't think I have ever cooked from them. Apart from the cookbooks I really admire what Jamie Oliver has achieved. He set up the restaurant chain Fifteen to train disadvantaged young people to become chefs. He has campaigned relentlessly to improve people's health and fight obesity by teaching them to cook and by improving the quality of school lunches. He seems a genuinely good person who wants to improve the lives of other people, whereas Gordon's main passion seems to be improving his own bank balance. I think Gordon is a very good chef (I've eaten at his restaurants) but I wish he would stop and think sometimes before he mouths off.

  • FJT  on  March 31, 2015

    I have cookbooks written by both chefs and have had way more success cooking from Jamie's recipes (although there have been a few fails)!!

  • AliciaWarren  on  March 31, 2015

    I boycott Gordon Ramsay books. He's so nasty to others on TV that I don't want to put money in his wallet.

  • raowriter  on  March 31, 2015

    I find Ramsay's bullying behaviour appalling.
    I admire Oliver hugely as he gamely takes on the most extraordinary challenges to improve the way we eat. He's a power for good for the world, using his natural humour to smooth the rough parts of his journeys and win over the disbelievers.
    As for food, I'm a vegetarian, so no contest: Jamie all the way as he treats vegos with respect, unlike his rival.

  • rgdryden  on  April 2, 2015

    Jamie by far presents himself, his food and his family as wholesome, he is a commited individual! Ramsay's reputation is just nasty…………

  • jifar  on  April 5, 2015

    Jamie Oliver wins, not just more successful in my view but he has made a far more significant contribution to the industry; particularly with his training restaurants.

  • nicolthepickle  on  April 14, 2015

    I would say Chef Ramsay, but Jamie Oliver has much more accessible recipes.

  • MATrunkfield  on  April 30, 2015

    Gordon Ramsey's recipes always work for me. They are simple and easy to follow. I have not always had such luck with Oliver's. I don't like Ramsey's swearing but you have to see beyond that to judge the recipes.

  • Cleanslatefarm  on  April 30, 2015

    Ramsey's shouting may work for television but as a restaurant professional I can say it's old school. Remember Ramsey once worked with Marco Pierre White, the bad boy of bad boy chefs, who once made Ramsey cry in the kitchen as told in White's book "White Heat."

    Cooking professionally has become a collaborative effort in many of the best restaurants.

  • dishmag  on  May 4, 2015

    Boys will be boys.
    They both are good chefs and both have good qualities but they should get over themselves and try to get on.
    They are at the top of their game and should quit bickering and try to do something together that is worthwhile, it would be good for them.

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