“Gordon Ramsay at The London” is opening in a refurbished hotel in Midtown Manhattan and will be styled on his flagship, “Restaurant Gordon Ramsay,” the only London restaurant given top marks by industry Bible the Michelin guide.
“I am incredibly excited to debut my first restaurant in the US within ‘The London NYC’,” Ramsay said ahead of the opening. “It will provide the perfect setting for what I plan to create there.”
The British chef found fame with his television series “Hell’s Kitchen” and the expletive-laden “F-Word” (which presumably doesn’t stand for food).
The restaurant has seating for 45 diners and will be overseen by chef Neil Ferguson, who previously worked as sous chef at Ramsay’s London restaurant and the top rated “L’Arpege” in Paris and “L’Esperance” in central France.
The $110, seven-course Menu Prestige features dishes such as Ramsay’s signature Cappuccino of White Beans followed by Lobster ravioli poached in a lobster bouillon, celery root cream, shellfish vinaigrette and chervil veloute.
A la carte dishes include sea scallops caramelised with salardaise potatoes, Alsace bacon, vinaigrette of black truffle and herb salad followed by striped bass fillet, steamed with fennel puree, pasta and Oscietra caviar veloute.
The decor is described as emerald and rich timber.
One unusual feature of the restaurant is the so-called Chef’s Table in the kitchen, where up to eight people can eat surrounded by chefs in full flow.
Ramsay said in an interview with Britain’s Observer newspaper he had tipped off staff about the expected arrival of New York Times food critic Frank Bruni, notorious for being able to make or break a restaurant with one review.
“I’ve given the maitre d’ a key ring with a photograph of Bruni on it,” he said. “We’re thinking of getting pillowcases done with his face on them.”
Ramsay, 40, a former professional footballer, has been named the best chef in London for the past 11 years, according to the Harden’s London Restaurants 2007 guide.
Image:Netherlands, Amsterdam: Brittish Top chef Gordon Ramsey is pictured 13 November 2006 in Amsterdam where he will open a restaurant next year. AFP PHOTO/ Anp photo Rick Nederstigt