In August 2024, Metro Manila’s dining aficionados got a taste of what a Gordon Ramsay plate tastes like when the first eponymously named restaurant opened its doors at the Newport World Resorts. It was a massive hit, with over 10,000 diners making reservations in its first month of operations.
The successful launch was one of the reasons why the multi-awarded chef, restaurateur, and media personality decided to visit the Philippines – his first ever, last January. The Newport theater was packed with an audience that included students from culinary arts schools, dining club members, colleagues in the food and beverage industry, and members of media who were enthralled as Chef Gordon shared his experience visiting the country and his insights for those who want to have a career in the hospitality industry.
Chef Gordon reiterated the need to continuously learn, especially as a newcomer in the industry. He shared that instead of chasing after the higher position, it is better to start again at the bottom when in a new workplace. This allows a person to further strengthen his foundation and pick up skills from others.
“You just have to keep on going up and down. When you start down again in the next kitchen, you just learn so much more rather than going in a higher position, taking on more responsibility. It’s not about the position in your 20s, it’s about the education. Next time, when you start your new job, go back to be a commie chef again. So do that three or four times in your career, and you’ll build out this plethora of knowledge that only you will have, and you can dip into those little nuances that you learn, and then you start formulating your own style, because you have three or four good mentors,” he said.
However, learning doesn’t stop once one reaches the top. Chef Gordon shared that he traveled to Oaxaca in Mexico to learn how to make a proper mole, spent time in Southern India to learn and understand all about vegetarian cuisine. This, in order to understand what makes a great chickpea curry, among other things. He emphasized that traveling is crucial for any chef as it helps expand their horizons, both in taste vocabulary but also in techniques and flavors.
During the event, the critically-acclaimed chef also teased the audience with a sneak peak at his plans in the Philippines. Chef Gordon shared that he and his partners are currently looking at three new restaurant sites in Manila, with the possibility of bringing in the Hell’s Kitchen dining concept to Philippine shores.