Above: Chef Gordon Ramsay

Let’s take a break from the London attractions for a while and talk about food.

After long hours of touring, enjoying masterful works of art, taking snapshots at tourist spots, and walking around the busy streets of London – why not take a break? A real long relaxing break complete with fine foods and exquisite wines?

Good idea, yes?

The next question then is this: where do you eat in London? Where can you find a truly unique dining experience that would make your vacation trip even more worthwhile than it already is?

Here’s our answer: Restaurant Gordon Ramsay.

Scottish chef Gordon James Ramsay was born in November 8, 1966 in Johnstone, Scotland. He is famous in the United Kingdom as the host of cooking shows Hell’s Kitchen and The F-Word. For those unfamiliar with the shows, Hell’s Kitchen is a cooking reality show that features prospective chefs competing with each other. Ramsay was head chef for the first season of the show which had celebrities for contestants. He then left to star in his very own version of Hell’s Kitchen for the United States. Here is a photo of head chef Gordon Ramsey having a toast with the first ever winner of UK’s Hell’s Kitchen, model actress Jennifer Ellison.

Above: Chef Ramsay with actress Jennifer Elisson

Even though he left Hell’s Kitchen United Kingdom for a United States stint, Gordon Ramsay remains as the host of the F-Word; which is more of a magazine style type of cooking show. The show also airs worldwide and has helped a lot in making Gordon Ramsay an international household name.

Aside from his media accomplishments, Gordon Ramsay is also an Officer in the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire. How’s that for success? He was given the honor in 2006 for his service to the hospitality industry.

Also, the Michelin Red Guide, Europe’s oldest running yet still its most popular and well revered restaurant guide, has given a total of twelve Michelin Stars to Gordon Ramsay.

He also has another popular show for the United States audience entitled Kitchen Nightmares (which was a previous United Kingdom show also hosted by Gordon Ramsay himself) wherein he saves failing restaurants from closing through industry leading tips that he had proven with his numerous successful restaurants. The biggest working proof of his cooking and entrepreneurial mastery is the Restaurant Gordon Ramsay in London, which is ranked as the thirteenth best restaurant in the entire world – the best in London.

He opened Restaurant Gordon Ramsay in 1998. It was his very first restaurant and it was responsible for his third Michelin Star. He now has 8 restaurants in the United Kingdom, with two more coming in the next two months (he also has three pubs: The Narrow, The Devonshire Horse, and The Warrington). Aside from this, he also has 12 more restaurants around the world: 2 in New York, 1 in Dubai, 2 in Tokyo, 1 in Florida, 1 in Ireland, 1 in the Czech Republic, 1 in West Hollywood, 1 in Versailles, 1 in Amsterdam, and 1 in Singapore.

When you visit Restaurant Gordon Ramsay, expect exquisite and creative French cuisine.

Their set lunch choices are as follows:

Starters

• Coriander pappardelle with baby clams, mussels, sautéed gem lettuce and chive velouté
• Pressed foie gras with Sauternes and camomile reduction, pickled garlic, grilled focaccia
• Yellow fin tuna and roasted cep tartar with caviar, basil purée, spring onions, cep vinaigrette

Main courses

• Fillet of Royal daurade with artichokes barigoule, navet, carrots, radish, baby gem lettuce and chervil butter sauce
• Pork three ways, sautéed, confit cheeks, traditional black pudding, with artichokes, mushrooms, spinach and Madeira sauce
• Roasted haunch of Highland venison with braised shin, creamed potato, baby carrots and red wine sauce

Desserts

• Roasted banana tarte Tatin with banana and walnut ice cream
• Gianduja chocolate parfait with passion fruit and guava coulis
• Sablé Breton with marinated figs, pistachio parfait and spiced ice cream

The three course meal is priced at 45.00 pounds.

As for the a la carte:

Starters

• Ravioli of lobster, langoustine and salmon poached in a light bisque with a lemongrass and chervil velouté
• Slow braised pied de cochon pressed then pan fried with ham knuckle, poached quail’s egg and hollandaise sauce
• Carpaccio of organic salmon and swordfish with marinated white radish, caviar and sweet and sour peppers
• Pan fried Scottish sea scallops with a millefeuille of potato, parmesan velouté and truffle smarties
• Roasted Scottish lobster tail with a light bouillabaisse sauce, buttered cabbage and ratatouille
• Sautéed foie gras with roasted veal sweetbreads, Cabernet Sauvignon vinegar and almond velouté
• Fillet of red mullet with cod, spring onion and pearl barley risotto, sweetcorn and thyme velouté
• Pressed foie gras and confit label Anglaise chicken with Perigord truffle crouton, confit celery

Main courses

• Line caught turbot fillet studded with Perigord truffle, boulangère potatoes, leek ballottine and civet sauce
• Roasted wild Scottish halibut with Cromer crab, caviar, crushed new potatoes and a basil vinaigrette
• Chargrilled monkfish tail with confit duck, layered aubergine, buttered courgettes and red wine sauce

• Pan fried line caught sea bass with steamed Charlotte potatoes, cucumber, oyster beignet and caviar velouté
• Oven roasted pigeon from Bresse with grilled polenta, crispy lardons, braised shallots, baby golden beetroot and date sauce
• Best end of Cornish lamb with confit shoulder, provençale vegetables, baby spinach, and thyme jus
• Pot roasted Northumberland beef fillet with meat and potato pie, quail’s egg and red wine sauce
• Roasted Barbary duck breast with creamed Savoy cabbage, quince, chesnuts and Madeira jus

Desserts

• Granny Smith parfait with honeycomb, bitter chocolate and Champagne foam
• Caramelised Tarte Tatin of apples with vanilla ice cream (for two)
• Marinated pineapple ravioli with mango and raspberries
• Prune and armagnac soufflé with chocolate sorbet
• Assiette de l’Aubergine (for two)
• A selection of seasonal fruit or sorbets and ice creams
• Bitter chocolate cylinder with coffee granité and ginger mousse
• Selection of cheeses from the trolley

Coffee and chocolates are at 5.00 pounds. The entire three course meal is priced at 90.00 pounds.

But if you truly want to have only the best of what the Restaurant Gordon Ramsay has to offer, then we suggest having the Menu Prestige:

• Roasted Loire Valley foie gras with braised carrots and almond foam
• Ravioli of lobster, langoustine and salmon with tomato chutney and vinaigrette
• Fillet of turbot with braised baby gem lettuce and a citrus sauce
• Cannon of Cornish lamb with confit shoulder, ratatouille and thyme jus
  or Roasted Barbary duck breast with creamed Savoy cabbage, chesnuts and Madeira sauce
• Selection of French cheeses or Pre Dessert
• Pineapple and coconut soup with chilli syrup
• Bitter chocolate and hazelnut cylinder with ginger ice cream and blackberry granite

This seven course meal is priced at 120.00 pounds.

They also have a full list of fine wines ready to play with your palettes. Just be ready to shell out even more cash for those.

Dining here is possibly a once in a lifetime experience, so if you do have the extra spending money please do visit. You will not regret spending your hard earned cash on a more than worthy and hearty meal at Restaurant Gordon Ramsay.

Restaurant Gordon Ramsay is found at 68 Royal Hospital Road, London SW3 4HP. Here is a detailed map to help you find your way through the London streets:

They are open for Lunch at 12.00 noon and will be closed until 2.30 in the afternoon. Dinner schedule starts at 6.30 in the evening and the restaurant closes at 11.00 in the evening.

For reservations, you can contact them at 0 20 7352 4441. This is very important: RESERVATIONS ARE MADE TWO MONTHS IN ADVANCE so be sure to have a well planned trip. Also, dress well. Smart dressing is only appropriate and jackets are preferred for gentlemen.