Though Gordon Ramsay originally made his mark in fine dining, he is now more famously recognized as a humorous figure on television.
However, the star of Hell’s Kitchen has recently stirred up a heated online debate by sharing the one place he absolutely refuses to eat.
After working in several top-tier restaurants and accumulating a total of seventeen Michelin stars over the course of his career, Ramsay gained even more fame as a TV star. Shows like Channel 4’s Kitchen Nightmares helped make Ramsay a familiar face in many households.
He is famous for his blunt honesty and sharp sense of humor, which has earned him a devoted fanbase.
So, when Ramsay advises against eating at a particular place, it’s probably in everyone’s best interest to pay attention…
Ramsay continues to appear in a wide variety of cooking shows filmed globally, such as the BBC’s Gordon Ramsay’s Future Food Stars and Fox’s Next Level Chef. With all this filming, Ramsay ends up spending a lot of time traveling from one location to another.
While he gets to enjoy top-notch meals prepared by renowned chefs in some of the most famous restaurants, many of his meals also happen while he’s on the go.
This is something the world-famous chef has expressed frustration about—especially when it comes to the quality of food served on airplanes.
In fact, he says it’s the one place he absolutely refuses to eat!
In a 2017 interview with Refinery29, Ramsay stated: “There’s no f***ing way I eat on planes.”
He also elaborated on why he feels so strongly about this, sharing his own experiences with airline food.
“I worked for airlines for ten years, so I know where this food’s been, where it goes, and how long it took before it got on board,” he explained.
It seems that freshness and quality are extremely important to Ramsay’s taste buds—and he seems to be aware of the unpleasant truths behind what’s served at high altitudes.
Ramsay is so dedicated to this belief that he makes sure to never touch airplane food by always boarding a flight with a full stomach.
In that same interview, he offered some advice for travelers on what to eat before flying.
The chef suggested that passengers should “keep it light” prior to their flight and recommended looking for an Italian bar if one is available at the airport.
“A nice selection of Italian meats, a little glass of red wine, some sliced apples or pears with some parmesan cheese, I’m like a pig in s***,” Ramsay shared.
For fans of Ramsay who want to copy the star’s pre-flight eating habits, he has even opened his own restaurant at the airport.
Plane Food, located in Heathrow, was created by Ramsay specifically to help travelers fill their stomachs before flying.
Ramsay explains in a YouTube video: “The idea behind Plane Food is simple: I’d like you to eat incredibly well before takeoff.”
With dishes like steamed seabream, a buffalo chicken burger, and lobster linguine on the menu, it certainly sounds much better than what’s served on board.
Plane Food also features an impressive express menu, offering two courses in under twenty-five minutes for diners who are in a hurry.