Gordon Ramsay, one of the world's most influential chefs, is not only famous for his Michelin-starred restaurants or hit TV shows like Hell's Kitchen or MasterChef, but is also known for his outspoken, hot-tempered but passionate style.
Although he has traveled all over the world and tasted all kinds of exquisite dishes, this master chef has a special favor for Vietnamese cuisine. His love is not only shown through compliments but also through the times he is willing to "try" simple, rustic dishes, despite the interesting "failures".
Vietnamese cuisine through the eyes of a super chef
One of the most memorable moments that confirmed Gordon Ramsay's love for Vietnamese cuisine was when he enjoyed crab noodle soup during a filming trip for the culinary documentary series Gordon's Great Escape in 2012. In the Mekong Delta, he had the opportunity to encounter this popular, Vietnamese dish from a local chef.
For a chef who has traveled around the world and tasted all kinds of exquisite dishes, his special praise for Vietnamese popular dishes further affirms the attractiveness of the cuisine of the S-shaped country.
When the hot bowl of vermicelli soup was served, Ramsay carefully tasted a spoonful. The sour taste of tomatoes, the slight sweetness of bone broth, combined with the soft crab curd made the fastidious chef unable to contain his emotions. He blurted out: "So delicious! I love it!". That natural, genuine emotion became one of the most powerful moments of the program, contributing to bringing the image of Vietnamese cuisine closer to international audiences.
Ramsay’s love for Bun Rieu is no coincidence. This dish impresses with its balance and sophistication in flavor: the broth is refreshingly sour, the crab soup is rich but not too rich, combined with fresh vegetables. The combination of fried tofu, shrimp, pig’s blood and herbs creates a flavor that is both rustic and unique, hard to confuse with any other dish. It is this simplicity and sophistication that has made a world-class chef bow in admiration.
In addition to the compliments, Gordon Ramsay's journey to explore Vietnamese cuisine is also associated with humorous "challenges". During a visit to Mai Chau, Hoa Binh in 2011, he tried to make banh cuon himself. Despite possessing golden hands and 16 prestigious Michelin stars, this chef "failed miserably" when trying to make the paper-thin cakes.
British super chef has great respect for Vietnamese cuisine
After the failure, he admitted: "To make this paper-thin rice paper roll requires delicate techniques. Luckily I was not born in Vietnam, otherwise I would just be a bad chef." This statement not only shows the modesty of a super chef but also affirms the ingenuity and sophistication of Vietnamese people in each dish.
Also on this trip, Ramsay continued to face another challenge when he was asked to prepare 7 pork dishes within 3 hours. This dish included diverse dishes such as spring rolls, pig ear salad, braised pork... Once again, the king of the kitchen had to "admit defeat" before the complexity of local cuisine. He admitted this was "the most difficult night of my career" and even spilled rice on the floor because he was not familiar with the kitchen.
Another story Ramsay tells is when he tried to ask a local chef, whom he calls "Madam Duck," for the recipe for marinating duck. However, she flatly refused because it was a family secret. Ramsay likened the request to "asking for a wedding," showing his respect for culinary secrets passed down through generations.
During a guest appearance on a culinary show in Seoul, when asked about the city or country with the best food in the world, Gordon Ramsay did not hesitate to name Vietnam, along with Laos and Madrid (Spain). He shared: "Vietnam is a place with many dishes that cannot be criticized. I love Vietnam and the food here."
World-famous chef loves Vietnamese food: "A place with many dishes that cannot be criticized"
Gordon Ramsay's love for Vietnamese cuisine does not stop at just enjoying it. He also brings Vietnamese cuisine into his shows. In MasterChef season 4 in 2013, he included Hu Tieu in the contestants' test. Before the competition, he clearly instructed: "This is my favorite dish, don't let me down." However, the contestants were confused by Ramsay's request, once again affirming the uniqueness and complexity of Vietnamese cuisine.
For Gordon Ramsay, Vietnamese cuisine is not only about delicious dishes but also a story about creativity, meticulousness and love for ingredients. His experiences with bun rieu, banh cuon or hu tieu have contributed to bringing the image of Vietnam closer to friends around the world. It does not need to be a sophisticated, expensive dish, just a simple bowl of bun rieu is enough to leave a mark in the heart of a world-class chef, and for Vietnamese people, those compliments are like an affirmation of the timeless and borderless value of homeland cuisine.
