Gordon Ramsey Drops In To Hampshire Restaurant (from Scene South)

Staff at a Hampshire restaurant could be forgiven for having a few nerves when foul-mouthed celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay popped in for a bite to eat.

The Cromwell Arms in Romsey had only been open for four weeks when TV's most demanding Michelin starred chef casually strolled through the door with his wife and four children in tow.

Suddenly an already chaotic bank holiday lunchtime was turned upside down at the eaterie as kitchen staff braced themselves while Channel 4's Fword star chewed over their menu.

Chef Neil Gills, formerly of Ennio's, Southampton, said: "I was told as soon as he came in. I was very nervous.

I was expecting his head to pop round the corner and start shouting at me but it was really good. I was already busy so I didn't have much time to dwell on it."

Owner Mark Walters, a former manager of Dock Gate 4 in Southampton, explained that the traditional English restaurant was nearly full when the family walked in from their Hampshire home around the corner.

He said: "We were three quarters full and it was a busy day. We do simple but honest good food and he said it was very good. He liked the restaurant and our décor."

Ramsay, a fierce advocate of local produce often seen fishing with his children in the Test River, opted to start with rabbit and bacon terrine with green peppercorns and tarragon.

Tana plumped for chicken liver pate but they both agreed on cottage pie leaving their brood free to enjoy spaghetti bolognese.

Mr Gills added: "It was a posh cottage pie freshly made that morning. We make ours with rib eye steak, served with wild mushrooms and mustard sauce. We nearly ran out that day because it was so popular but I have a feeling it is about to get a whole lot more popular."

The hard man of cooking cleaned his plate before giving glowing feedback, autographing a menu for the chef and promising to return for seconds.

Mr Gills was overwhelmed with the compliment from him and said: "I think that was the crowning moment of my career. We all know we are doing all right if he is happy."

[quote][bold]Mad Max[/bold] wrote: Gordon Ramsey, going out to eat with his family... surely not.... and to think, he had the nerve to "casually" stroll into the eatery... Come on Echo... unpaid advert not news...[/quote] But you still read it, validating their decision to print it....

[quote][bold]Fred Dinenage[/bold] wrote: [quote][bold]Mad Max[/bold] wrote: Gordon Ramsey, going out to eat with his family... surely not.... and to think, he had the nerve to "casually" stroll into the eatery... Come on Echo... unpaid advert not news...[/quote] But you still read it, validating their decision to print it....[/quote] Only as far as he strolled in.... Next article the echo will print is when Lewis Hamilton drives into a petrol station....

Fred Dinenage wrote:

Mad Max wrote: Gordon Ramsey, going out to eat with his family... surely not.... and to think, he had the nerve to "casually" stroll into the eatery... Come on Echo... unpaid advert not news...
But you still read it, validating their decision to print it....

Only as far as he strolled in....

Next article the echo will print is when Lewis Hamilton drives into a petrol station....

[quote][bold]effinghell[/bold] wrote: Bet he used the 'F' word. "Food for the eFFing Family, FAST" Anyways, he's got to eat somewhere, sometime so why get flustered? He's only another customer after all.[/quote] that's the point I was making, he has to eat somewhere.... can you imagine if he walked into MacDonalds (other burger establishments are available) and the spotty oik behind the counter making such a fuss....

effinghell wrote:
Bet he used the 'F' word. "Food for the eFFing Family, FAST" Anyways, he's got to eat somewhere, sometime so why get flustered? He's only another customer after all.

that's the point I was making, he has to eat somewhere.... can you imagine if he walked into MacDonalds (other burger establishments are available) and the spotty oik behind the counter making such a fuss....

Well done to the staff at the restaurant i say. Love him or loathe him..you can't argue with the Michelin starts that his restaurants have, proving that he really does know his stuff. He does try and support local food producers in all his establishments and along with a few other well known Chefs is pushing up the standard of food being served in this country. He can be a loud mouthed **** at times but you have to take the rough with the smooth. I suspect that in the flesh he is a very genuine guy.

Well done to the staff at the restaurant i say.
Love him or loathe him..you can't argue with the Michelin starts that his restaurants have, proving that he really does know his stuff. He does try and support local food producers in all his establishments and along with a few other well known Chefs is pushing up the standard of food being served in this country.
He can be a loud mouthed **** at times but you have to take the rough with the smooth. I suspect that in the flesh he is a very genuine guy.

[quote][bold]Mad Max[/bold] wrote: [quote][bold]Fred Dinenage[/bold] wrote: [quote][bold]Mad Max[/bold] wrote: Gordon Ramsey, going out to eat with his family... surely not.... and to think, he had the nerve to "casually" stroll into the eatery... Come on Echo... unpaid advert not news...[/quote] But you still read it, validating their decision to print it....[/quote] Only as far as he strolled in.... Next article the echo will print is when Lewis Hamilton drives into a petrol station....[/quote] So at that point you realised what the story was about, despite all the clues? And you came back later on to comment on it again. You Sir, fell for it hook, line and sinker.

Mad Max wrote:

Fred Dinenage wrote:
Mad Max wrote: Gordon Ramsey, going out to eat with his family... surely not.... and to think, he had the nerve to "casually" stroll into the eatery... Come on Echo... unpaid advert not news...
But you still read it, validating their decision to print it....
Only as far as he strolled in.... Next article the echo will print is when Lewis Hamilton drives into a petrol station....

So at that point you realised what the story was about, despite all the clues?

And you came back later on to comment on it again.

You Sir, fell for it hook, line and sinker.

Actually he did just stroll in. His house is just a few hundred yards down the road and he was really polite and friendly. He asked if we didn't mind that he didn't book in advance and even read a paper at the bar while we organised a table for him and his family. His kids were well behaved and his language was clean... He was a pleasure to meet and a pleasure to cook for. I would do it again.

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