He reveals that returning to the renowned Mayfair location, now home to Gordon’s new venture, Bonheur, left him emotional: “My biggest regret was not having Albert Roux there,” he recalled, tearfully, adding: “It puts a lump in my throat thinking about him. That man was a powerhouse.”
He also praised the fact that Michel Roux Jr. , Albert’s son, has inherited his father’s culinary gifts: “That exceptional quality doesn’t dilute–you hand it down.”
Gordon is working on his own legacy too, opening Bonheur in partnership with Matt Abé, the former chef from Restaurant Gordon Ramsay.
“I have to plan the succession, otherwise we get stale,” Gordon explained. “Matt’s ready – he’s in the Champions League now.”
Perhaps surprisingly, Gordon has no plans to work with his daughter Tilly, the only one of his six children to follow him into the restaurant business. The 58-year-old chef, who coincidentally shares a birthday with his daughter, explains that she’s determined to establish herself as an independent force.
“She wants to do a stage with Clare Smyth and spend some time with Angela Hartnett,” he said, joking that his daughter’s independence is “a big kick in the balls.”
Despite this, he’s fully supportive of Tilly’s own ventures, even proudly sharing a photo of himself alongside his daughter to celebrate her new cookery show Dish It Out, now available on Prime Video.
“She’s all grown up and has her own show,” he penned. “So proud of you Tilly Ramsay and your new Prime Video show Dish It Out (that’s streaming today ! ).
“And thanks for including the old man as a guest…he can still teach you a few tricks! Can’t wait to watch the rest and so proud dad xx.”
In another display of Gordon’s sentimental side, he declares that family is “the absolute foundation of everything,” and speaks fondly of his future son-in-law, Olympic swimmer Adam Peaty.
Adam met Gordon’s daughter Holly while competing on Strictly Come Dancing in 2021. “We hit it off immediately because he’s super-competitive,” Gordon shared.
“I admired what he stood for. Here was this vulnerable, talented chap who was literally like a fish out of water, getting spray-tanned and glistened up to dance in front of 10 million people on a Saturday night.”
Gordon has also voiced his immense pride in his son Jack’s enlistment in the Royal Marines, his eldest daughter Megan – who in 2019 became the first member of the family to graduate from university – and all of his children, right down to young Jesse James Ramsay, who was born in 2023.
