Gordon Ramsay, the Emmy-nominated and world-renowned TV host and chef is checking in from Kansas City to promote Season 2 of Apple TV's "Knife Edge: Chasing Michelin Stars" (new episode Fridays). Ramsay, who is an executive producer on the show, also owns a steakhouse in Kansas City. The establishment is one of over 80 properties in his portfolio.
So does that mean Ramsay, who gained American fame with shows like "Hell's Kitchen" and "MasterChef," is in competition with Travis Kelce and and Patrick Mahomes? The Kansas City Chiefs teammates also run a steakhouse in town, 1587 Prime.
"You're such a sh*t stirrer," Ramsay, 59, tells USA TODAY. "I love competition. Come on, man."
At least on television, Ramsay has made a living literally stirring up
concoctions and figuratively stirring up drama. He's having none of it when it comes to Kelce and Mahomes.
Ramsay also takes a step back from the on screen drama with "Knife Edge," as host Jesse Burgess navigates the fast-paced and high-pressure world of restaurants attempting to survive in this day-and-age, and earn a prestigious star from the Michelin Guide.
The Michelin Guide evaluates every aspect of a restaurant's dining program but ultimately awards its stars based on the food served. As the series documents, stars can be earned, added to or in some instances, lost.
While the inspectors don't diving deep into the financials of a restaurant, Ramsay says the Michelin Guide does take into consideration location and other economic factors.
"They would never nominate a restaurant that's going to go bust in six months time," he says. "Especially at that two or three star level, they'd look stupid."
Ramsay insists he's never seen an inspector inside a restaurant (as documented in the series, the decision makers are infamously anonymous and will go lengths to ensure their identity remains a secret). But he knows a thing or two about earning stars: the restaurateur has five restaurants with at least one star and a couple of restaurants with multiple stars. His flagship eatery in London, Restaurant Gordon Ramsay, has held three stars since 2001.
The guide has come under scrutiny, for the pressure that it brings to restaurants and for accusations of prejudice. Ramsay believes that in the day and age of the social media influencer, the Michelin Guide is still necessary.
"Where I stand strong with the Michelin (Guide) is the level of consistency in a way that they don't come in and announce themselves," Ramsay explains. "It is incognito and I think that's the sort of benchmark in a way, how you measure consistency. And so they don't want extra courses. They want to be treated like a normal customer."
That is a stark contrast to your favorite "foodie" on Instagram or even how show business works. You can't campaign for a Michelin star in the same way you'd try and drum up support for an Oscar or an Emmy Award. In 2017, Ramsay was nominated for outstanding host for a reality or reality competition program at the Emmys. After the campaigning and even walking the red carpet, Ramsay lost to RuPaul Charles, who wasn't even at the ceremony.
"So when you think about the Michelin (Guide), it is the governing body," he says. "It is the sort of benchmark and it is the most consistent guide on the planet.
"And is it worth it?" he rhetorically asks. "Yes, it fricking is, because we need to highlight this talent. We need to protect this generation."
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Chef Gordon Ramsey reveals what he thinks of Michelin stars
