Kitchen Nightmares: 10 Gordon Ramsay Quotes That Show His Softer Side

Gordon Ramsay has helmed many cooking shows, including Hell’sKitchen, known for its shocking eliminations and harsh conditions, where he plays a shouty villain trying to get the chefs in line. His other famous show, Kitchen Nightmares, shows a slightly nicer side of Ramsay where he tries to help struggling restaurants.

Ramsay usually yells at incompetent chefs that put others in danger, either by serving bad food or keeping their kitchens in chaos. He hurls creative and brutal insults at the chefs that don’t meet his expectations. However, when he spots chefs that are genuinely trying to improve their business and craft, he doesn’t hesitate to compliment them and nurture their talent.

10 “You’ve Been A Joy.”

Sterling was one of the most likable chefs on Hell’s Kitchen, calming down an argument between chefs in his first episode and maintaining friendships with most other competitors throughout his time on the show. Ramsay acknowledged Sterling’s passionate and hardworking personality in the competitor’s final episode and even celebrated that despite his loss, he had captured Ramsay’s heart.

Ramsay’s final words to Sterling were, “You have been a phenomenal, relentless competitor” and “You’ve been a joy to be around, you’ve put smiles on all our faces,” acknowledging his good work and achievements. Ramsay notices and appreciates chefs that genuinely try, just like Sterling.

9 “It Made Me Feel Like I Was Back At Mum’s.”

When visiting Momma Cherri’s Soul Food Shack on Kitchen Nightmares, Ramsay was given ribs, jambalaya, and succotash. After finishing the dish and cleaning his plate, praising the meal, Ramsay went into the kitchen to congratulate and thank the chef, stating, “This may be the first time I actually go back to the kitchen with an empty plate.”

The owner of the restaurant danced in relief when Ramsay called the dish “spot on” and likened it to his mom’s home cooking. Ramsay praises chefs that go above and beyond, listening to the customer’s needs, and he complimented the chef for not making the dish too spicy.

8 “The Best Service, So Far, In Hell’s Kitchen.”

Season 4 of Hell’s Kitchen was tougher than ever for the chefs. After one particularly arduous dinner service, Ramsay gathered the chefs around, including fan-favorite, Louis Petrozza, and shocked them all by saying, “I don’t know what to say anymore,” leading them to believe that they had failed. However, he surprised them even more by laughing and congratulating them on their best service yet, high-fiving them and making the chefs smile.

Petrozza called Ramsay’s sense of humor “phenomenal” compared to his usual shouting. Ramsay’s genuine praise of the chefs is a very welcome sight, especially as they had endured such a difficult service.

7 “We Can Do This, We’ve Still Got Time.”

Ramsay cooks with his own children at home and has consistently been adorable with the kid contestants on Masterchef Junior. In season 1, Ramsay leaped to the aid of Sofia Hublitz, who was crying over a mistake she made while using an electric whisk. Ramsay instructed her to start over and helped clean her station, calming her down by getting her back on track.

The usual procedure for a host would be to comfort the crying child by telling her, “It’s okay,” but Ramsay’s approach is arguably better as he helps her fix the root of the problem instead of trying to coddle her. After the show, Hublitz started an acting career, with roles in Louie and Ozark.

6 “Finally, Some Good F*cking Food.”

While eating at Blackberry’s restaurant on Kitchen Nightmares, Ramsay was less than impressed with the dishes he had been served, sighing at the quality of the food. However, when he was brought a lovely-looking red velvet cake, made by the owner’s mother, he tucked into it and muttered, “Finally, some good f*cking food.” The quote immediately spawned a meme.

Ramsay is always kind to mothers on Kitchen Nightmares, often because their home-cooked food is better than the frozen store-bought food that the restaurant owners serve. In this instance, he kissed the mother on the cheek and thanked her for the meal, earning a tearful smile from her.

5 “Bellissimo!”

While visiting La Galleria in season 6 of Kitchen Nightmares, Ramsay was disappointed to find that they had run out of desserts. He asked for a portion of tiramisu from the owner’s mother, and ended up absolutely loving it, hugging the mother and complimenting her on the gorgeous dessert.

The owner exclaimed, “Thank God, he liked something!” and the mother seemed particularly proud of herself, as she should be. La Galleria was full of problems – some of them completely off-the-wall – like a random worker proclaiming that he was the manager – but Ramsay was patient and saw the best in the restaurant, helping them out after tasting the tiramisu.

4 “It’s Like A Procession Or Funeral For A Cake.”

Mill Street Bistro in Kitchen Nightmares had lots of problems, but the funniest of them all was the chocolate cake put on a rack so that the customers could see it. Ramsay had fun with the waitresses, having them carry the cake like a funeral procession and throwing flowers onto it like a casket. He even starts singing a funeral dirge, making them laugh even more.

Ramsay’s funny side comes out a lot more than viewers would expect, especially around kids or people he knows aren’t responsible for the terrible food but still have to deal with customer complaints. Making light of the situation is a nice moment and shows Ramsay’s sense of humor.

3 “Where Do The Tips Go?”

Amy’s Baking Company makes every list of the craziest episodes in Kitchen Nightmares history, but the episode also highlights Ramsay’s softer side. Ramsay was genuinely concerned that the waitresses – Miranda and Katy – were not making tips, since the tips went straight to the owner, Samy.

Ramsay shows off his softer side by being nice to the waitstaff, and shows his maturity and experience, acknowledging that the waitstaff is integral to the running of the business. He gave Miranda a tip at the end of his meal at the restaurant, ensuring that Miranda kept it instead of giving it to Samy. He was also concerned later in the episode when Amy screamed at Katy, firing her on the spot for asking a question.

2 “You’re Tiny, You’re Powerful, And You’re Very Talented.”

Ivy Angst was one of the most unforgettable and talented chefs on Masterchef Junior, earning Ramsay’s praise time and again. Ramsay told her, “You are cooking with no fear,” boosting her confidence.

The kindness of Ramsay towards younger chefs, as well as adult chefs that have talent that isn’t being utilized, makes his shows genuinely uplifting. Chefs at home can take Ramsay’s comments and aspire to be as good as him, and young people can be inspired to take up cooking, even for a hobby.

1 “Stop Doubting Yourself. Be Bold.”

One of the most iconic Ramsay moments in season 3 of Masterchef was when the talented Christine Ha presented an apple pie for judging. Ha is blind, so she couldn’t see the pie, but Ramsay described it for her, reassuring Ha that it looks amazing, tastes amazing, and she should be proud of what she has accomplished.

Ramsay was still fair in his criticism, calling her out for an 18-minute delay on the dish, but this further proves that Ramsay isn’t just being nice for the sake of it. Instead, he is genuinely trying to improve her skills and help her advance as a chef.

About The Author

Leah Clarke
(76 Articles Published)

Leah Clarke is a List Writer for Screen Rant. She loves to talk about movies, anime, and TV shows. She is always writing action, fantasy, and comedy screenplays. She takes Japanese lessons and is studying for a master’s degree in scriptwriting.

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