Gordon Ramsay reaffirms love for Philippine cuisine in Netflix series: ‘The culture is incredible’
Gordon Ramsay reaffirmed his admiration of Asia and his fondness for Philippine cuisine in his latest Netflix documentary.
The celebrity chef's trip to Manila in January 2025 was featured in episode 4 of Being Gordon Ramsay. He visited the Philippines for his first Gordon Ramsay Bar and Grill in Newport World Resorts, which opened in August 2024.
"The importance of attending these openings for me is paying respect to the country. They give me so much. They support me endlessly," he commented on his visit. "It’s a high[ly] pressurized, sort of two-, three-day event, but it lasts for years because the impact is incredible."
He reiterated his fondness for Asia, particularly the Philippines and its cuisine. "The Philippines has been a huge market for us, and Filipino cuisine in general is… Oof! It’s bubbling like no tomorrow."
On his way to his restaurant's opening, Ramsay also made a sly comment on local transportation as he noticed an abundance of motorcycles and e-bikes.
"I don’t know how long you’ll survive riding a bike here. But they are everywhere. They’re like little ants, aren’t they?" he said, recalling he would ride a motorcycle as a starting chef in Paris.
Ramsay said he can resonate so much with what Filipino chefs bring to the kitchen: "The Filipino flair, just with the chefs alone, what they do and what they stand for, and the humbleness, I can relate to because it relates to my upbringing," he said. "And just the food scene, the culture is incredible."
Ramsay also commented on the uniqueness of his restaurant in the country, emphasizing the importance of showcasing Filipino flavors other than merely cooking British dishes.
"I'm inspired by their culture, and so you don't want to source ingredients from the UK to do something quintessentially British," he said. "We have to adapt, and we have to increase the heat, the sour, the bitterness. You’d be so ignorant if you don’t incorporate what's happening locally."
During the restaurant's opening, Ramsay can be seen speaking to as many of the staff and taking selfies with them. In a conversation, Ramsay did not hide his amazement that one chef came over to the restaurant at 4 a.m. just to prepare.
Filipino cooking influencer Abi Marquez also appeared on the show. The segment gave a behind-the-scenes look at her content collaboration with Ramsay.
“This is the biggest day of my life. Just this Saturday, he commented on one of my videos, and immediately, the media [and] the press picked it up," she said.
Additionally, the episode gave a look into Ramsay's visit to the Farmers Market in Araneta City, Cubao. He was seen curiously exploring the different seafood selection and even sat down with his executive chef to eat.
"It's f*****g incredible. This is good enough for restaurants. This is how good the produce is. So in many ways, I think it's my perfect day," commented Ramsay as he inspected an octopus and a gigantic black Lapu-lapu.
Netflix's Being Gordon Ramsay premiered on Feb.18. It follows the eponymous multi-Michelin-starred chef in his journey to launch four restaurants and a culinary academy at the 22 Bishopsgate skyscraper in London.
