Scottish by birth, Gordon Ramsay was brought up in England after his parents moved south to Stratford-upon-Avon. His first career break came while playing football for Oxford United, where he was spotted by a Glasgow Rangers scout in a F.A. youth club match. After completing trials he was signed by the Scottish champions at the age of 15. Three years later he had given up professional football and gone back to college to complete a course in hotel management.

Gordon moved to London, where he joined Marco Pierre White in the early days of Harvey’s in Wandsworth. After a couple of years, he moved to Le Gavroche to work alongside Albert Roux. This was followed by three years of working in France in the kitchens of Guy Savoy and Joël Robuchon. Here he was able to enhance his expertise in classic French cooking.

In October 1993, Gordon became chef of the newly opened Aubergine where he won many accolades, including two Michelin stars within three years of opening.

Gordon Ramsay’s first cookery book, “Passion for Flavour,” was published in October 1996. His second book, “Passion for Seafood,” was published in May 1999. “A Chef for all Seasons” was published in September 2000, followed by “Just Desserts” in September 2001 and “Secrets” in 2003, “Gordon Ramsay Makes it Easy” in 2005, “Gordon Ramsay’s Sunday Lunch” in 2006 and “Gordon Ramsay’s Fast Food”.   His latest cookery book, “Gordon Ramsay’s Healthy Appetite was published in May 2008 and is the current UK no. 1 bestseller.  To date Gordon has sold over 4 million cookbooks worldwide.

In 1998 at the age of 31, Gordon set up his first wholly owned restaurant, Gordon Ramsay, on the former site of La Tante Claire in Chelsea. In 1991 the restaurant gained its third Michelin star in the “Michelin Red Guide Great Britain and Ireland”. Widely considered to be his flagship restaurant, Gordon Ramsay underwent a major refurbishment in 2006 and remains London’s most sought after restaurant.

In 1999 Gordon Ramsay opened Pétrus, in St. James’s. Within seven months the restaurant had won a Michelin star and after relocating to Knightsbridge in 2003, won its second Michelin star in January 2007.

In October 2001 Ramsay opened Gordon Ramsay at Claridge’s, which gained a Michelin star in 2003.

At the beginning of October 2002, Gordon Ramsay Holdings Limited took over the whole of the food and beverage operation at The Connaught Hotel with Angela Hartnett at the helm. Her restaurant MENU won its first Michelin star in January 2004 which it retained until GRH decided not to renew their contract with The Connaught in 2007.

In 2003, Gordon Ramsay Holdings re-launched The Savoy Grill. The restaurant achieved its Michelin star in 2004. This was followed with the opening of Boxwood Café at The Berkeley.

May 2004 saw Gordon star in “Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares,” a series of four one-hour programs, later awarded two BAFTAs (British Academy of Film and Television Arts) Award and an International Emmy. The Program was launched simultaneously with the recipe book “Gordon Ramsay’s Kitchen Heaven.” Shortly after this, Gordon was given two weeks to direct a group of celebrities toward Michelin-standard cooking in the hit ITV series HELL’S KITCHEN.

2005 confirmed Gordon as a major television talent. A second season of “Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares” was followed by the very successful U.S. version of HELL’S KITCHEN for FOX. November saw the debut “The F-Word,” a high-octane food show with cooking, food campaigns and celebrity guests. All the action was set against the backdrop of a full working kitchen and over the course of the show Ramsay and his brigade prepared a three-course menu for diners.

In May 2005 Gordon opened Maze, in London’s Grosvenor Square with Jason Atherton. Winning instant acclaim and a host of awards, Maze showcases a flexible grazing menu focusing on French Cuisine with Asian influences in an informal and relaxed environment.

In July 2005 Ramsay opened his first restaurant in Japan at The Conrad Tokyo. The year was rounded off with Gordon’s award of an OBE (Order of the British Empire) in the New Year’s Honours list.

In 2006, a third season of KITCHEN NIGHTMARES aired in the UK and season two of the FOX’s HELL’S KITCHEN ranked no. 1 in its time period among key demographics. In the UK, a second season of “The F-Word” was screened in June, garnering strong ratings.  In May, a range of Gordon Ramsay tableware became available in partnership with Royal Doulton.

In October 2006 Gordon’s autobiography, “Humble Pie,” was published by Harper Collins. The book, which gives an honest account of his life in and out of the kitchen, topped many of the best-seller charts.

In November 2006 Gordon Ramsay made his U.S. restaurant debut with the opening of Gordon Ramsay at The London, in The London NYC Hotel, in New York.  Formal dining takes cues from Restaurant Gordon Ramsay on Royal Hospital Road in Chelsea, whereas The London Bar offers a more casual dining and bar experience, modeled on the small-plates concept of Maze.  The restaurant was awarded two coveted Michelin stars in 2007.

January 2007 Gordon Ramsay Holdings opened Cielo at the exclusive Boca Raton resort in Florida.  In March, Gordon Ramsay opened his first pub, The Narrow in London’s Limehouse.  Located in a Grade II-listed building on the banks of the Thames, The Narrow serves classic British dishes in a relaxed setting.

The fifth international Gordon Ramsay restaurant opened towards the end of the year at the Ritz Carlton Hotel Powerscourt, Ireland.  The autumn also saw the launch of Gordon’s second pub, The Devonshire in Chiswick and in November Gordon opened Maze restaurant at the Hilton Old Town in Prague.

In October 2007 Quadrille published “Gordon Ramsay, 3 Star Chef”; a beautifully produced coffee table book containing 50 of Gordon’s signature dishes from Restaurant Gordon Ramsay.  October was also the month that saw the publication of Gordon’s follow up to “Humble Pie”, entitled “Playing with Fire”.  Published by HarperCollins, the book gives an insight into the success of the chef and his company Gordon Ramsay Holdings.

2008 is proving to be another busy year for Gordon.  January saw the re-opening of Chelsea’s classic neighborhood bistro, Foxtrot Oscar, on Royal Hospital Road, just a few doors away from Gordon’s eponymous restaurant. In early February, Gordon Ramsay Holdings also added the stunning Victorian pub The Warrington in Maida Vale to their growing portfolio of pubs.

In March 2008 Gordon opened his first restaurant in France at the legendary Trianon Palace & Spa, a 199-room hotel located just steps away from the famed Château de Versailles.  March was also the month that Gordon opened Plane Food at the newly built Richard Rogers designed Terminal 5 at Heathrow Airport.

In April 2008 Maze Grill opened in London’s Grosvenor Square, directly adjacent to Maze.  Inspired by the classic New York steak restaurants, Maze Grill serves a wide range of different breeds and cuts of meat and fish cooked over coal. The restaurant features a butcher’s block table where guests have the opportunity to watch the chefs at work.

June 2008 saw the opening of Gordon Ramsay at The London West Hollywood in LA.  This came in the midst of HELL’S KITCHEN season 4. Gordon’s TV programs are now watched in over 80 world wide territories.

August saw the launch of Gordon Ramsay protégé Angela Hartnett’s fine-dining restaurant, “Murano” in the heart of London’s Mayfair which was awarded a star in the 2009 UK Michelin Guide. At the end of September, “York and Albany,” located on the edge of London’s Regents Park, opened comprising of a restaurant with bar, delicatessen and guest accommodation.

January 2009, HELL’S KITCHEN 5 garnered the highest rated premiere on FOX in over 9 years.  April 2009 saw the launch of maze by Gordon Ramsay at The One&Only Cape Town. Modelled on its British namesake, the menu evokes the bountiful flavours of authentic South African recipes.

In July 2009, nestled within one of Italy’s most beautiful stretches of countryside, the Ombrone Valley, Gordon will open a fine dining restaurant at the exclusive Castel Monastero hotel.  Simultaneously HELL’S KITCHEN 6 will premiere in the USA.