When we first heard that Gordon Ramsay would be dining atIoesco Café Cucina it was very surreal. What do you prepare and serve the most recognised chef on the globe? The vibe in the restaurant & amongst the team was a little nervy, to say the least... And then we were told to prepare an array of food….no menu, A FEAST!!! We worked on a menu ensuring everyone in the kitchen had a dish of their own to prepare and serve; making it a very personal career highlight for the entire team.
On the evening the atmosphere was alive with anticipation. When Gordon Ramsay arrived, the whole restaurant applauded his entrance. The Ramsay table was for 14 guests and served as a share table; so all the food was laid out like a feast fit for a king. The service went off without any glitches (phew!). The team that worked on the evening not only exceeded my expectations but did the restaurant proud. Once they had finished dining, the kitchen was invited to meet and have photos taken with Gordon and his sous chef. He showed immense respect for my chefs, and I, taking the time to meet and greet us all individually. He then asked to see our kitchen and we discussed many aspects of the restaurant with him.
It was an immense honour and will be etched in our memories forever, to be sure! Gordon compared Ioesco to his days of working at Harvey's in Wandsworth where he worked with Marco Pierre White and spent a good deal of time in the kitchen talking about his experiences, displaying his wisdom and immense knowledge and passion for food and cooking, coloured by his countless & very expressive “expletives” ( I am sure you get the picture) . It was certainly a highlight for Ioesco Cafe Cucina and a personal career highlight for all the chefs involved. Since Gordon Ramsay dining that night, all of the chefs work with a little more pride and enthusiasm, from the praise, words of inspiration and the invaluable insight he offered to us all that night.Alex Tolley Executive Chef Ioesco Cafe Cucina
