Gordon Ramsay in Australia – is it a nation of prudes?

Channel Nine in Australia has shamefully traded poor journalism for an attack on Gordon Ramsay, which in deep analysis, proves to be a blatant act of hypocrisy and plug for ratings.

Although it is not widely known, it is strongly reported that some time ago, Channel Nine actually gave Ramsay an expensive watch, scribed with thanks, for being a jewel in their crown.

As with most superstars (as Ramsay is, based on a stunning decade of success, who only opened his first restaurant just over 10 years ago) fame can come and go, and Australia has certainly backed this statement up.

TV networks clambered over each other to try and get his shows.

If they couldn’t air his latest fare, then the competitors would still try to get a slice of the pie by replaying older episodes or series.

Now he is being hounded worldwide for his alleged treatment of media in Australia. All in all, all publicity is good publicity. Here in this part of the world in particular, it has been sometime since we have heard of Ramsay, with even his incoming journey here was kept relatively quiet.

Only recently, Channel Nine axed a series of Hell’s Kitchen after it had reportedly attracted only half the viewers compared to NCIS.

NCIS? Mark Harmon for goodness sake?

Personally, I see both sides of the fence for feelings towards Ramsay.

I myself have been criticised for my forthright view of things, to the point of being labeled offensive. Naturally it is the case of opinion and upbringing. I was raised in a fairly liberal family, where conversation about what society would think taboo was common.

But a painful lesson I have learnt in life, is that you are judged (unfairly) for being forthright with your views or vocabulary. Often, statements that are just opinion are often mistaken as insults.

And here, Ramsay has been unfairly attacked.

Tracy Grimshaw has long attacked people via her creative journalism, and in most situations, the recipients of this treatment have not had the force of will or personality to combat this.

While I do believe that a Current Affair does sometimes bring to light things that need widespread attention, what on earth were they thinking?

Does anyone honestly think that Grimshaw was not serving up to Ramsay?

The man is in Australia for his reputation as a chef and his considerable nous as a businessman. What on earth was she doing insinuating his treatment to his wife?

My partner and I (both of us unashamed admirers of Ramsay) watched Current Affair after seeing the advertisement on television.

We were both expecting Ramsay to physically assault people and insult their dead mothers. What we saw was what everyone in the world has known for years.

What I saw was just classic Ramsay, that was overhyped for the benefit of attracting ratings. It is with much shame that I contributed to this rating, the first and last time I will watch a Current Affair.

Watching Grimshaw sit there and call Ramsay names was just appalling – to typical for Channel Nine to try and get the last shove in.

Sure, Ramsay may not be a complete gentleman; but has it ever been any other way? Beyond the insight that we get to his skills as a restaurateur and self marketer, do not most people watch Ramsay because of his controversial approach.

I don’t know for sure, but in the beginning, I can almost guarantee that the powers that made the decision to use Ramsay as a cash cow themselves via television weren’t doing it for his pretty looks.

(Yes, I realise that Ramsay has “sex god” status, but this is one thing I can’t bring myself to agree with, and I am sure that Ramsay himself would concur).

Can we not admire the restaurant magnate for just saying it how it is? The world would be far more interesting and home to less bull**** if more people could have the courage to say what they mean.

But in Australia, this has gotten to be too much.

Is this not a country where a bit of rough language and borderline chauvinism is a trademark. Is Australia not the land which famously ended a marketing campaign with a statement “where the bloody hell are you?”

Worst yet, the Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and his deputy Julia Gillard have waded in onto the affair.

Good lord, aren’t you supposed to be too busy running the country. Having the leader of your country verbalise such opinion is just too much.

Now that all of this is said and done, Ramsay himself has opened a new restaurant in London, named Pétrus, after enduring a torrid time of late with the effects of the financial crisis.

We should appreciate that someone of his reputation can come down to Australia.

At the end of the day, love him or loathe him, he is one of the world’s great culinary geniuses. I remember with some amusement a while ago when Macro Pierre White, one of Ramsay’s great foes, remarked that Ramsay had no signature dish, and this was why he could not be regarded as an authentic “master chef”.

As someone who has recently began to set his sights very high with some ambitious goals, how can you not admire what the man has achieved?

Personally, I cannot wait to have the opportunity in the future, to dine in one of his many outstanding venues.

As for my fellow Australians, let’s harden up shall we?