CityLife

Ramsay joins the Queen

CELEBRITY chefs Gordon Ramsay and Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall joined leading lights from the hospitality industry in praising Britain's culinary achievements.

The television stars joined hundreds of hoteliers, restaurateurs and catering bosses at a Buckingham Palace reception hosted by the Queen in honour of their efforts.

The pair even paid tribute to the work of the Palace's kitchens, which produced the canapes that were offered to the guests during the evening.

Ramsay said after meeting the Queen: "The hospitality industry in this country is booming.

"We were going through a dogmatic reputation during the last decade but now (we have) the talents of the young chefs of this country, the hotels that have been built in this country - Britain stands alone as an identity in cuisine, it can equally match the French now, the Italians and the Americans."

The chef said the new series of his Channel 4 cookery show The F Word would feature two new additions to his family - baby cows.

Livestock

The move follows on from other livestock his children have helped raise at home - and seen go to the slaughterhouse.

Ramsay explained he was rearing the animals in his back garden to produce veal: "We don't eat enough veal in this country, it's something we're too squeamish about - eating pink meat.

"So the children, apart from (being) traumatised on the back of their experience of the turkey, the pig and the sheep, now they've got their veal.

"Their names are Elton and David."

Businesses from across the country were represented at the event last night from pubs and universities to world-renowned organisations such as London's Ritz hotel.

The guests nibbled on canapes that included roasted vegetables on rye bread, asparagus wrapped in ham, and pate en croute.

Fearnley-Whittingstall, who in a recent show tried to persuade the residents of Axminster to eat more free range chickens, said he hoped his programmes were influencing the nation's diet.

He added: "When you cook on television, what you hope is that the people who watch you, a fair few of them, are going to get up and try and do what you're doing.

"I would be a bit sad if everyone who watched (my show) River Cottage tuned in for the entertainment value and then went to their fridge and got a ready meal out."