Various celebrities and known personalities could not contain their “internal kilig” as internationally renowned celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay visited the Philippines.
Last week, Ramsay announced that he would be visiting the country. His Facebook post was accompanied by a photo of his restaurant’s classic fish & chips, with a battered Pink Pacific grouper.
Fans of the celebrity chef were ecstatic for his much-awaited appearance since his restaurant opened at the Newport Resorts World last year.
“Lumpia World Domination”
However, Ramsay had an advanced challenge for food content creator Abigail Marquez, a few days before he arrived in the country.
On January 15, the internet’s lumpia queen posted a TikTok video of her making lumpia filled with ingredients that aren’t normally seen in the iconic Filipino dish. Abi filled the wrapper with seasoned crab cakes, topped with hollandaise and caviar. This video created a buzz among the content creator’s followers, as the renowned celebrity chef commented on Abi’s video.
“But can you do it with a Beef Wellington?” his comment read.
A few days later, Abi reacted to Ramsay’s comment, expressing her excitement and delight. The content creator could not contain her happiness, as she proudly added “Lumpia World Domination” in her Facebook post’s caption.
Following her excitement, Abi asked her followers what she should write in response to Gordon. It seems that the lumpia queen had managed to calm herself down, as a few days later, she posted a photo of her and Gordon doing the iconic “idiot sandwich," while she was holding the lumpia that he had requested.
“CHALLENGE ACCEPTED Gordon Ramsay,” she captioned her post.
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In another post on Instagram, Abi shared a video of her making the Beef Wellington Lumpia. The food content creator even brought the dish to Gordon in person. When she arrived at the venue, she and the celebrity chef had an endearing interaction, as he finally got a taste of the lumpia that he dared Abi to make.
“I am here with the proof. The question is, is this better than yours?” Abi said.
“Visually, wow, that looks good. Now listen, I’m very sorry, but I don't like it, I love it! That is a very, very posh spring roll. Delicious. May I have some more, please? I’m taking this away so no one can steal it,” Gordon said in response to Abi’s lumpia.
Before the iconic collaboration between the two, Gordon invited Abi onstage, complimenting the latter’s Beef Wellington Lumpia. The content creator then playfully told Gordon that he spoiled the audience by her surprise.
A (not so) Mini Masterchef Challenge
During the big day, Gordon invited actress and chef Judy Ann Santos-Agoncillo, vlogger and chef Ninong Ry, culinary student Danica Lucero, and the Gordon Ramsay Bar & Grill Philippines’ Head Chef Bea Therese Qua to participate in a mini "Masterchef" challenge. The four distinguished guests participated in the interactive culinary segment, where they prepared halo-halo with their secret ingredients in just 10 minutes.
Danica’s secret ingredient is kamias and sweetened jackfruit, while Ninong Ry incorporated coco jam. Additionally, Bea added hers with asin tibuok from Bohol, and Judy Ann mixed hers with black sesame polvoron.
Picking the best halo-halo was not an easy decision for Gordon. However, it doesn’t mean that there weren’t moments when Gordon poked fun at the guests. When he tasted Ninong Ry’s halo-halo, Gordon joked that he felt his arteries jamming up, as the dessert was very sweet.
Immediately catching up to what Gordon said, Ninong Ry responded with, “That’s what it's supposed to do.”
Gordon responded again with, “Yes, I came here to open a restaurant, not for a heart bypass operation.”
In an Instagram post, Ninong Ry shared glimpses from the event, where he poked fun at his interaction on stage with the celebrity chef.
“Ninong Ry binigyan ng diabetes si Gordon Ramsay HAHAHAHA,” he captioned his post.
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Additionally, celebrity Chef Judy Ann recalled how conversing about the dish with Gordon was a dream come true for her. Additionally, Judy Ann said that the 10-minute challenge was the “fastest, nerve-wracking 10 minutes of her life.” Although those 10 minutes were filled with adrenaline, Judy Ann emphasized that it was still the best and that she was so grateful for the experience.
“Napaka surreal!! Never in my wildest dreams that this would happen in my lifetime.. ilang beses kong kinukurot yung sarili ko.. totoo ba to? Pinaprank ba ko? Pero… totoo e..!!! Gusto kong tumambling sabay split!!” she captioned her post.
“Simpleng halo-halo lang naman, that we have to finish building in 10 min., but that was the fastest, nerve-wracking 10 minutes of my life! But, it was the best! Hindi ko alam what I did to deserve this.. but, I am so grateful for the experience,” she added.
Judy Ann thanked everyone involved in the experience, including her husband, children, and team.
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After the event, Judy Ann's daughter Luna, presented Gordon with a compilation of her drawings of the celebrity chef, including his iconic phrases.
The restaurant’s official Instagram page also thanked Gordon for gracing fans and fellow chefs with his hospitality, words of wisdom, and laughs.
“The Philippines will forever be your ‘matamis na bahay’ #homesweethome,” they captioned their post.
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In August 2024, Gordon opened the Gordon Ramsay Bar and Grill Philippines at the Newport Resorts World. Since then, fans of the celebrity chef have anticipated his visit to the country.
