“Global culinary powerhouse” Gordon Ramsay received the warmest Filipino welcome when he faced a packed Newport World Theater on 20 January to a roar and applause.

Like the superstar chef that he is, Ramsay graciously thanked everyone who had worked on opening the Gordon Ramsay Bar & Grill at Newport World Resorts in August 2024.

“I tell you, it is very hard to open a restaurant that is fully booked from day one,” he said. On his first day in the Philippines, he immediately met with the culinary team and was all praises for the talent he saw.

“Right over there,” he said, pointing to his left from the stage, “is the future of the Filipino culinary industry.”

Ramsay is growing his restaurants’ presence in Asia.

“The level of support has been amazing,” he said. “I’ll let you in on a little secret. I know I’ve already blown one of those secrets [referring to a Beef Wellington spring roll innovation by one of his Filipino chefs], but she’s still editing that spring roll. But I think it’s the most glamorous spring roll I’ve ever eaten on this planet!”

“But I can confirm, that as from 6:30 tomorrow morning, we are looking at potentially three new restaurant sites here in Manila, to be extending the group, we are looking at some fun, exciting stuff. Maybe, a beautiful Hell’s Kitchen restaurant right here in the Philippines,” Ramsay revealed.

The British celebrity chef, restaurateur and reality show host seems to have a penchant for surprise. He announced a surprise visit to the Philippines last week by way of a short social media caption.

On Facebook, Ramsay shared a post from his Gordon Ramsey Bar & Grill at Newport World Resorts in Pasay City. Above a mouthwatering photo of his famous fish and chips, he casually dropped the news that he would soon be personally serving his dishes to Pinoy diners.

“Your heritage is incredible. It’s our responsibility to continue that evolution. We take the basic recipes from all the generations, and we evolve it. And we don’t disparage it, we evolve it. Respect the ingredients. So whereas we have an amazing adobo, or a beautiful sisig — whatever that is — we will respect the DNA. It is every chef’s responsibility to push the boundaries out,” he said to a question on Asian cuisine.

“I said it before — Filipino cuisine, for me, is like the Sleeping Beauty of Asia. It could give Southeast Asian cuisines, Thai, a big kick in the ass, and really become among the frontrunners in Southeast Asia. And to be part of that, and to share it with a team, it’s incredible,” he said to another roar of appreciation.

Gordon Ramsay’s Bar & Grill is on the second floor of the Newport Grand Wing at Newport World Resorts. The 400-square-meter restaurant can accommodate up to 100 guests and offers a menu featuring British classics like the iconic Beef Wellington, grilled steaks, fresh seafood and desserts.

Alongside its culinary offerings, the restaurant provides a top-tier bar experience with high-end wines, premium spirits and expertly crafted cocktails.