WATERBURY -- He’s the man who seems to love to hate -- at least on screen.
Celebrity chef and 'bad boy' Gordon Ramsay has been screaming at chefs for years - 13 to be exact – on Hell’s Kitchen. He’s also mastered Kitchen Nightmares, 'Masterchefs young and old, and now – he’s going to hell and back. In 24 hours.
"It’s about everything I’ve learned over the last 30 years in this industry – it goes into a 24 hour time capsule and impact," said Ramsay, whose new show is '24 Hours To Hell and Back.'
In the show, which airs Wednesdays on FOX61, Ramsay finds restaurants that need his help to survive. He first sends in mystery diners, and then it’s his turn.
"I go in undercover: fat suits, wigs, you name it, and announce myself. (I) get changed, and get to work."
Wednesday night it was Vasi's Restaurant and Bar's turn. Ramsay has one day to fix everything from the food to the atmosphere. And the restaurant’s survival is not the only thing at stake – it’s his name and his team on the line as well.
"You want to make sure they survive because you put your heart and soul into it. I have a great team so it’s not just me. It’s an amazing team that sets them up for future success."
"But here’s the issue, when you’re not in love with what you're doing, there’s nothing worse than cooking what you hate. If you hate it, your customers will hate it. So it’s making them fall back in love with the passion on a daily basis," Ramsay advised.
And his passion comes with a dose of screaming, which makes us wonder...
Who is the real Gordon Ramsay? Is he a rough and tumble guy or is he a pussycat?
"Far from a pussycat I think," said Ramsay.
"I keep it real, no B.S. That’s the important thing for me. I’m not going to band-aid it – I'm not going to kiss anyone's butt. I’m going to tell you straight."