Las Vegas is a city glittering with Star Chef restaurants, but few of them have been greeted with the sheer excitement of Gordon Ramsay Steak at Paris Las Vegas. After months of anticipation, the celebrity chef himself opened the restaurant to the media, and a lucky few of us got to see the ornery Brit star of “Hell’s Kitchen,” “Masterchef” and “Ramsay’s Kitchen Nightmares” demonstrate a few signature recipes.
Though there was no shortage of wry English humor or Ramsay’s expected profanities, the Chef was considerably more mannered and well-behaved than you might expect from his TV shows. Claiming that it’s been an ambition of his to “nail” a classic steakhouse since first coming to America, he gave many details of how Gordon Ramsay Steak would be different from all the other great steak houses already on the Las Vegas Strip.
Acknowledging the oddity of an English-themed restaurant in a French-inspired resort, Paris Las Vegas, Gordon Ramsay Steak’s modern design features a “Chunnel” style entrance, mimicking the train that travels under the English Channel. Once inside, you’re greeted by barwomen and wait staff in sharp British uniforms, offering an impressive variety of inspired cocktails. The two-level restaurant uses a SmartCellar technology offering the drinks, wine and menu on an iPad featuring interactive elements. Décor is dominated by a huge Union Jack on the ceiling, overlayed by a light sculpture inspired by Ramsay’s hand movements when he cooks.
But what about the food? Steaks are displayed on a mirrored display cart and seafood comes on an octopos-inspired platter. Gordon Ramsey pointed out that all the beef is dry-aged for 28 days in their own Himalayan salt chamber, and as far as cooking, “the secret is in the resting,” he says. In fact, Ramsay likes to rest a steak as long as he’s cooked it. He demonstrated his recipe for a Caesar Salad (tossed in anchovy dressing with a soft-cooked Scotch egg on top) and Beef Wellington using Coleman’s mustard and a savory crepe (rather than the traditional puff pastry).
Get the details on Gordon Ramsey Steak at Paris Las Vegas.
Gordon Ramsay promised he would visit his Las Vegas restaurant at least once a month, but also praised his day-to-day kitchen team to the heavens.
He also announced that the winner of season 10 of Hell’s Kitchen (premiering June 4) will win a position in the kitchen here at Gordon Ramsay Steak, Las Vegas.
Thanks to About.com contributor E.C. Gladstone for asking the tough questions and contributing to this piece.
