By james art For Gordon Ramsay, seeing Renault was like love at first sight.
It was about two years ago when the celebrity chef first visited the biggest small town for work. Ramsay, who grew up in the coal-mining town of Stratford-upon-Avon, can’t help but recall the same working-class mood when he sees northern Nevada.
“I fell in love with Reno,” Ramsay told the Reno Gazette Journal during an interview Thursday at Ramsay’s Kitchen at Silver Legacy. “It has a charming…almost humbling feel to it.”
So Ramsay immediately said yes when it came time to decide on opening restaurants in the city.
Gordon Ramsay Fish and Chips first opened in May, attracting crowds eager to try Ramsay’s British food. The fast-casual restaurant was followed by the opening of Ramsay’s Kitchen, which offers a more refined experience, in July. Ramsay’s Kitchen was described as “one of the biggest discoveries” for The ROW by Caesars Entertainment at the time.
“There’s a great atmosphere,” said Maureen Wilkinson, who attended the chef’s special event Thursday at Ramsay’s Kitchen to celebrate the two recent openings. “Feels like a nice sit-down restaurant.”
Mackenzie Dimino agreed.
“They did a great job,” Dimino said. “It’s super beautiful with high quality food and great drinks.”
Ramsay is far from a novice when it comes to the casino scene. He currently operates Hell’s Kitchen in Lake Tahoe and six restaurants in Las Vegas. The addition of his two Reno operations brings his restaurant count worldwide to a whopping 88.
But maintaining standards in so many places can be difficult, and the consequences of a bad reputation in the restaurant industry can be severe. However, Ramsay says he firmly believes in the ability to learn and in the quality of his staff.
“I plan endlessly and training is critical to me,” Ramsey said. “If you don’t have experience, I guarantee you that within three months of working for us you will be qualified.”
Ramsey has also found opportunities for growth in difficult times, including the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ramsey admits the pandemic has forced chefs to step up their game. As home cooks began to hone their skills, their expectations for dining out grew.
“It sort of took the arrogance out of the restaurants, which was a refreshing thing,” he said. “The chefs were getting carried away. … Some cooks tied the tomahawks with gold leaf. What the hell? Who the hell wants gold leaf on a tomahawk?’
And while Ramsey is no stranger to running restaurants in big cities around the world, places like Reno have their own appeal and are powerful communities in their own right, according to the longtime chef.
Ramsey especially likes the sense of community one gets in places like Northern Nevada, which he describes as “encouraging.”
“That doesn’t work in LA. You don’t get that in London today,” Ramsay said.
“So yeah, that’s why I fell in love (with Renault).”