The Plonker Club

Last week a strange article appeared in Lifestyle section of an Australian paper. The article was basically about how “a celebrated Enoggera chef has laid down the gauntlet to take on fire-breathing Gordon Ramsay at his new restaurant planned for Melbourne in November”? Obviously he is talking about the new edition of Maze by Gordon Ramsay due to be at Croewn Casino by February 2010 and rumours of a Hell’s Kitchen series in Australia to find a chef for that location.

The article goes on to talk a little about his Queensland restaurant (it may have just been a promotional piece using Gordon Ramsay as the catchy theme?) and how he would juggle the two if he won the competition.

As I have written before, I haven’t been able to find anyone who will give details about the alleged television show, from Channel 9 to Gordon Ramsay’s publicity people in the UK nor Optomen Television, who produce Gordon Ramsay’s Television shows.

I rang Jason McCormick at Cafe Fuscia in Enoggera, Queensland and he said that he couldn’t confirm anything to a complete stranger over the phone – which is fair enough. So I am afraid that this is where the trail went cold.

Judge for yourselves how serious that you think the article and Chef Jason McCormick is by checking out the article at Chef Ready for Challenge

Still no closer to the truth – well maybe a tiny bit?

David Driscoll
The Plonker Club
The Unofficial Gordon Ramsay Fansite
www.theplonkerclub.com

We know that Gordon Ramsay is coming to Australia for the Good Food and Wine shows in Sydney and Melbourne. Plus there are those rumours of a possible Hell’s Kitchen being filmed here in conjunction with the new Gordon Ramsay Maze Restaurant in Melbourne scheduled for Februaru 2010.

Now we know that Gordon Ramsay has been invited to help Sanctuary Cove celebrate their 21st birthday on the Gold Coast and will be responsible for series of lunches and dinners at the Hyatt Regency.

According to several reports tickets will go on sale for exclusive cocktail parties and a number of three course Gordon Ramsay signature dishes. The events are scheduled for June, so it will probably be in conjunction with the Melbourne Food and Wine Festival where he is appearing June 5-8 (the Sydney one is a month later and I don’t assume that he is staying a month!).

Tickets for both Good Food and Wine Festivals go on sale February 2. Adult tickets are $27.50 and children (6 – 16yrs) are $20.50. Concession and Groups of 10 or more can slip in for $22.50 – and of course, just like when you visit your bank, there is a surcharge on top of this. But this doesn’t get you in to see the great man!

Tickets to see Gordon Ramsay in the LG Celebrity Theatre are an additional $20.00 on top of your entry fee, all of the other chefs are included in your entry fee!

In an effort to fully cash in on what is probably a hefty appearance fee there is also a Ramsay Pass available. $100 will get you entry to the show, a premium seat to see Gordon Ramsay in the LG Celebrity Theatre presented by LifeStyle FOOD Channel, Gordon Ramsay Cookbook, Good Food & Wine Show Canvas Bag and a Food Magazine.

The dates and opening times for the Melbourne show are;
Friday 5 June – 12pm – 9pm
Saturday 6 June – 9am – 6pm
Sunday 7 June – 9am – 6pm
Monday 8 June – 9am – 5pm

The dates and opening time for the Sydney show are;
Friday 3 July – 9am – 4:30pm (Daytime session)
Friday 3 July – 5:30pm – 9:30pm (‘After Dark’ session)
Saturday 4 July – 9am – 6pm
Sunday 5 July – 9am – 5pm

We’ll bring you information on the event in Queensland as soon as it becomes available.

David Driscoll
Chief Plonker at The Plonker Club
The Unofficial Gordon Ramsay Fansite

www.theplonkerclub.com