From Hell’s Kitchen to Mactan: Gordon Ramsay lands in Cebu
So now, we have Lechon Burger and Lapu-Lapu Fish & Chips — only in the Philippines.
MANILA, Philippines — From the moment British culinary legend Gordon Ramsay first slammed a plate of undercooked beef Wellington on the counter and shouted, “It’s f*cking raw!” in the premier episode of US reality show Hell’s Kitchen, Filipinos were hooked. We love drama and food. To have Ramsay’s TV theatrics happen in a kitchen, which is the nucleus of many Filipino homes, just makes it even better.
That is why no one was surprised by the hype surrounding the opening of Gordon Ramsay Bar & Grill in Newport World Resorts, Pasay City in August last year. Collectively, Gordon Ramsay Restaurants, Ramsay’s global restaurant group, has earned 17 Michelin stars since its first establishment opened in 1997. The group currently holds eight stars. If Filipinos could have rolled out the red carpet for Ramsay’s first restaurant in the country, they would have.
And now, the celebrated chef just opened two more restaurants in the Philippines — this time on Mactan Island in Cebu.
Gordon Ramsay Fish & Chips made its Asian debut at Megaworld’s The Mactan Newtown on July 26, in the same building as Belmont Hotel Mactan. This is the restaurant’s first branch outside the US, surpassing the UK, which has none yet. Right beside Fish & Chips is Street Burger by Gordon Ramsay, the first in Southeast Asia.
Brought to the Philippines by Alliance Global Group through Travellers International Hotel Group, Inc., both these restaurants exude a casual atmosphere. But one bite out of the food tells you that underneath the unpretentious spirit is a culinary team that means business.
“Bringing Gordon Ramsay Fish & Chips and Street Burger to Cebu reflects our commitment to bringing globally loved brands to key growth destinations across the country,” says Kevin L. Tan, CEO of Alliance Global Group and president of Megaworld Real Estate Investment Trust. “We are excited to be part of this next chapter in The Mactan Newtown and look forward to supporting the continued growth of Cebu’s tourism and dining economy.”
British cooking on Pinoy shores
Brightly lit with hip-hop music setting the vibe, its walls adorned with pop art, Street Burger by Gordon Ramsay is staying true to its strengths — that is, freshly baked buns, well-done juicy patties, toppings that scream comfort food, and expertly seasoned Koffman’s fries.
But first, let us talk about the restaurant’s most fascinating menu item. As a nod to its location being in the Lechon Capital of the Philippines, Street Burger has Lechon Burger among its offerings. Put Gordon Ramsay and lechon in the same sentence, and you’ve got a long line of diners outside the restaurant on opening day, waiting for their turn to pass judgement.
It is something new even for Cebuanos: chunks of lechon on a smashed beef patty, topped with house pickles, and jalapeño slices sandwiched between burger buns. As promised, lechon is the hero of this burger; a fitting tribute to the Philippines by this British brand.
The other items on the menu also show off the grilling prowess of Street Burger. The basic (but still delicious) O.G.R. (Original Gordon Ramsay) introduces you to Ramsay’s style of burgers. If you prefer chicken over beef, try the G.F.C. (Gordon’s Fried Chicken) burger, which comes with a special G.F.C. sauce atop the usual toppings. The Hell’s Kitchen burger is the one to order if you want it extra hot — the beef patty and other toppings are doused with jalapeño salsa and smoked Sriracha sauce.
With four more burgers on the menu served with Koffman’s fries (with a “Hotter than Hell Dirty Fries” variant), you can also enjoy spicy wings, salads, and desserts.
Fish — and chips — be with you
Next door, Gordon Ramsay Fish & Chips offers lighter, but equally satisfying, fare.
Capitalizing on the restaurant’s proximity to fresh seafood, Fish & Chips has included Lapu-lapu among its offerings. There are also shrimp, lobster, Alaskan pollock, slipper lobster, and chicken to choose from. “Crispy on the outside, tender on the inside” has never been truer than at Fish & Chips. Also, have a taste of their offerings similar to soft tacos — the Fishwich, Chickenwich, and Shrimpwich.
All these are served with Koffman’s fries and two sauces on the side. Of the seven sauces, make sure to try, especially, the Curry Mango, Gordon’s Tartar, and, for those with an appetite for spice, Hellfire.
To complement the seafood (and chicken — a crowd favorite) offerings, Fish & Chips brings on the sweets in the form of milkshakes: Sticky Toffee Pudding, Creamsicle, and Biscoff.
With Fish & Chips and Street Burger being close to the beach, each of their dishes can be packed in reusable boxes so diners can enjoy their orders on a leisurely walk to the shore.
“We work in a manner where we want it to be for Cebu, delivered by Cebu to create the best possibilities,” says Ronni Kimbugwe, executive chef at Gordon Ramsay Restaurants International. He came to Mactan to help facilitate the opening of Ramsay’s newest restaurants in the country.
“Gordon was very keen to make sure that we include the Philippines within the menu,” Kimbugwe continues. “We’re using the Filipino palette to help us get the profile right. So we went to a local place, had lechon, and it was amazing. How do we put it on the menu? Lechon burger.”
The brand understands that Cebu is ready for Gordon Ramsay’s food. By placing his latest Philippine restaurants in The Mactan Newtown, it’s tapping into a demographic that is eager for new, but also familiar, flavors.
Ryan Behr, group general manager of Gordon Ramsay Philippines, dropped this exciting news to cap off the restaurants’ opening night: “The location is close to the airport, making it easy for tourists to also come here. The market will just elevate the food scene in Cebu. That’s why we’re looking at expanding more. Locations will be announced soon.”
