In a recent trip to Seoul, South Korea, multi-Michelin starred chef and star of the small screen Gordon Ramsay, met with South Korean YouTuber Cho Seung-yeon about the poor reputation of UK food, the obsession with celebrity chefs and what good food means to him.
Cho was also able to get an answer from Gordon on where is the world’s top food destinations. In which he mentioned Vietnam.
“Vietnam. [An] extraordinary melting pot of great food,” Gordon said. “I fell in love [with the country’s food]. Such a humble approach to eating incredible food.”
The international chef and restaurateur also shared what good food means to him after the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic has wreaked havoc on people’s lives. To Gordon, his “philosophy in the current situation is to be more appreciative of the importance of breaking bread with family.”
He added: “After the horrific pandemic, and the world had to stop, we lost loved ones. We couldn’t get back around the table quickly enough to understand the importance of meal time. So, no more BS excuses that we’re too busy to eat together, and the importance of breaking bread for social effect, mental healthiness, and the social awareness of eating together is absolutely critical.”
The famous hu tieu stole the heart of the famous British chef and restaurateur.
In his past YouTube videos, the British chef stopped by Phan Thiet where he went fishing and catching squids with the locals. And, of course, he didn’t miss what Ho Chi Minh City brings to the table — Ben Thanh Market’s fresh ingredients and exotic delicacies.
He also drove his motorbike to Mai Chau, a 150-km drive from Hanoi, to join the locals celebrating the end of the rice harvest.
In the YouTube interview with Cho, Gordon also mentioned Laos and Madrid as the other top food destinations.
Gordon is not the first world-renowned chef who fell in love with Vietnam and wished they “could keep coming back here.” American chef Anthony Bourdain was one of them.
Anthony’s work meant a lot to people all over the world. But Vietnam holds a special place: “Vietnam: It grabs you and doesn’t let you go. Once you love it, you love it forever. I’ve been coming here since 2000. The first time I’d been in this part of the world, and it’s held a special place in my heart and my imagination since. I keep coming back; I have to.”
Bun Cha Huong Lien’s made a world premier when Anthony and former US president Barack Obama decided to spend their dinner in the local restaurant. Complete with Vietnamese beer on hand.