HOT: MasterChef legend SLAMS Gordon Ramsay and says ‘IT WASN’T EVEN HIS’

A MasterChef legend has slammed his “cheeky” former protégé, Gordon Ramsay, and declared that “it wasn’t even his”. Legendary chef Michel Roux Jr, who often appears as a judge on MasterChef: The Professionals, owned the two-Michelin-starred Le Gavroche in London, where he served as mentor to Gordon in the 1980s.

Gavroche closed its doors last year, 56 years after Michel’s father and uncle, the Roux brothers, opened it back in 1967. Yet, the eatery’s former site in Mayfair could soon be occupied by the Gordon Ramsay Restaurant Group. Gordon, the fiery TV chef who helmed shows such as Kitchen Nightmares and Hell’s Kitchen, has reportedly secured a 15-year lease on the site, where he will back a restaurant under Restaurant Gordon Ramsay’s Matt Abé.

In February, Gordon admitted that Le Gavroche held “some incredible memories” from his early career. Yet, a video clip of him making braised turbot in red wine with baby leeks appears to have ruffled the feathers of his former mentor, reports the Mail.

Chef Michel said: “I went, ‘Bloody hell! Where did you learn that one, Gordon?’ Of course, it was at Gavroche. It was one of my signature dishes. ‘You cheeky bugger!’ And it wasn’t even his interpretation of it!”

Meanwhile, Chef Michel has opened a new restaurant and cocktail bar called Trocadero’s at Crossbasket Castle, situated between East Kilbride and Blantyre in Scotland.

Speaking to GlasgowLive about the new restaurant, Michel said punters can expect live music, champagne and “quality food” that’s “not smoke and mirrors or too fanciful”.

He added: “We want food that’s recognisable on the plate with fabulous ingredients that won’t distract from everything else that’s happening in the room.”

In other Gordon news, the celebrity chef recently surprised the owners of a new cafe with an unannounced visit. It came only two days after Laura Rickard and Sean White had opened the Sula Brunch House in Gweek Boatyard, Cornwall.

It seems the Hotel Hell star was quite the fan of the new eatery. On the site’s Instagram page, Gordon was pictured looking happy alongside the owners and staff members.

The caption detailed how Gordon, who reportedly said, “Wow,” as he entered, told them they’re “crushing it” and was even “planning to come back for brunch” when their full menu was complete.

They added: “We’re not quite there yet, but in the meantime, we’re serving up coffee, cake, pastries, smoothies, and toasties that Gordon himself gave the thumbs-up to.”

Amusingly, they followed up by saying that if they’re “good enough” for the celebrity chef, they’re “definitely good enough for you!”