If you can’t stand the heat, don’t go in the kitchen with Marco Pierre White..
Notorious not only for his culinary genius, but for his fiery temper and no-nonsense attitude, the Michellin star chef, who turns 60 on December 11, is perhaps one of the most notorious chefs in history.
Marco had earned an impressive three Michelin stars by the time he was 33 – the youngest chef ever to do so – and has been said to be the chef that put the British culinary scene back on the map.
However, success in the kitchen isn’t all he’s known for, with his boozy antics, a long-term feud with Gordon Ramsay and various kitchen rows making its way into his life history.
Gordon Ramsey Feud
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TV’s most opinionated chef Gordon Ramsay is known for making contestants breakdown in the kitchen.
But one person who has never feared Ramsay is his former mentor Marco Pierre White.
Marco is famously known for being the only person to make hard-headed Ramsay cry, having previously said: “I can’t remember what it was about, but I yelled at him and he lost it. The next thing I knew he was sobbing in the corner, holding his head in his hands, with tears rolling down his cheeks.
“He was saying things like, ‘I don’t care what you do to me. Hit me. I don’t care’.”
Marco has since defended his actions, claiming that Ramsey, 55, did in fact breakdown in tears but it was his own fault.
“No I didn’t make Gordon Ramsay cry,” he said.
(Image: Corbis via Getty Images)
“He made himself cry. That was his choice to cry. “
The pair have had a rocky relationship over the last several years, with Marco reportedly fuming at Ramsay – who currently holds seven Michelin stars – for turning up to his wedding with a camera crew without permission.
“I will never speak to him again. I gave him his first break in the business and I believe strongly in being loyal to people who have helped you,” he said.
The two hot-tempered telly chefs appeared to have buried the hatchet earlier this year after Pierre White was seen popping into Ramsey’s restaurant for a burger.
Ramsey later admitted the visit from former foe to one of his London eateries “brought a tear to his eye”.
£28,000 booze session with Piers Morgan
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Brushing shoulders with the stars and sipping on fine wine is just the type of behaviour you expect from a chef like Marco – and that’s exactly what he did with pal Piers Morgan.
The TV broadcaster fondly recalled an “unforgettable” night with his foodie pal, admitting they drank a whopping £28,000 worth of wine in one night.
Piers recalling his meeting with Marco told GQ:: “I’ve known Marco Pierre White for 14 years and I’ve enjoyed some extraordinary nights with him.
The kind of nights you never forget, the ones you will tell your wide-eyed grandchildren when they’re old enough.”
He went on to detail how the pair and two other pals went on the expensive booze session and how he still has the bottles as a keepsake.
“There was the night that four of us drank £28,000 worth of wine, and I’ve still got the six bottles, all signed by Marco – including a 1911 Château D’Yquem pudding wine on which he wrote simply: “£1,500 a glass, love Marco.”
Crazy Kitchen Antics
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The British chef is famous for losing his cool and reeling off a tirade of insults to his staff.
One such incident saw him slice open a chef’s trousers at his swanky Harvey eatery back in the 80s because he complained about being too hot.
In another incident, Chef Stephen Terry recalled in 2019 that Marco once had a punch thrown at him by a customer at Harvey’s.
He said: “In the days when you had to lug quite a big phone around if it was mobile, a customer said he wanted to use the restaurant’s phone in reception and was a bit rude.
“Marco – who’s very much into his Ps and Qs and politeness – was sat on one of his tub chairs out there and refused.
“The customer tried to throw a punch and a fight broke out.
“I heard Marco call “Gorrrr-dunn!” and Ramsay raced out of the kitchen. People were flying over tables. It was like something out of a western.”
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
