Celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay has opened up about the mixed emotions he experiences watching his daughter Tilly Ramsay surpass his own culinary knowledge as her cooking career flourishes.
The 24-year-old is one of Gordon’s six children, along with siblings Megan, 27, Holly, 26, Jack, 26, Oscar, seven, and two year old Jesse.
The renowned chef made the frank admission during an appearance on the Reasons To Be Joyful With Gaby Roslin podcast, discuss Tilly’s expanding expertise in the kitchen, reports Wales Online.
Reflecting on her time studying at Ballymaloe Cookery School, he admitted: “It was hard seeing her go off to Ballymaloe I’ll be honest because she doesn’t want to be trained by me. But coming back to the fold with knowledge that I haven’t got was the missing piece in the jigsaw I think.”
When questioned about how it felt discovering Tilly possessed skills he lacked, Gordon candidly replied: “It makes me feel like s***. Absolute s***.”
Elaborating on what his daughter had demonstrated, Gordon explained: “We were sort of arguing about recipes and dissecting chickens and this way.
“And I said ‘No it’s got to be done this way’ and then she showed me another way that was on the bone in a cut that I hadn’t seen. I thought she had forgotten the oysters under the carcass, but she hadn’t, it was even another cut.”
He concluded: “So I said there’s six, she said there’s eight and I was wrong she was right. So, to get you’re a*** kicked by a 24-year-old that happens to be your daughter is a good sign today.”
This isn’t the first occasion Gordon has opened up about watching Tilly depart for Ballymaloe Cookery School in East Cork.
While discussing his new Netflix series on BBC Radio 2 earlier this year, Gordon described it as “painful” to watch her go, though he expressed immense pride in her decision.
He said: “That was a tough one. First of all, she went off to Ballymaloe, so that was a big kick in the goolies, the fact that she didn’t want to be trained by her dad. Very awkward. And then you sort of say goodbye to her and it was painful.”
Despite feeling disappointed that Tilly chose not to train under him, Gordon commended his daughter for what she’s accomplished thus far.
He added: “Tilly’s an incredible young chef. I know how notorious this industry is, but honestly, kudos to her. We need more females. I think of Angela Hartnett, Clare Smyth – so fingers crossed, maybe in 10 or 15 years’ time Tils may be up there. But she’s got a journey and a half to go.”