I was pretty floored when Carissa Tozzi, the Executive Editor at Delish, dropped the email into my inbox. It was an invitation to be a judge on Gordon Ramsay’s Food Stars, set to film in London. Real cute. Funny, too, I thought. But she was totally serious.
Food Stars isn’t your typical food show; it’s a highly charged battleground where two teams’ culinary prowess and entrepreneurial spirit are rigorously tested in a Shark Tank-style boot camp. The twist? Each team is mentored by either Gordon Ramsay or Lisa Vanderpump, pitting their distinct leadership styles against each other in a shadow competition.
The show’s producers asked Carissa and me to judge because of Delish’s reputation as a high-profile food media brand with a massive audience. The teams’ challenge was to develop a recipe that not only tasted great but also captured the Delish vibe—the essence of what makes our recipes resonate with millions of followers.
We were to judge the winning team. The stakes? Aside from glory, the potential to win $250,000. Every detail about the shoot, from the set constructed in a massive London food and concert venue (Big Penny Social), to the contestants’ strategies, was shrouded in confidentiality to preserve the integrity of the competition. Carissa and I couldn’t blow our covers.
Before I met Gordon Ramsay, I thought…
I knew Gordon Ramsay was a super-talented chef who trained under legendary mentors in Europe. He’s known as a relentless pursuer of perfection who runs celebrated restaurants all over the world. I surmised he had a lot of energy. And if you have ever watched his other series like Hell’s Kitchen, you expect someone in a state of constant agitation who’s pretty tough on people.
Meeting Gordon Ramsay for the first time…
Gordon’s taller than I thought; he towered over a number of us. I am not usually shy or sheepish in the presence of celebrities, but it was different with him. His presence really filled the room. He buzzed and vibrated with an energy I rarely come across, like a volcano being contained. But for real, he’s completely gracious, warm, and off-the-charts hilarious.
Lisa and Gordon had a cajoling vibe, making for a light-hearted environment. Gordon was really keen on talking to Carissa and me about the media landscape and how Delish keeps up the momentum. It was clear they were utter professionals in so many ways; they were also keeping a certain distance from Carissa and me—we had to choose the winning team!
The drama is 100% real. The emotions are real; there was no acting. All the scenes are filmed in one take—no do-overs. Lisa and Gordon are competitive people who also seem to have a really warm relationship. But when you think about who they are and the business empires they’ve built, you’re reminded that they’re competitive and really want to win.
Was it hard to pick a winner for the challenge?
Yes and no. Feelings always creep in. Someone’s going to get hurt. I knew the losing team was going to be angry – very angry. Which they were, along with being in total shock and disbelief. But one team had a better recipe. There’s only room at the top for one.
What was it actually like telling the teams who won and who lost?
It was humbling because, you know, you have all this power, and looking into their eyes and telling them why they lost was hard. But I’m confident we made the right decision. You’re either Team Gordon or Team Lisa, and one of them was very unhappy. But we know what makes a great Delish recipe.
