But it's just food, when it comes down to it. Do we need to get that excited about it?

"It's just music. Do we need to get that excited about it?"

Last time I saw Ramsay on TV was one of those failing-restaurant shows. He went in and absolutely pulled them apart, but you could tell the reason was that he was so passionate about the restaurant putting good quality food on the table. The chef and his mate were clearly not prepared to make the effort and up their game, and Ramsay was really having to keep them working. On the other hand, there was a young lad there who was only 18 or 19 but was prepared to give it a go, and the head waiter who did flambeing at the table as showmanship was also good, and Ramsay had nothing but praise for both of them. Bottom line, he didn't let anyone get away with anything, so if they screwed up then he'd let them know, but equally if they got it right then he would be really effusive in telling them what a good job they were doing.

It might not be nice to be told about every little thing you get wrong, but you won't improve otherwise; and conversely you also need to be told when you get something absolutely right. I've worked with people like that, as most of us probably have. Most of them aren't people who I'd like to keep as friends, but if their reason for doing it is to get a good result, that's something you can at least respect and work with. From what I've seen, Ramsay isn't after a Claridges-standard performance from everyone - all he's after is the basic competence to do the simple stuff well.

As for the vegetarian thing, if Terry K's account of the programme is correct, it's pretty ironic in how it happened. It's no-one's fault except the veggie's in not checking (or tasting - duh!) what he was eating - if someone has food intolerances/preferences, it's THEIR responsibility to check before they eat.

Graham.