Gordon Ramsay on 'Nightline': Fed Up with Critics; Weighs Staff

Nightlinecontinued its "Platelist" series last night with none other thanGordon Ramsay.He does the standard cooking demo and the brief biography but shares some particularly harsh words for food critics:

"Unfortunately, today at the age of 41, my persona gets judged over my substance, which is really frustrating," he said. "I've been cooking for 21 years, and it shows on the wrinkles of my face. But here's the scenario: I'm now being judged by individuals that know less about food than I do.But yet, you have to take it like a man. Well I don't want to take it like a man anymore. I'm fed up with the sarcasm, the damn right rudeness and more important, the arrogance of food critics.Have they actually spent a 16-hour shift cooking 70 to 80 lunches, 120 to 150 dinners short staffed, fish cook is not turning in, produce inconsistent because of the weather?"

Oddly,Nightlinecut out parts of the interview from the broadcast and posted larger excerpts toits website: Ramsay, the serial marathon runner and strong believer in physical fitness, insists that his staff be fit, expecting them to hit the gym, going so far as toweigh his chefs every time they step into the kitchen:

"Staying fit is part of the important role of a chef today.I think the days of the balding, alcoholic, fat chef have long gone.The pressure on young chefs today is far greater than ever before in terms of social skills, marketing skills, cooking skills, personality and, more importantly, delivering on the plate. So you need to be strong. Physically fit," he said.

"So my chefs get weighed every time they come into the kitchen.And they run. And they seriously look after themselves. They have free memberships to the local gyms, and more important, I need them to … not just to train their palate but to look after themselves."

Video after the jump.

Gordon Ramsay on 'Nightline', Part 1

Gordon Ramsay on 'Nightline', Part 2

Previously

In Videos: Don't Burn Gordon Ramsay
In Videos: 'Hell's Kitchen' Uncensored, Season 2 Episode 1
Gordon Ramsay Is Not a Jerk; He Just Plays One on American TV

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