Gordon Ramsay Says to Never Order This at a Restaurant
When it comes to what to order in restaurants, we think it’s safe to trust Michelin star chef and restaurateur Gordon Ramsay’s advice. In a resurfaced interview with Town & Country, the Hell’s Kitchen star told the publication back in 2017 the cold hard truth about what really goes on behind the scenes of your favorite restaurants. Ramsay, 57, said there is one dish people should never order when they go out to eat: the soup of the day. “Ask what yesterday’s soup du jour was before today’s special,” Ramsay said. “It may be the case that it’s the soup du month,” insinuating that restaurants would use old produce to pass it off as a special.
Ramsay’s Advice For Ordering
In the same interview, Ramsay said if your food or service is terrible, do not hesitate to let the staff know. Not only should the staff rectify it for you and for future customers, but it is your special night out, and the “customer is king.” And when it comes to not knowing what to eat at a restaurant, Ramsay says to ask the waiter. They tend to taste most of the dishes on the menu, so they can give insight into what the chef has added or what other diners have thought about the dish. In his travels, Ramsay admitted he’s gotten a lot of great recommendations from servers.
Finally, in the debate on the best “doneness” for steak, Ramsay agrees that ordering a steak well done is a no-no. He told the publication that the problem with over-cooking meats is that it “diminishes the flavor and incredible texture, so listen to the chef’s recommendation or always stick to cooking medium at most.” Per USDA guidelines, steak should be cooked to at least 145 degrees Fahrenheit and rest for at least three minutes. According to Food Network, medium-cooked steak is from 135 to 140 degrees, while medium-well ranges from 140 to 150 degrees. These temperatures are considered safe by many chefs and cooking experts, but extra caution must be exercised when cooking for at-risk groups, like the elderly, children under seven years old, and the immunocompromised.
