People Are DESTROYING Gordon Ramsay For Opening An "Authentic" Asian Restaurant
This summer, London will gain yet another Gordon Ramsay restaurant, but the chef's newest concept isn't exactly being welcomed with open arms. Per a press release obtained by Eater, Lucky Cat will open on the site of Gordon's shuttered restaurant Maze, in Grosvenor Square, Mayfair. The chef's restaurant group described it as this:
A revolutionary new venture and concept for the group, the restaurant is set to be an authentic Asian Eating House and vibrant late-night lounge, inspired by the drinking dens of 1930s Tokyo and the Far East.
In a statement, Gordon elaborated:
"I can't wait to open the doors at Lucky Cat and bring a new flavor of Asian food and culture to Mayfair. I can honestly say there will not be a bad seat in the house-every table will have a unique view and each guest will come away having experienced something sensational-whether it be the phenomenal menu, the amazing service or the stunning look and feel."
And now, cue hoards of people on the internet freaking out at the fact that Gordon-a caucasian man-and his group are calling his new Asian venture "authentic."
I like you @GordonRamsay but how are you gonna open an “authentic” asian restaurant without an ASIAN CHEF?
- Vivienne 🍑 (@vivienne_mnd) February 5, 2019
I would love for @GordonRamsay to actually NOT join the ranks of the many white people that are capitalizing on Asian culture without putting equal effort into giving Asians seats at the table of equity. https://t.co/A6zIBkJAes
- Joanna Carpenter (@thejoannac) February 4, 2019
No.
NO.
NO!!!
NOPE!!!https://t.co/XPsLlfBtBA- AsianSocialNetwork (@AsianSocialNet) February 5, 2019
No!!! Another celeb making profits off Asian culture & food without Asians at the table! How authentic can that be?! Gordon Ramsay’s cooking up another restaurant, and some people are not quite sure how he’s going to pull this one off. https://t.co/DMi1tRCnvw # via @HPAsianVoices
- Chung Seto (@setochungster) February 7, 2019
I mean if Ramsay really wants to open an authentic Asian restaurant he should go to school and become 100% fluent in Asianese firsthttps://t.co/Dkum0ktLvk
- Jeff Yang (@originalspin) February 7, 2019
At the same time, others are defending Gordon's right, as a professional chef, to churn out high-quality Asian dishes using recipes inspired by ones you'd find there. Some state their thoughts more eloquently than others, but the sentiment is all the same.
Would you prefer he did American Asian food? Everyone knows when you eat Asian food in another country, then go to that country and eat (what the locals just call) food, it's different. He's trying to bridge that gap. He's not appropriating or being racist. Just hush.
- Mr. X (@AntiFox08) February 8, 2019
Authentic means the food and spices not the race of the people moron
- Society Has Fallen (@SocietyHFallen) February 8, 2019
have you been to Tokyo? Probably 500 restaurants with "European" and "western" in the name. Most common item, eggs with potato salad spaghetti and lots of ketchup -hardly an authentic dish in the west. Plenty of burger and other restaurants to, I dont feel offend seeing that.
- Benton Chambers (@tbelcch) February 8, 2019
Gordon recently came under fire when his new National Geographic show Uncharted was announced, the synopsis of which described how Gordon would travel to different countries teaching those who live there how to cook their own food.
Just a whole bunch of yikes all around.
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