GORDON RAMSAY - RAMSAY GETS 12TH STAR

RAMSAY GETS 12TH STAR

Celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay has overcome a critical mauling to become the joint holder of the most Michelin stars in the world.

The F-Word star's Manhattan restaurant, Gordon Ramsay at The London, was yesterday awarded two stars from the cuisine guide, denoting "excellent cuisine with skilfully and carefully crafted dishes of outstanding quality".

The New York eatery was hammered by New York's food critics when it opened it January; its dishes labelled "rubbery", "leathery", "overcooked" and "a distinct disappointment".

And the foul-mouthed chef was slammed by Frank Bruni of the New York Times, the most respected food writer in the city, for "relying on luxuries such as foie gras and truffles as much as his imagination".

Ramsay, 40, somehow managed to avoid swearing or calling anyone "big boy" in expressing his delight at the two-star rating, which makes Gordon Ramsay at The London one of only six Big Apple restaurants with this Michelin recommendation.

"It is a great honour to have received two stars from the Michelin Guide in our first year in New York," he said.

"To achieve such recognition means a huge amount and I am very proud of Chef de Cuisine Josh Emett, the Maitre d' Jean-Baptiste Requien and our very talented team."

Ramsay now shares the honour of holding the most Michelin stars with French chef Alain Ducasse.