Gordon Ramsay is revealing his thoughts on fast food (Picture: Burger King UK)
In a move that might surprise some foodies, Gordon Ramsay has teamed up with Burger King to throw his support behind a new product.
The fast food chain has unveiled its most premium burger to date, The Wagyu – a burger made with 100% British wagyu beef – and the celebrity chef is starring in a campaign for it.
Part of the Gourmet King’s range, the burger features a flame-grilled wagyu patty, caramelised onions, pink pickled onions, rocket, crispy onions and caramelised onion mayo, all served in a soft brioche bun and it costs £11.
Wagyu beef is special because of the distinct marbling of fat that runs throughout the meat, giving it a nutty, buttery flavour. This is created by careful rearing of the cattle and feeding them on grass then grains.
Burger King is keen to let everyone know the burger was ‘not made by Gordon’, but it’s ‘so good’ it could have been made by him.
And Gordon is keen to let everyone know what he really thinks of fast food….
The Wagyu burger costs £11 (Picture: Burger King UK)
He tells Metro: ‘It’s a myth that fast food has to mean junk food. That’s not true.
‘I am a fan of food that is good quality and well-sourced, and it’s great to see a quick-serve restaurant like Burger King bringing 100% British Wagyu beef to its customers.’
He continues: ‘What I like about this burger is it’s £11 and isn’t about cutting corners, it’s using the best possible ingredients, supporting UK farmers, and delivering something bloody delicious at scale.
‘It shows how the industry has moved on.’
Cutting corners is the chef’s ‘biggest pet peeve’ when it comes to fast food as he doesn’t see the point in serving a burger unless it’s ‘done properly’.
The celebrity chef says BK’s Wagyu burger is ‘delicious’ (Picture: Burger King UK)
For him, this means ticking three boxes: great beef, great build and great flavour.
And despite not making it himself, Gordon feels the Wagyu burger gets all three ‘spot on’.
‘Honestly, it’s delicious,’ he says. ‘The brioche style bun, onions done three ways – crispy, pink pickled and caramelised with rocket and a caramelised onion mayo – a great flavour profile, all paired with the perfect, British Wagyu burger.’
With numerous burger restaurants across the UK and US, it’s fair to say Gordon knows what he’s talking about -but how does he make the perfect burger at home?
Gordon has burger restaurants across the UK and America (Picture: Getty Images)
Cheese lovers might want to sit down, as according to the multi-Michelin-starred chef, it’s the ‘worst’ thing someone can put on a burger.
I’m not the greatest fan of cheese on a burger,’ he confesses. ‘I get it that people love it, but that’s not my go-to topping.’
If you are using it, he recommends adding it on top of the patty at the end and covering it with a pan lid so that by the time you’ve assembled the whole thing, it will have melted.
‘And absolutely always rest your burger,’ he adds.
As for what he thinks you should be putting on your burger instead of cheese, it’s eggs that are the most ‘underrated’ topping in his opinion.
I love a fried egg, it’s so much better than cheese – the oozy texture and flavour is really delicious!’
And when it comes to the cooking part itself, two minutes on each side of an ‘average sized burger’ patty is his method.
Gordon’s not super strict about this though – however you want to eat your meat is fine with him.
‘That’s what I believe to be the perfect cook, but of course, people absolutely can have a personal preference for a burger that is more well done, medium or medium rare,’ he adds.