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Ramsay's pizza joke outrages vegetarians

Gordon Ramsay, a chef almost as famous for his four-letter outbursts in the kitchen as for his food, has sparked outrage after feeding meat to a vegetarian in his new television show.

The programme was filmed for the second series of Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares, which was broadcast on Channel 4.

Gordon Ramsay: 'Good luck with the Vegemite!'
In the first episode, which coincidentally will be shown during National Vegetarian Week, Ramsay invites passers-by to sample pizzas at La Lanterna, a struggling Italian -restaurant in Letchworth, Hertfordshire.

One of the volunteers who agrees to take part says that he has been a vegetarian for eight years. Ramsay replies that the restaurant's chefs have prepared a vegetarian pizza and gives him one to try. After the volunteer - identified only as "Bob" - has eaten the pizza, Ramsay tells him: "Unfortunately, that pizza has got a lot of mozzarella and tomatoes, but underneath all that there is Parma ham."

The vegetarian complains to Ramsay that he has played a "mean" trick on him, but Ramsay jokes that he "hasn't come out in a big rash". He is then filmed laughing at the man and asking him if he would like some more, while telling the restaurant's chefs that they have "converted a vegetarian". As the volunteer hurries out of the restaurant, Ramsay calls out after him, "Good luck with the Vegemite!"

The incident has infuriated vegetarians, who have denounced Ramsay's actions as offensive and unethical. Tina Fox, the chief executive of the Vegetarian Society, said: "I am amazed that Gordon Ramsay can find the discomfort of a fellow human being so amusing.

"It can be deeply upsetting for vegetarians to find they have eaten any part of an animal in error. Would Gordon find it equally amusing if an anaphylactic customer died at the table due to eating nuts?"

Rose Elliot, the award-winning vegetarian food writer, called Ramsay's behaviour "outrageous" and said that she would no longer visit his restaurants.

Dave Spikey, the actor who stars in Channel 4's comedy series Phoenix Nights, who has been a vegetarian for more than 20 years, said: "I find it extraordinary that anyone could have so little respect and regard for other people's sincerely held moral beliefs and ethical choices."

Leading chefs were also critical. Tom Aikens, the chef-patron of the eponymous restaurant in Chelsea, said: "People often choose to be vegetarians for serious dietary or religious reasons. To feed them meat is unnecessary, unkind and certainly not funny."

Heston Blumenthal, the owner of the Fat Duck restaurant in Bray, said: "If someone decides not to eat meat they have made that decision for a reason and it should be respected."

Alex Scott, the owner and head chef at La Lanterna, said that the vegetarian in question appeared distressed after the incident: "I did feel a bit sorry for the guy as he ran out of the restaurant looking very sick and pale. Gordon fell about laughing and I think it made his night, as he's not known for his liking of -vegetarians. I think Gordon just forgot to tell him the pizza had Parma ham in it, but he definitely knew because he oversaw us making it and discussed the ingredients with us."

A Channel 4 spokesman said: "We believe this was a genuine mistake and that Gordon Ramsay did not deliberately set out to give meat to a vegetarian."

In an interview to promote the BBC's Comic Relief programme in 2003, Ramsay was asked what had been his most recent lie, to which he replied: "To a table of vegetarians who had artichoke soup. I told them it was made with vegetable stock when it was chicken stock."

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Army pilot rap over pizza flight

The Lynx was on a low-level flight
A lieutenant has been disciplined after using an Army helicopter to deliver a pizza to his girlfriend.
The incident on 25 January saw the unnamed officer divert from a routine training flight over Stanford, Norfolk, to take the fast food.
The Ministry of Defence refused to name the officer, from 659 Squadron, or divulge how he was punished.
A spokesman said: "The chain of command doesn't condone these sorts of actions. The individuals have been disciplined."
He added: "During a routine low-level training sortie, somebody decided it would be an opportunity to use it for a delivery."
The extra cost caused by the diversion is not known.
The pizza was understood to have been delivered to a female officer cadet at an Army range at Thetford, Norfolk.
The Ministry of Defence spokesman did not confirm what toppings were on the pizza.

Life sentence for teenage Pizza shop killer
2005-03-11 18:18:58

A schoolboy who killed a pizza shop worker following an argument over a £1 meal deal has been given a life sentence.
Hakeem Johnson, 14, stabbed Noor Kasimi, 32, through the heart after he was refused the special offer an hour after it ended.
A judge at the Old Bailey told Johnson the courts would not show mercy to youths who carry knives.
Hakeem had been excluded from the Homerton College of Technology, east London, after threatening a teacher with a hammer in May.
Judge Gerald Gordon said he would be detained during Her Majesty's Pleasure and would have to remain in youth custody for eight-and-a-half-years before he could apply to be released.
He told him: "You carried a knife as a weapon because it was what you chose to do, like too many young people these days.
"Young men or boys who choose to carry knives as weapons can expect no mercy from the courts."
Johnson, who wore a black suit and shirt with a pink tie, was hugged and kissed by his mother in the dock before being led away.
Sallie Bennett-Jenkins, prosecuting, told the court Johnson took the knife from his pocket and threatened staff at the Twin Star takeaway in Islington, north London, after being asked to leave.
Mr Kasimi, who had worked there for five days, tried to get him out using a broom after he started lashing out with the knife.
Mr Kasimi's broom fell to the floor and he was struck in the chest with the knife.
He died six days later in hospital and Johnson handed himself into police the following day.
Miss Bennett-Jenkins said the boy had gone to the pizza shop with two friends and had been "aggressive and threatening".
She said: "He wanted a special offer £1 pizza sold before 6pm. It was past 7pm. The proprietor said no. The youth said he wanted it for free and was again told no.
"He was shouting and swearing. He threatened to stab the owner."

Avril turns back on pizza

Avril Lavigne has devastated a pizzeria by revealing that her favourite pizza is no longer one of theirs.
Although the moody singer used to be a great fan of a certain pizza served by La Pizzeria in Napanee, Ontario, her vegetarianism has made her alter her preferences. This comes as a blow to the establishment, whose menus brag "the home of Avril Lavigne's favourite pizza".
She is reported as saying: "It was green olives, pepperoni and mushrooms but I don't eat mushrooms or pepperoni anymore. Mushrooms aren't good for you and meat's not too great for you ... I eat healthier than that now."
However, while that pizza is no longer Avril's cup of tea, she has good memories of La Pizzeria. She explained: "I think it was in Rolling Stone magazine, they asked what I missed about Napanee and I said La Pizzeria and now, like, their business has like skyrocketed.
"They have a fan book in La Pizzeria and a bunch of fans go there from like all over the world and they all write me letters and every once in a while the owners give me the book."

Please tip the driver

Some people are not aware of this. I didn't know for a long time. You're supposed to tip the pizza delivery driver like you tip the waiter. They rely on tips and use their own car. This site will explore your questions about tipping and how you can speed up the delivery time.

Your tips are greatly appreciated. It's what keeps drivers moving.

Do they earn the tip?

Absolutely. Drivers perform a service by bringing dinner to your door. They take on financial costs and difficulties, more than most people realize. Pizza delivery is considered a hazardous job by the government. They are third most likely to be murdered on the job, right after police officer and taxi driver.

Tips on ordering pizza

Know what you want

Please know exactly what you want before you pick up the phone. If you can't remember everything, write it down on a piece of paper. When ordering for a group, please collect all the information before calling. Please don't confer with others while on the phone. Don't make up your mind on the phone.

Expect to be put on hold

Unfortunately, it's a fact of life in a pizza store. There are never enough people to handle the number of calls. It shouldn't be long, only a minute or two. Please agree to hold.

Begin with delivery or pick-up

Please don't start the order immediately. The first thing we need is whether it's a delivery or a collection take away. Please say, "I'd like to order a delivery." They always need your phone number. On deliveries, please confirm your address.

Toppings

Please don't list the toppings first. Begin with the pizza number or description, such as Florentine or 24. Next, say which type of sauce you want, such as mild or spicy dish. Finally, list the toppings in no particular order.

For example, don't say, "Pepperoni, sausage, mushrooms, green peppers on thin crust; make it a medium."

Instead, say, "Medium, thin crust, with pepperoni, sausage, mushrooms, and green peppers." You'll get used to it. This method moves from largest category to smallest.

Credit card

If you intend to pay with a credit card, you need to tell us. Please wait until we adjust for the coupon, if you have one, and give the card information over the phone. You will need to fill out and sign the receipt when the driver arrives.

Turn porch light on

When ordering at night, dusk, or near dusk, please turn on your hall light immediately after you hang up the phone. This is the best time because you're still thinking about it. You never know how soon the driver might arrive. This is also a good time to leave the money near the door.

Handling problems

Hopefully, you'll never experience this, but if you call back, here's something you should never do. Never use abusive or vulgar language. Please remember, they did not mess up on purpose. This is no way to express yourself if you want to be heard. You will be ignored. Most stores will hang up on you. They don't have to take it.

It's okay to request a manager to speak with instead of a phone person.

Delivery time

If you're concerned about the delivery time, please ask before ordering. Don't wait until the end of the order.

Mobile phones

Some stores don't allow calls from mobile phones. If they do, please be home when the driver arrives. It could be sooner than expected. Pizza delivery

These questions were sent in. If you have one to add, please send it here. We will keep your email address and other information confidential.

Are you supposed to tip Chinese food drivers and other food delivery drivers?

The same rule applies to other restaurant delivery drivers, such as Chinese, Curry, and Kebabs. Their drivers use privately owned cars to make deliveries just like pizza delivery and they are paid the same way.

Are you saying that tipping is required?

No. When we say that you're supposed to tip, we mean that the tradition of tipping applies in this situation, just as in a restaurant. You are not required to tip the waiter. In the same way, you are not required to tip the pizza driver. It's optional and the amount is up to you. The fifteen percent is a guideline, recognized universally. Unless the service was very, very bad, you ought to tip an amount of some kind. Not tipping is considered rude unless the service was very, very bad.

Please see the Objections section before you assume bad service was the driver's fault. In that section, we aim to eliminate misconceptions that certain scenarios were the fault of the driver. This does not mean that all bad situations were outside the driver's control, as if the driver can do no wrong. That was not our point. It is possible that some bad situations were the driver's fault, such as in the When not to tip section.

Tipping is not required in the mandatory sense but it is expected on a cultural level unless the service was awful. The amount of tip is a reflection of the perceived level of service, whatever that may be.

Why can't drivers just tell customers about tipping?

That would be strictly against company rules. The store has the driver in a catch-22 position. The company needs people to tip, otherwise they would have to pay their drivers considerably more. At the same time, they won't let us tell anyone about it. We would love to tell people at the door, but if the manager found out, we would be fired in an instant. The store is paranoid that it might lose a customer. Also, a small percentage of customers react negatively because the subject is considered taboo. They act as if the rules of tipping changed to mandatory or they don't like the idea they did something wrong. I wish they would grow up. Some customers forget about tipping and we would love to gently remind them. I might add that this entire website is against company policy.

Do you still tip when there is a delivery charge?

It's unusual to have a delivery charge and it did not go to the driver's tip, so you should still tip. Please ask the store -- you might have to ask a manager. Find out how much goes to the driver's tip and not to other things like mileage compensation or hourly wage. In smaller stores, the driver's paid an hourly minimum wage, so you should still tip. Some of it might go to the driver's tip or nothing might. It varies from store to store. It costs the store more to have your pizza delivered. They have to cover liability bike insurance and a few other things. Having a delivery charge is one way to compensate. It's a business fee. Most of the time, the driver doesn't see it.

I'm surprised the store tells you there's a delivery fee. I wish they wouldn't. They go out of their way to mess up the driver. Some places advertise "free delivery" which confuses people into not tipping. Others mention a delivery charge, making people think it's a gratuity. The store's action is completely unnecessary (when the driver receives nothing.) Our advice is to look past the delivery charge -- it's part of the total.

If the fee does not go to the driver's tip, you should consider it part of the bill. After all, it goes to the same place, the store. You should still tip the driver. If some of it goes to the driver's tip -- not mileage or hourly -- you may reduce the tip by that amount.

Why did the driver leave without giving back coins for change?

Every customer (except 1 or 2 all year) wants the driver to keep the coins. It happens so frequently, it becomes routine. So many people want us to keep spill over change that you assume the next customer will. At times, even the best driver forgets.

The driver doesn't care about the coins. Coins are insignificant compared to the tip. He or she did not intend to steal it. It was a mere oversight. You really should not want coins returned because you're supposed to tip. The driver will be very upset if he or she knew a customer was upset about this. The matter is too small and too undignified to think about. If you really want the tiny little coins, please ask at the door.

Is it true that drivers don't carry coins?

Some don't. Especially on the shift's first delivery. Managers assume they won't need it and they're usually right. They pick up coins as they go, but some trade it for bills at the store. So, they're telling the truth when they claim not to carry "change." Most, however, carry about £10 in change

Is it okay to base the tip on the service instead of a percentage? Why is it a percentage? It seems the driver works the same if it's one pepperoni or three fully loaded pizzas.

Most of the tip is based on the service instead of a percentage. That's why we recommend the $2 minimum and to increase it for bad weather, long distance, and even if it takes a long time for you to complete the exchange. The tip begins at 15% but can go up or down based on the perceived level of service. It's flexible.

The percentage makes the tip meaningful to the customer. A show of appreciation must be something meaningful. If you order a certain amount, 15% is small but respectful. Bigger orders usually require more work, so a percentage compensates best. For example, it's harder to carry three large pizzas and a 2 litre bottle of Coke than just a medium.

I never tipped before and feel bad about it. Should I make up for the past?

No. Just start tipping.

When the driver is at my house, when does the exchange conclude?

When you get the pizza and say, "Thank you," or leave the scene. "Thank you" is the universally recognized signal. Make sure you give the driver what you intend before finalizing. It's your responsibility. The driver has no obligation to return. If you want the driver to stay later, please indicate so.

When Not To Tip
Mistake correction, the same day
This is when you get the wrong pizza and now they're sending the right one immediately.
You didn't originally ask for the second trip, so it's not fair that you should tip twice.
No driver in the world expects a tip in this situation.
Not even if they send a different driver.
However, you should still tip once, to the first or the second driver.
This does not apply if the second delivery takes place on some other day. This means you accepted the wrong pizza. Your second order will be free (credited) or discounted. In this case, you asked for the second delivery and should tip both times, even if it's free.
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The driver didn't call for directions and got lost
This is a special case when the customer asked the driver to call for directions.
Such as when the customer's house is difficult to find.
If the driver failed to call and got lost, it was the driver's fault for not following instructions, unless the phone person didn't relay the message.
This does not apply if the instructions were too vague. Please give specific directions. Instructions that are too vague are like, "It's near the high school," when it's really half a mile from it.
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The driver doesn't have change
Suppose your bill comes to £11.65. All you have is a £20 note, you want to tip about £3, but the driver doesn't have £5. Your remaining options are to write a cheque or send the driver to the store for change.
It's very, very unusual for a driver not to carry enough change. It qualifies as bad service, enough that you can withhold the tip. Drivers always carry enough change.
This does not apply if the driver has no coins. Drivers aren't expected to carry coins because customers are supposed to tip.
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The driver has an attitude problem
It's unthinkable that a driver would have an attitude problem, but if it happens, it's time not to tip. You should complain to the store. Otherwise, they won't know about it.
The driver should be reasonably courteous and just deliver the pizza. There should be no problem. After all, drivers work for tips.
Before you decide if the driver has an attitude, here are some things to consider.
The driver is not your butler. They don't serve pizza. Most are not allowed to enter your house unless the weather's bad.
The driver is not obligated to bring extra items unless you asked the store in advance.
Drivers operate on a time schedule and must depart rather quickly. We're not trying to be rude about it, though.
The driver might not be having as good of a day as you. He or she might simply be in a bad mood. This is especially true in adverse weather.
At the same time, the driver should
be pleasant to talk with
say "Hi" and/or "Thank you" in some way
let you know the bill amount if you ask
promptly give the pizza after payment
promptly return appropriate change

Households all over the country were filled with bemused spluttering this week as the truth regarding Gordon Ramsey's fame credentials was finally revealed to a stunned nation. Many people it appears — while acutely aware of Mr Ramsey’s presence thanks to his current carpet-bombing of all forms of media — were unaware he is in fact just a cook.

We spoke to our man in the street who, as ever, had his hand clasped firmly on the pulse of the nation. “It’s a bit of a shocker really,” he explained. “I’ve seen him on the telly shouting and people, all full of piss and wind, and thought he was someone really important. Now it turns out he just makes peoples' dinners. I mean that’s girl’s work — even my wife can do it. It’s really changed my opinion of him. I think now if I met him and he tried all that shouting stuff I would just tell him to fuc*k off and make me a plate of chips and be quick about it."

We also spoke to several other, genuine, celebrities who were quick to pour scorn on Mr Ramsey’s lack of talent. International megastar Alan Titchmarsh was particularly scathing. “What a jumped up tart he is,“ opined Alan, looking up from an enormous trench into which the housewives' favourite was shovelling vast quantities of farmyard manure. “How anyone thinks they can be a true celebrity by doing what is essentially an everyday manual task is beyond me."

Top TV carpenter “Handy Andy” was equally forthright: “That Ramsey geezer he’s just doing something millions of people do every day, yet acting like he’s some big star. Pass us that hacksaw — cheers."

Mr Ramsey’s agent, anxious to stop the haemorrhaging of his cash cow, has issued the following statement: “Whilst it is true that Gordon’s initial foothold into celebrity was gained through his experience as a chef, his subsequent fame has been achieved through lots of professional cussing, shouting, swearing and general blaspheming. This has given him a well-deserved fan base who are both thrilled and amused by his offensive behaviour and regard Gordon as a genuine superstar. Unlike that talent less bint Delia Smith."

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