Gordon Ramsay's First Frozen Food Line Is Available Exclusively At Walmart
There was a time when Americans wanting to try Gordon Ramsay's cooking needed a reservation at one of his high-end restaurants. Now, though, all you have to do is walk into a Walmart. That's right — the big box store is the exclusive retailer for the celebrity chef's new line of frozen entrées called By Chef Ramsay. Ramsay, best known in the U.S. as the host of shows such as "Kitchen Nightmares" and "Hell's Kitchen," tells People that he is "elated" to make his cooking readily accessible to a wider audience, whom he hopes will be motivated to cook up their own cuisines in their home kitchens.
Don't be put off by Ramsay's haute cuisine background or expect these dishes to be overly complex and unapproachable. The chef has pulled from his "culinary journey" recipes that fall firmly within the comfort food category, particularly the hearty dishes of the British culinary canon, though not exclusively. The eight entrées Ramsay has crafted for the line retail for around $6 and range from rich and hearty to bold and piquant, with a nod toward dishes that will withstand the oft-treacherous journey from frozen to ready.
Hearty fare from Britain and beyond
Likely the most British of the dishes is the By Chef Ramsay version of shepherd's pie, a casserole of ground beef, onions, peas, and carrots in tomato sauce topped with creamy mashed potatoes and cheddar cheese. That's matched by another U.K. classic, fish and chips. Gordon Ramsay's version features pollock in a crunchy beer batter with a side of thick-cut fries.
For those who want something a bit less Anglo-centric, the line offers several dishes that are more classically continental Europe in their flavors. Italian food fans may enjoy Ramsay's take on lasagna; he departs from the norm by rolling the pasta sheets around a medley of ricotta, parmesan, and romano cheese and topping it with bolognese ragu and mozzarella. There is also a mushroom risotto with portobellos, caramelized onions, parmesan, white wine, and chives. And for Francophiles, there is tender beef braised in red wine, with smoked bacon, pearl onions, mushrooms, carrots, and potatoes. Rounding out the full By Chef Ramsay line is a chicken pot pie, a four cheese macaroni bake with a crumbly cornbread topping, and a lemon caper chicken with broccoli and seasoned potatoes.
With the effort saved with the By Chef Ramsay meals, fans will have time to catch up on more of Ramsay's latest endeavors. "Kitchen Nightmares" is set to return to U.S. airwaves for the first time in 10 years, and Ramsay also recently launched a new — to U.S. audiences — show called "Gordon Ramsay's Food Stars."