McGregor Flies south for the summer and Gordon Ramsay dazzles at brunch

Putting the small white dog into his crate at Air Canada Cargo hangar (along with dear old well chewed Frank), Pip and I felt like real heels! Mac silently watched us walk away, luckily he couldn't see the tears streaming down our silly faces. We flight tracked his plane right through to landing in Vancouver, our friends in Saskatoon waved as he flew by their part of the world! Once on the ground he's reportedly happily chowing down and waggling his tail, in true stoic Scottish style he's taking his ordeal with good spirits. The next three days he hangs out in Vancouver then to NZ on Sunday night.

Amongst the leaves in Rosedale

 During the week I'd dragged him out to his fav haunts. We walked in Rosedale and down at Cherry beach, dropped into a few stores on Bloor and visited with his Westie friend Henry. Our super Marie and other neighbours were very sweet saying goodbye. Sadly the goodbyes sent Mac into a fit of the trembles like I've never seen before. 

 

 Beside the lake at Cherry Beach; Crated and ready to fly, Frank has seen better days; Saying goodbye at the Airport

Meantime it was an early call for me this morning. A little too early as, arriving at a Brunch event for three Michelin Star chef and TV personality Gordon Ramsay I realised I'd put on two different shoes in my Mac distracted state. Its true, one high heel, one low boot...not sure how I managed that and hope its not a promise of my sartorial future!

Two feet, two different shoes! Definitely a first!

Gordon Ramsay? Delicious! Naughty. Fun. Thoughtful. Wicked. Self proclaimed Perfectonist. Obsessive. A little ADD. Impossible not to like! He tried so hard not to swear, he managed a good hour before the S word came out and was nearly finished before the F word appeared. In reality he's well spoken, sweet, tough, very buff, has the knack of being totally engaged in one when he speaks to you and can play a room like a pro, especially one full of gorgeous Toronto soccer Mum's, his term, not mine.

 Dressed in dark slim jeans, black tee and chocolate leather.

My task was to click away for the Cookbook store. Such fun. Having the gorgeous man twinkling his sexy eyes at me!...well err..at the camera!.

 Arriving in -1 morning chill; Alison, Julie, Jennifer; Gorgeous Gordon; Alison in her stride; Hells Kitchen Cesar's; Chef Ramsay showing off his impressive abs; signed copies of World Kitchen Ramsay's latest tome.

The best bits are before and after the main event, in the Green room and he's signing books, joking, having fun. Alison (Cookbook Store) had interviewed Gordon in front of 500 dinner guests at the Granite Club, this morning he'd done a radio show, the brunch at St Lawrence Hall for Canadian Living and then another interview with Alison at Market Kitchen at St Lawrence Market for the Globe and Mail before attending a luncheon and hosting the Chefs Challenge Event at the glam Carlu for Mt Sinai Charity events this weekend. Phew and thats just one day! Its a big foodie weekend in Toronto and it was great to hear Gordon rave about his experience at the Black Hoof, talked about an inspirational dish with scallops with bone marrow!

Can't wipe the stoopid grin off my stoopid face!!

Gordon is filming a new season of Kitchen Nightmares in the states and was surprised when I mentioned the name of his latest filming location. Meant to be a big secret! I can't divulge the spot but needless to say it was my boyfriend's fav watering hole, we know the staff well and all about the pre-Gordon nightmare state of the establishment. We can't wait to see what he's done to it!

One of our best Christmas dinners in North America (or ever) was care of Chef Ramsay. Ripped from the December 2005 issue of Good Food mag, his recipe for Roast Goose with Date and red wine sauce accompanied by Brussel Sprouts with pancetta, Rosemary spiked cabbage, Star anise spiced potatoes, Parsley croutons and Clavados glazed apples was too die for. I'll attach the recipes in a following blog. The Goose was out of sight the best bird we'd had, redolent with lemon, limes, Chinese five spice, parsley, thyme and sage and honey... an odd mix but fab! We did have to resort to Julia Child for carving instructions at the last minute and now happily have the low down on goose chopping!

In 2009 we met Josh Emmet in New York. Josh, then Chef de Cuisine at Gordon Ramsay at the London  NYC, is now stirring up acclaim at 'Maze' Gordon's Melbourne (Australia) restaurant. Craig Neville-Manning, kiwi computer wizz-scientist who was integral at setting up Googles first remote engineering centre in NYC, hosted a whole passel of kiwi's for cocktails and chat with Josh. Typically understated this kiwi cooking wunderkid talked of the pleasure evoked from working for Ramsay, a masterchef demanding excellence yet a staunchly loyal supporter and promoter of his staff's individual talents. It was our first glimpse of the man behind the "F" bombs on TV, that glimmer of suggestion that there was a real 'nice'guy behind the showman's bluster. Josh was very clear that Gordon was a one of the boys, a great mate to have a beer with.

Josh Emmet; Julie, Craig Neville-Manning, Pip; The Mannings Tribeca rooftop patio; NZ and American art adorn the walls of apartment; Tribeca by night, Yummy nibbles from 'GR at the L';3rd floor sitting room;Moko; Interview with Josh.