Chef Ramsay may open Canadian eatery

TORONTO -- Celebrated British chef Gordon Ramsay, who is as famed for his expletive-laced vocabulary as for his lineup of Michelin stars, may soon be opening a restaurant in Toronto.

The bad boy chef, known never to mince words, is in Canada on a whirlwind tour to promote his cookbook "Gordon Ramsay's Fast Food."

While renowned in culinary circles, Ramsay makes it perfectly clear: Don't call him a celebrity chef.

"I hate that word," he pauses, before spitting it out, "Celebrity."

Instead, "I'm a real chef," he says with emphasis during an interview with CTV.ca.

Indeed, the 41-year-old chef has already opened several restaurants around the world, including Tokyo, New York, Ireland, Dubai and Paris.

And now, he is "heavily considering" marking his culinary stamp on Canada's largest city, he admitted, "especially if it's the right place."

Asked by CTV.ca if he was considering any properties in Toronto, he admitted there were two.

When pressed further about details, he said "I cannot say," but followed, "Trust me by September I will keep you posted, yes?"

Recruiting talent will be no problem, he assured.

"I have about two dozen Canadians working for me in London, so I am drawing on a pool of talent," he said.

Indeed, Ramsay spent seven-and-a-half months last year in the United States, he said.

"It's opened up a completely new market, which is exciting."

While Ramsay has said the property is unlikely to be a hotel, he raved about a certain view in Toronto.

"Toronto is going through that transition that England went through 10 years ago in terms of trying to rejuvenate and position itself," he said.

"It's a vibrant city, and architecture-wise it's amazing -- the condos and the buildings and what is happening, lakeside as well -- I don't know where you can get that view," he said.

Ramsay is as well known for his nine prestigious Michelin stars, the highest accolades of the restaurant world, as his foul language.

And he has won over a new legion of fans for his shows. "Hell's Kitchen" and "Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares."

A new show, "The F Word," will premiere in Canada this fall.

As a famed chef, best-selling author, TV personality and father of four, his life is "excitingly busy," he conceded.

"I suppose when you are striving for perfection and you look to be busy and you get busy, you stay busy."

Ramsay admitted he thrives on jeopardy and vulnerability.

"I don't like it when things get slow," he said. It's no accident his latest book teaches how to maximize taste on minimal time.

"I live a bit of a manic, hectic lifestyle and I've got four children so it's important to have fun, remove intimidation and cook stuff that is zappy, quick and something that is not long-winded," he said.