Gordon Ramsay’s Last Meal Is Pure Comfort Food, and His Mum Once Sent Back His Wellington

Ask the most famous chef on the planet to plan his final meal, and you might expect caviar, gold leaf and tiny plates. Gordon Ramsay did the opposite. He started with a plate of breakfast, piled on the comfort food, and saved his own signature dish for the end. The Gordon Ramsay last meal menu is warm, messy, nostalgic and very human, and that is exactly why people love it..

Why the Gordon Ramsay last meal video still has people talking

Ramsay sat down with host Josh Scherer for the Last Meals series on the Mythical Kitchen YouTube channel in January 2024. The episode has now passed 23 million views, and the last meal question is hot again this fall. Nick DiGiovanni’s video where he cooked the last meals of famous YouTubers pulled in more than 55 million views in less than three weeks.

The fun is in the surprise. This is a chef known for fine dining, Michelin stars and a lot of shouting on TV. Yet when he was asked what he would eat one last time, he reached for the foods that feel like home.

He also said he would rather enjoy this meal well before the end, as one big celebration. That is a lovely idea, and it is one any of us can steal.

Course one: a full English breakfast with one fancy twist

Ramsay opened his menu with a full English breakfast. Think eggs, bacon, sausages, beans, grilled tomatoes, mushrooms and toast on one big plate. It is the kind of breakfast that fills a British kitchen with smells on a Sunday morning.

There was one chef move. According to The Takeout, he wanted white truffles shaved over his scrambled eggs. If you want to try that idea on a budget, a few drops of truffle oil or a pinch of truffle salt on soft scrambled eggs gives you a similar feel. If you love hearty British food, you will also enjoy these cozy British and Irish pub dinners you can make at home.

Course two: butter chicken, a drive-thru burger and wings

The middle of the meal is where it gets really fun. Ramsay picked butter chicken with garlic naan and basmati rice, a double cheeseburger from a famous West Coast drive-thru, and a plate of Buffalo chicken wings. It is a mix of flavors from the UK, India and America, all on one table.

He clearly loves that burger. As reported by Secret Los Angeles, he described pulling up to the window, handing over a $100 bill as a big thank you, and picking up his order of a Double-Double. He has also called the spot heaven and said it inspired his first burger restaurant in Las Vegas.

The episode also touches on where his love of simple food comes from. Ramsay talks about growing up in government housing, and about his fondness for fish head curry, a dish many people have never tried. It is a reminder that great taste often starts with humble food.

The Wellington his own mum sent back

For the main event, Ramsay chose his famous beef Wellington: a seared beef fillet wrapped in mushroom paste and ham, then baked in golden puff pastry. It is the dish fans most connect with him, and the third course of the Gordon Ramsay last meal.

Then came the best story of the episode. Ramsay shared that his mother, Helen, once sent his Wellington back at the opening of his restaurant at Claridge’s because she felt it was undercooked. She wanted beef with flavour, not blood, she told him. Even the world’s toughest critic of other cooks has a tougher critic at home.

For dessert, he picked sticky toffee pudding, which reminds him of his mum, and a deep-fried Mars bar, which he joked would bring out the Scottish side of him. If you are planning a big family dinner this season, you may also like these holiday roasts that could replace the turkey this year.

Make your own Gordon Ramsay last meal: easy mini beef Wellingtons

A full Wellington can feel scary, so here is our simple home version. Small portions cook faster and are much easier to get right. This is our own recipe, made for a regular home kitchen. It serves 4.

You will need

• 4 beef tenderloin steaks (filet mignon), about 1.5 inches thick
• Salt and black pepper
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 8 ounces cremini mushrooms, very finely chopped
• 1 small shallot, finely chopped
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves
• 4 thin slices prosciutto
• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
• 1 sheet puff pastry (about 9 ounces), thawed
• 1 egg, beaten

How to make it

1. Pat the steaks dry and season well with salt and pepper. Sear in hot oil for about 1 minute per side until browned. Brush with mustard and let them cool.
2. In the same pan, cook the mushrooms, shallot, garlic and thyme over medium heat until all the liquid is gone and the mix looks like a thick paste, about 10 to 12 minutes. Cool it completely.
3. Lay a slice of prosciutto on the counter, spread a spoon of the mushroom paste over it, then wrap it around a steak.
4. Cut the puff pastry into 4 squares. Wrap each steak, press the seams, and set seam side down on a lined baking sheet. Chill for 15 minutes.
5. Heat the oven to 425 degrees F. Brush the pastry with egg and score the top lightly with a knife.
6. Bake for 18 to 22 minutes until the pastry is deep golden. A thermometer in the center should read about 125 degrees F for medium rare. Rest for 5 minutes before cutting.

Tips and easy swaps

• Cook the mushrooms until they are really dry, or the pastry gets soggy.
• Keep everything cold before it goes in the oven for the flakiest pastry.
• No prosciutto? Use a thin crepe or skip it and add more mushroom paste.
• Want it cooked more? Add 4 to 5 minutes and check with a thermometer.

Quick answers about the Gordon Ramsay last meal

What did Gordon Ramsay choose for his last meal? A full English breakfast, then butter chicken with naan and rice, a drive-thru double cheeseburger and Buffalo wings, then his beef Wellington, with sticky toffee pudding and a deep-fried Mars bar for dessert.

Where did he share it? On the Last Meals series from Mythical Kitchen on YouTube, hosted by Josh Scherer, in January 2024.

What would your last meal be? Ramsay proves there is no wrong answer. Start with the food that tastes like home, and invite the people you love to share it.

Sources: Mythical Kitchen on YouTube, The Takeout, Chowhound, Secret Los Angeles and Malay Mail.