Cooking up peace: Jamie Oliver shares how he patched feuds with fellow chefs

In the culinary world, where the heat of the kitchen can often spill over into personal relationships, feuds between celebrity chefs are not uncommon. However, few have been as public or as enduring as the spat between Jamie Oliver and Gordon Ramsay.

On a candid episode of The Louis Theroux Podcast, the 49-year-old British chef opened up about the longstanding tension with his fellow culinary star.

‘I was a target [for] probably 10 years, I think, it was regular. I generally used to bite [back] once a year, and then that used to set him off for another year … I think it kind of generated the noise, it was serving its purpose for him—I mean, I’d have to ask Gordon what it was all about,’ he said of Ramsay.

The back-and-forth became a regular occurrence, generating a buzz that Oliver believes Ramsay may have found beneficial, though the true reasons behind the animosity remained unclear to him.

The turning point came when their personal lives intersected. Oliver’s children became friends with some of Ramsay’s six children, connecting on social media and inadvertently highlighting the absurdity of their fathers’ quarrel.

‘It was like, ‘come on dads, grow up’ so I think that both of us got a telling off, and then we went to have a drink and put it all to rest and let bygones be bygones,’ shared Oliver.

It was a wake-up call that prompted their wives, Jools Oliver and Tana Ramsay, to step in and encourage a reconciliation. The intervention of their wives helped calm down their fiery feud.

This led to a meeting over drinks where they finally made peace. Reflecting on this moment of relief, he noted that letting bygones be bygones allowed them to move forward.

The restaurateur even shared that during the difficult period when his Jamie’s Italian restaurant chain collapsed, Ramsay reached out with messages of support, demonstrating a newfound camaraderie.

The chef often shares his recipes with his online followers. Image Source: Facebook / Jamie Oliver

During the podcast interview, Oliver also touched on his interactions with the late Anthony Bourdain, who he said had publicly criticised him before eventually offering a heartfelt apology.

Bourdain’s change of heart and apology came during a chance encounter at a food festival in Miami. He recalled, ‘He just went into this speech about getting it wrong and that he apologised profusely for everything that he’d done.’

Aside from the apology, the two even shared a hug. It was a profound moment for Oliver, who had long admired Bourdain’s work.

However, not all of Oliver’s industry relationships have been mended. He expressed disappointment with Marco Pierre White, a chef he once idolised and considered his ‘hero,’ reportedly slamming him in the press.

‘He doesn’t like me at all, still doesn’t… That’s fine, I don’t need anything from him,’ he told Theroux.

Jamie Oliver’s experiences underscore the importance of moving beyond past grievances and the power of personal connections in healing old wounds.

What do you think about the resolution between Jamie Oliver and Gordon Ramsay? Have you ever experienced a similar situation where a feud was resolved through the intervention of loved ones? Share your thoughts and stories with the YourLifeChoices community in the comments below.

Also read: Deborra-Lee Furness speaks up following ex Hugh Jackman’s dating buzz

Floralyn Teodoro
Floralyn Teodoro
Floralyn covers different topics such as health, lifestyle, and home improvement, among many others. She is also passionate about travel and mindful living.

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