Gordon Ramsay's off to conquer New York

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Atlantic with a new restaurant in New York, it was revealed exclusively to Caterer this week. > The celebrity chef will open his first US operation at the Marriott Righa Royal Hotel, in the Big Apple April next year. He also has plans for a second US venture in Miami. Ramsay told *Caterer*: "It's the burning ambition of every top chef in the world to succeed in New York. To be there amongst the best in the world is so exciting. I thrive on competition and New York has restaurants from all the top chefs in the world, from Thomas Keller to Jean-George Vongerichten." Neil Ferguson, who has been head chef under Angela Hartnett at the Connaught in London since 2002, will lead the brigade with Ramsay overseeing the kitchen during the early months. The new venture will include a 100-seat fine-dining restaurant and less formal dining area and bar. A spokeswoman said the food would be "Gordon Ramsay through and through". No details of the average spend are known as yet. Investment bank Blackstone, previous owner of the former Savoy Group of hotels, is leasing the restaurant site to Ramsay, who plans to set up a New York headquarters for the group. Blackstone took over the 520-suite Righa Royal last December, which is currently undergoing a $50m (£26m) refurbishment. Interior designer David Collins is overseeing the revamp, which will include Ramsay's latest restaurant. No details of the Miami venture are known yet, but it's thought it may also be linked to a Blackstone property. *Source: Caterer & Hotelkeeper magazine, 17 March 2005*