Celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay has named Tasmania as one of his favourite food destinations in the world, putting the island on the international culinary map.
In a video for British travel magazine Conde Nast Traveller, the renowned chef praised Tasmania’s produce-led cuisine and outstanding seafood.
“I fell in love with Australia because of the uniqueness in their cuisine. Produce-led. I couldn’t quite believe the standard of fish, shellfish, lamb, beef. It was incredible,” Ramsay said.
“They produce some of the best whisky in the world in Tassie. There’s more whisky distilleries per square mile in Tasmania than anywhere else in the world.”
He said he was also “blown away” with Tasmania’s crayfish.
“I went diving there, and it was in the middle of the ‘Great White Highway’ … I’m bedding down in amongst all this kelp. I’m on aerated tanks from the boat and it’s the first time I’d spotted a Great White shark,” he said.
“I just stayed calm. I had my hand on the spiny lobster and I thought, I’ve got the prized asset, am I about to be eaten by a Great White.”
“I put my tummy on top of the spiny lobster. I laid down on the kelp. And I waited for this 12, 14-foot Great White shark to pass me.”
“I got up on the boat and I said to my dive buddy, did you see the size of that shark? He said, no. He talked about the juvenile, the baby Great White. I’m like, oh my god, that’s a baby one.”
“So yeah, Tasmania all day long.”
Tasmania was also named the second-best island in the Australasia and South Pacific region in Conde Nast Traveller’s Reader’s Choice Award – standing out as the only non-tropical destination in its category.
Tourism Tasmania CEO Sarah Kingston Clark welcomed the high-profile endorsements.
“This acknowledgment by both global travellers and culinary icons like Gordon Ramsay goes a long way towards driving awareness and consideration of Tasmania as a desirable destination,” Kingston Clark said.
“Tasmania offers something truly special – unique landscapes, world-class produce and a community of passionate makers and chefs.”
Tourism Minister Jane Howlett described the celebrity chef’s praise as priceless publicity.
“I think it’s fantastic that we have the likes of Gordon Ramsay endorsing our Tasmanian produce,” she said.
“It is fantastic that he’s been here, he’s caught a cray, he’s experienced our wine, our whisky, our seafood and of course he talks about our wonderful lamb as well.”
“You could not buy that kind of publicity.”
