I went into this review wanting Gordon Ramsay to succeed.
I really did.
The reason is that I actually like Gordon Ramsay.
I’ve been a fan since I saw the British version of Kitchen Nightmares. It’s much different than its American counterpart – and I’ve seen that whole thing too.
Chef Ramsay’s producers must have told him to act extra angry and dramatic on the American version – the British version gives him a lot longer to work with the restaurants and he acts more like a mentor.
(Hell’s Kitchen just isn’t my thing.)
This new line of frozen meals called By Chef Ramsay just dropped in Walmarts, along with Guy Fieri, Kardea Brown, and Andrew Zimmern. They’re supposedly eight of Ramsey’s favorite meals.I bought the four available at my nearest Walmart – each cost $5.90.
And after eating four of the meals, I refuse to spend another $24 to taste them all.
If there is a common theme running through these meals, it is salty.
We know Chef Ramsay is a salty fellow – I’m salty too. You’ll often finding me wearing a necklace that says Salty. I’m dedicated to salt and usually add more. But if something’s too salty , even for me, it too forking salty.
Lemon Caper Chicken
Obviously, a microwaved chicken cutlet isn’t going to be crispy, but the chicken was tender and had a decadent “fried” flavor. I liked the abundance of broccoli florets. And while the potato wedges weren’t crispy, they were creamy and seasoned well.
Microwaving made the sauce slightly gummy, but it had a nice acidic kick and astringency from the capers.
All in all, besides tasting a little too salty, a nicely balanced and portioned meal.
Mushroom Risotto
I saw a Youtube video where the reviewers didn’t like this dish because they said it was “mushroomy.” I thought that was ridiculous.
There is so much cheese in this meal, that it has a strange texture when you try to stir it. While flavor of the white wine, mushrooms, and parmesan is very sophisticated, I didn’t particularly like it. And again, it was extremely salty.
Slow Roasted Beef
Sorry for the banged-up photo of this box – I stuffed it into my work bag to heat for lunch.
I have beef with this beef.
LOOK AT THE SODIUM CONTENT! IT’S EVEN SALTIER THAN THE OTHER TWO.
I showed my coworker who works with health benefits all day. “Will I die from eating this much salt?” I asked.
“You won’t die now, but over time, yes.”
My beef with this beef (besides the sodium) is the amount of beef. I’m counting three actual chunks of beef and some debris.
The sauce tasted rich, winey, and sophisticated.
But for $6, this is just not enough beef. The three chunks of beef were very tender. But the meal had me diving for water all day.
Ahhh, the cooked lasagna, back down to the 40% sodium level threshold again.
Doesn’t look like much, but tastes the best of the four meals.
Al dente noodles, flavorful meat sauce, creamy cheese filling, chewy melty cheese. I like it! Still salty, but not as overwhelming as the other three.
Compared to a frozen Rao’s meal, it contains about two ounces more food and more sodium, but is more satisfying.
In Conclusion. . .
These are the fanciest, saltiest, most sophisticated frozen meals I don’t want to buy again.
As positives, the ingredient lists are pretty simple and they go big on flavor.
Even though this Mashable review ranks two I haven’t tried as the best, I refuse to spend another $24 to taste the rest, unless someone wants to Venmo me the money (it’s @jennifer-flaa by the way, I got preschool and daycare to pay for!).
We’re fans of AYO Foods West African frozen meal line available at Target. If someone gave me $6 and told me I had to buy a frozen meal, I’d still buy AYO’s chicken yassa or peanut chicken meal.
This whole quest is turning out to be, “but is it better than an AYO meal?”
I’m still determined to try the other celebrity chef lines at Walmart – stay tuned for taste tests of Guy Fieri, Andrew Zimmern, and Kardea Brown’s meals next.
Chief Ramsay should be forced to eat one of these horrible TV dinners ljve on the air as punishment. I bet he would throw up live on TV if he did! All the top Chiefs who put their names on all TV dinners are all sell outs! They should test the quality of these TV dinners on a regular bases and remove their names from these products if they produce such a bad product like this!
Agree. I’d give Ramsey a 2 on his 1-5 scale for the Shepard’s pie only because it was edible. If I never had Shepard’s pie before I’d never try it again
Agree not good never buy again my left overs from oven or cooking on stove taste better after 2 months I. Freezer reheat better then that crap Ramsey selling
Oh man I was just HOPING but very sure it was going to be a disappointment. I generally eat frozen dinners as a necessity as was my first try of Gordon’s Shepherd pie. He should be ashamed to call himself a chef with this dish and more than that he should be stripped of his Scottish heritage. I have had several samples of this dish while in Scotland and absolutely love the dish, but this made a Banquet cheap dish look like a kings delight. Shame Shame Shame
I had to throw the pot pie away, it tasted like someone legit dumped an entire salt shaker in it, I got seriously sick after eating a few bites.
I agree totally!!!!! And they put a little bit of food and the French fries the end pieces. And they change us an arm and a leg!!!! Terrible, horrible,will not buy any more this was the fish meal dinner
Pot pie was not good at all I know he is a good chief but pull it off shelf PLEASE
I love my Gordon Ramsey crock pot BUT his frozen meals are not very good–the fish and chips WAS AWFUL. Could not eat it–gave it to my dogs (Just hope it doesnt make them sick)
Gordon Ramsey frozen dinner suck the beef tip one was so gross the meat was tuff and potatoes bad I will not buy any more….sorry gordon
This was some nasty crap…. he should be ashamed to put his name on this garbage, I mean it was HORRIBLE!! I makes me angry!!! what’s in a name…when it comes to his not a thing!!
I can’t believe Gordon is endorsing this product. I love Gordon and watch his shows. I experienced the same attitude he does about other foods but I couldn’t send mine back. I bought the shepherds pie, and I don’t believe even the sheeps would have eaten it. It was very greasy contained no meat or veggies and the potatoes were runny. I won’t be purchasing any more meals, but will continue to watch his shows
Reading all these negative comments I was so disappointed! He has his reputation to consider and to douse everything in salt is not the way to win us over for his frozen meals. Will not be buying. However I made his cottage pie recipe from scratch which was delicious ! I can control the amount of salt too! Will stick to home cooking!
Sorley disappointed with this SLOP!!! DUDE!!! U make MILLIONS UPON MILLIONS!! How about a GOOD AND DECENT MEALS that our homeless veterans need?? $6 for a POS MEAL??? REALLY???? U should b ashamed!!! How about Shepherds Pie w meat and potatoes at a REASONABLE PRICE??? Or how about DONATE THEM TO THE CAUSE??? Oh, wait… that might hurt ur profits….
Pull back in the bloody salt you donkey