Gordon Ramsay's Pancakes Aren't Your Typical American Stack

There's no denying that Gordon Ramsay is an expert chef, but when it comes to breakfast, he doesn't always have the best rep (via Insider). Back in 2020, Ramsay came under fire when he posted a photo on Twitter of a menu item at his restaurant Savoy Grill, captioning it "the most amazing Full English." Due to the small portion size, lack of beans, and high price point, commenters couldn't help but point out that the breakfast was neither "full" nor "amazing."

While some British fans argue that a traditional English breakfast isn't the celebrity chef's forte, the "Hell's Kitchen" star seems to have American breakfast down pat, because when he posted a picture of his buttermilk pancakes, they were much more well-received. The pancakes he tweeted about, which are available at The River Restaurant, are what most Americans consider traditional pancakes, however, they aren't always the style of pancakes Ramsay cooks.

Given that his life revolves around food and cooking, it comes as no surprise that Gordon Ramsay considers Pancake Day "one of the most important days" in his household (via Instagram). Called Mardi Gras in the U.S., per The Spruce Eats, the holiday celebrated the day before Ash Wednesday is nicknamed Pancake Day (or Shrove Tuesday) in the UK and Ireland because it's often celebrated by preparing stacks of pancakes — English pancakes to be specific.

English pancakes of course can be enjoyed year-round, but The Spruce Eats states that the reason Brits, including chef Ramsay, prepare and serve them during Shrove Tuesday is simply that they contain many of the ingredients people tend to abstain from during the Lenten season, such as milk, butter, and eggs. One of the ingredients that's noticeably absent is a leavening agent, Caroline's Cooking points out. Without baking soda or baking powder, English pancakes are similar to French crepes –  thin and flat rather than thick and fluffy like American pancakes.

English and American pancakes have one obvious difference, but most people assume that crepes and English pancakes are the same since they're both thin. Contrary to popular belief, crepes have a runnier batter and are spread with a special tool, Caroline's Cooking notes. English pancakes on the other hand are swirled in a pan, as Gordon Ramsay demonstrates in an Instagram video, and are therefore slightly thicker.

For best results, Ramsay starts by using a nonstick pan and spraying it with cooking spray for even more nonstick insurance before ladling the batter in. After swirling the batter around until the pan is coated, he then flips the pancake with a special technique. "Tap your pan twice, shake, and it removes [the pancake]. Bring the pancake to the end, and push away and flip back up with the wrist," he instructs. The celebrity chef uses honey, lemon, raspberries, and strawberries for the filling, but says plain sugar would taste just as delicious. As for maple syrup — you can save it for your American pancakes.