Celebrity chef Gordon Ramsey caused a stir this weekend when production for one of his reality television series was spotted in a northwestern Twin Cities exurb.
Fans heard the news and staked out Lake Cafe in Big Lake to snap photos of the British cooking star, who is behind long-running hit shows Hell’s Kitchen, MasterChef and Kitchen Nightmares.
The restaurant closed for five days to film for the undisclosed show, according to Lake Cafe’s Facebook page.
Supportive comments flooded the restaurant’s Facebook update about the news with hopes that the menu wouldn’t change too much.
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Tagging Ramsay, one person wrote: “Thank you for helping out! On another note, if you messed with my patty melt, we are going to have an issue!”
Lake Cafe’s Instagram page highlights classic American comfort foods: homemade meatloaf with gravy and green beans, broasted chicken and sizeable omelets with buttered toast.
Co-owner Tami Cox confirmed filming took place from Friday through Tuesday and that Ramsay was present. She declined to share more, citing a nondisclosure agreement.
Cox said there was a lot of excitement when Lake Cafe reopened Wednesday, especially among regulars glad to be back. The small, family-owned restaurant has operated for 58 years, she said.
Lake Cafe’s social media post mentioned a new, small menu with items Ramsay put together for the restaurant. Their regular menu is limited while they create a new menu and some items will return in the future.
Cox said an episode might air in three to six months.
Fox Entertainment, the production company behind Gordon Ramsay’s shows, hasn’t responded to an MPR News request for information.
While it’s not clear which of Ramsay’s shows will feature Lake Cafe, the latest season of Kitchen Nightmares, the series where Ramsey seeks to revive businesses in crisis, focused on restaurants in the Midwest.
