Embattled “MasterChef” and “Hell’s Kitchen” star Gordon Ramsay is cooking up a deal with Las Vegas gambling mecca Caesars Palace in a bid to revive his struggling restaurant empire in the US.
The foul-mouthed TV cook, who recently declared war on his wife’s family by suing her father in the UK, has struggled in the US, having sold his pricey eatery at the London NYC back to the hotel owners in 2009, even though his name is still on the door.
Ramsay now aims to strike Vegas gold following his own “Kitchen Nightmares,” when he had to shut restaurants to ward off bankruptcy after his company reportedly breached terms of a $17 million loan in 2008. Sources tell Page Six the Fox star is working on a trio of venues with the resort. One said, “Ramsay and Caesars will brand a minimum of three restaurants including a pub/bar and grill.”
Ramsay’s deal was brokered by Rowen Seibel, whose family owns Serendipity which is already in business with Caesars, and will be a joint venture with Seibel, his partner Chris Barish, and two others.
But the source added, “The project will be fully managed and run internally by Caesars. Ramsay will have creative involvement but not creative control, and make regular celebrity appearances.” The first restaurant will open by early next year.
Another source said Ramsay was “close to signing a standard consultancy deal. He will not be involved in day-to-day operations.” Ramsay’s rep confirmed, “We are working on exciting projects with Caesars Entertainment and will have further announcements shortly.”
Ramsay is battling the family of his wife, Tana, in London, saying he wants millions from his father-in-law Chris Hutcheson, whom he sacked as chief executive of his empire after 12 years. The suit alleges Hutcheson was taking money and hacked into e-mails at Gordon Ramsay Holdings, claims he strongly denies. Ramsay is also suing four more Hutcheson family members as well as his father-in-law’s alleged mistress.