Outlaw out-of-season produce, says Ramsay
Gordon Ramsay is urging British restaurants to only serve fruit and vegetables when they are in season and says those that fail to do so should be fined.
In an interview with the BBC the celebrity chef said he had spoken to the Prime Minister about outlawing out-of-season produce to help cut carbon emissions and ensure improved standards of cooking.
"Fruit and veg should be seasonal," he said. "Chefs should be fined if they haven`t got ingredients in season on their menu.
"I don`t want to see asparagus on in the middle of December. I don`t want to see strawberries from Kenya in the middle of March. I want to see it home grown."
Ramsay suggested introducing strict laws to police the use of seasonal food and said it was fundamental that chefs used locally-sourced food.
Scott Goss, Head Chef at The Swan, West Malling in Kent agreed that chefs should only use seasonal produce.
He said: "I think fining people is a bit extreme, but I do get wound up when I see asparagus on a menu in December. I won`t put tomatoes on my menu until May when they are at their best."
Goss said the challenge of only using seasonal ingredients was exciting and something that every chef could do with some education.
"We are in Kent and are very lucky to have fresh and seasonal produce available, but I also want to push myself every day and if I don`t use seasonal produce I`m letting myself down and I`m letting my customers down.
"If there is something I`m a little unsure about I look it up in a book. There is no excuse for not knowing what is in season and what isn`t."
However, the British Hospitality Association said Ramsay`s idea was "over the top" and said it would be impossible to enforce.
A spokesman said: "The use of local produce should be encouraged and it`s something that many chefs are trying to do, but to suggest everything used is local and in season is totally impractical and quite ridiculous.
"Who would monitor it? We would have to have TV cameras in every kitchen."
Ramsay was speaking to the BBC before the fourth series of The F Word, which starts on Channel 4 on May 13.
