I tried Gordon Ramsay’s revamped airport restaurant with McDonald’s-like self-service screens
I PICK up what looks like a mini drumstick but is, in fact, a chicken lollipop.
Not any old lolly, mind, but one of celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay’s Hotter Than Hell specialities.
It smells scrumptious, but how hot is hot?
One brave bite later and the answer is clear: Proper fiery blast up the nostrils.
Delicious, though. More, please.
I’m at Heathrow Airport’s Terminal 5 for the launch of Gordon’s revamped, renamed restaurant, Plane Food Market.
He’s had a restaurant here since 2008 but it is now transformed.
You can still sit down and linger here as normal for a pre-flight meal.
But Ramsay has recognised that most of the 30million passengers who pass through T5 annually are more time-poor than ever, so he’s come up with a “grab and go” concept.
Diners can order at self-service screens in the restaurant’s entrance — as you might do in McDonald’s — then eat in the restaurant or take away.
He says: “The idea is that it will be ten minutes from ordering to table.”
The tables, incidentally, all have runway views.
But more importantly, what’s on the menu?
For the first time, you can find the best of Gordon’s crowd-pleasers all under one roof.
One counter serves his Asian favourites such as nigiri and spicy tuna roll — dishes you’ll find in his Lucky Cat restaurants.
Another has a range of burgers from his Street Burger bistros.
Not KFC, but GFC: Gordon’s Fried Chicken
There are also pizzas, fish and chips, all-day breakfasts, butter chicken curry, poke bowls, steaks, salads — you name it.
Gordon’s aim is to make eating here fun.
Quality ingredients
Indeed, he tells me his kids were having such a good time here ten days ago that they refused to board their plane.
We chat briefly about how we both have twins and how his eldest decided not to follow in Dad’s footsteps, but to instead join the police force.
And then he encourages me to taste some of his specials, all prepared in bite-size samples.
First up is another chicken dish.
Not KFC, but GFC: Gordon’s Fried Chicken.
Flights can be difficult, sometimes nerve-wracking. Getting a chance to eat before we board means we can get on that plane and relax
Gordon
It’s topped with a dollop of his curry and mango sauce and is superb — moist on the inside and with just the right amount of outer crispy crunch.
Next is his vegan ’Nduja Street Pizza, piled with gooey courgette ribbons, pesto and red onions.
As for the OGR Burger, it has so much flavour that it’s no surprise to learn it’s made from grass-fed Hereford beef.
But my favourite is the bao bun, oozing with shredded duck and hoisin sauce.
Gordon, who now has 31 restaurants in the UK and a further 61 globally, including in South Korea, Malaysia, France and Dubai, believes decent grub can ease the stress of flying.
He says: “Flights can be difficult, sometimes nerve-wracking. Getting a chance to eat before we board means we can get on that plane and relax.”
If a holiday really does begin the moment you’re airside, then starting a trip with a meal at Plane Food Market will set you off on the right foot.
Dishes are packed with quality ingredients and prices are around £18 for a pizza, burger or fish and chips. It’s cheaper if you grab and go.
I was not flying anywhere when I visited, but did take away a £9 portion of padron peppers for dinner at home.
Hours later, when I tucked in, they were still delicious.
Would I enjoy them before hopping on a flight? Absolutely. All I need to do now is book a holiday.