Credit Crunch Bites Gordon Ramsay

The Mirror reports that Gordon Ramsay is facing his own kitchen nightmare as the credit crunch takes its toll on his business empire. Bookings have slumped recently, sparking fear that his restaurants may be going under.

The Mirror has heard that one of Ramsay's former managers has spoken about the celebrity chef, saying he is more interested in being on TV than cooking in his own restaurants.

David Ratcliffe claims that morale among Ramsay's army of chefs and waiters is at an all time low amid fears that the world's highest-paid chef has overstretched himself and is in trouble.

The Mirror quotes Ratcliffe, who used to manage Ramsay's Banquette at the Savoy in London, as saying, "Gordon wants to take over the world with his restaurants and it has become an obsession to open more and more. The brand has become devalued because he has expanded too fast."

Could this be the seasoning on the salad for Ramsay's restaurant empire?