Gordon Ramsay returns to our screens this week in the third season of Uncharted, the travel and cookery hybrid in which the popular chef travel to far-flung corners of the globe to learn about new traditions, cultures and, of course, cuisines, and ultimately to compete in a cook-off with a local expert for a judging panel of demanding, hungry locals, using his newfound knowledge.
The show, which comes out on Tuesday in the UAE, offers audiences a slightly different side of the notoriously tyrannical chef. We're used to seeing Ramsay terrify the staff of his own restaurant in Hell's Kitchen and intimidate failing restaurant owners in Kitchen Nightmares. In Uncharted, however, it's frequently Ramsay who finds himself in scary situations. Previous seasons have seen the chef racing bulls in Indonesia, piranha fishing in Guyana and white water rafting on the Mekong.
The new season promises to showcase Ramsay negotiating Puerto Rican waterfalls in search of delicious freshwater prawns, hunting for rattlesnakes in the wilds of Texas and diving for clams in the waters off Maine.
Watch the season two trailer here:
It was foraging for shellfish in Portugal that Ramsay says he found most challenging in the latest series though – a task that had him venturing out on to rocks nestled in the crashing waves of the Atlantic Ocean in search of percebes, the tiny, tasty, barnacle-like creatures that cling there. "[There were] no wires, no harnesses, just me, the ocean and some very dangerous rock formations," the daredevil chef reveals.
"[It's] one of the most dangerous things I've done on Uncharted and also one of the most simple ingredients to cook with."
It's refreshing to see Ramsay, usually the all-conquering master of his own domain, appear so vulnerable, though we wonder how his family takes to seeing their mighty patriarch so humbled. “I tend to keep it a secret until after I finish,” he admits. “Except for my son Jack. He’s a Royal Marine, so this old man's gotta keep up with him somehow.”
Like much of the world, Ramsay has spent a large part of the last year in lockdown because of the pandemic. ("It was fun for the first month until I became a breakfast line cook every day.") He admits that by the time he was finally able to get out and start shooting Uncharted, even with the challenges of a Covid-safe set, he was itching to get out of the house, and hopes that travel-starved audiences can now enjoy his adventures, too.
“We were one of the first shows to be back on the road during the pandemic and it allowed us to get access to some pretty incredible places and people,” he says.
“I think, more than ever, the locals weren’t afraid to share how incredible their culture and cuisine truly is. I had some big challenges at the cook-offs because the chefs had been sharpening their knives for months, waiting for me to take them on. I couldn’t be more thrilled and I hope viewers are as well.”
Of course, Ramsay isn't just a TV chef. He also operates dozens of restaurants across three continents, including Dubai's Bread Street Kitchen and Hell's Kitchen.
Can we expect to see any of the exotic ingredients he's encountered in the latest series on our plates in real life soon? "You'll definitely see some tastes of Texas, Puerto Rico and the Great Smoky [Mountains] pop up in the US," the chef says.
"I was so impressed with the quality of seafood in Iceland that I hope I can bring some of those incredible scallops and lava salt over. The one thing I won't be bringing is that wooden plank from Finland. There's a reason we don't have that in London!"
Gordon Ramsay: Uncharted premieres on the National Geographic Channel at 9pm UAE on Tuesday
Brief scores:
Manchester United 4
Young 13', Mata 28', Lukaku 42', Rashford 82'
Fulham 1
Kamara 67' (pen),
Red card: Anguissa (68')
Man of the match: Juan Mata (Man Utd)
Off-roading in the UAE: How to checklist
Pharaoh's curse
British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.
Origin
Dan Brown
Doubleday
About Takalam
Date started: early 2020
Founders: Khawla Hammad and Inas Abu Shashieh
Based: Abu Dhabi
Sector: HealthTech and wellness
Number of staff: 4
Funding to date: Bootstrapped
Company%20profile
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The specs
Engine: 2.3-litre, turbo four-cylinder
Transmission: 10-speed auto
Power: 300hp
Torque: 420Nm
Price: Dh189,900
On sale: now
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
DRIVERS' CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS
1. Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari) 171 points
2. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes-GP) 151
3. Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes-GP) 136
4. Daniel Ricciardo (Red Bull Racing) 107
5. Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari) 83
6. Sergio Perez (Force India) 50
7. Max Verstappen (Red Bull Racing) 45
8. Esteban Ocon (Force India) 39
9. Carlos Sainz (Torro Rosso) 29
10. Felipe Massa (Williams) 22
Result
Arsenal 4
Monreal (51'), Ramsey (82'), Lacazette 85', 89')
West Ham United 1
Arnautovic (64')
Company%C2%A0profile
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EName%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EPyppl%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEstablished%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2017%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EAntti%20Arponen%20and%20Phil%20Reynolds%26nbsp%3B%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20UAE%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ESector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20financial%20services%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestment%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%2418.5%20million%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEmployees%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20150%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%20stage%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20series%20A%2C%20closed%20in%202021%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20venture%20capital%20companies%2C%20international%20funds%2C%20family%20offices%2C%20high-net-worth%20individuals%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
More on animal trafficking
Shubh Mangal Saavdhan
Directed by: RS Prasanna
Starring: Ayushmann Khurrana, Bhumi Pednekar
Dates for the diary
To mark Bodytree’s 10th anniversary, the coming season will be filled with celebratory activities:
- September 21 Anyone interested in becoming a certified yoga instructor can sign up for a 250-hour course in Yoga Teacher Training with Jacquelene Sadek. It begins on September 21 and will take place over the course of six weekends.
- October 18 to 21 International yoga instructor, Yogi Nora, will be visiting Bodytree and offering classes.
- October 26 to November 4 International pilates instructor Courtney Miller will be on hand at the studio, offering classes.
- November 9 Bodytree is hosting a party to celebrate turning 10, and everyone is invited. Expect a day full of free classes on the grounds of the studio.
- December 11 Yogeswari, an advanced certified Jivamukti teacher, will be visiting the studio.
- February 2, 2018 Bodytree will host its 4th annual yoga market.
Dhadak 2
Director: Shazia Iqbal
Starring: Siddhant Chaturvedi, Triptii Dimri
Rating: 1/5
The Voice of Hind Rajab
Starring: Saja Kilani, Clara Khoury, Motaz Malhees
Director: Kaouther Ben Hania
Rating: 4/5
UAE squad
Esha Oza (captain), Al Maseera Jahangir, Emily Thomas, Heena Hotchandani, Indhuja Nandakumar, Katie Thompson, Lavanya Keny, Mehak Thakur, Michelle Botha, Rinitha Rajith, Samaira Dharnidharka, Siya Gokhale, Sashikala Silva, Suraksha Kotte, Theertha Satish (wicketkeeper) Udeni Kuruppuarachchige, Vaishnave Mahesh.
UAE tour of Zimbabwe
All matches in Bulawayo
Friday, Sept 26 – First ODI
Sunday, Sept 28 – Second ODI
Tuesday, Sept 30 – Third ODI
Thursday, Oct 2 – Fourth ODI
Sunday, Oct 5 – First T20I
Monday, Oct 6 – Second T20I
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