It's amazing how a story can so quickly change from rumour to fact in the stroke of journalist's pen..... I guess this blog has been guilty of setting one or two hares running in the past... but only when there has been more than just a mere whiff of rumour... so how did the Evening Standard link Gordon Ramsay with Von Essen's new Baterrsea boutique hotel project in London.
We know that Marco Pierre White (MPW) and Andrew Davies of Von Essen had dinner together last week....... (we learned of the Battersea project about then as well, but it was subsequently leaked to Dom Walsh at the Times) and hence the reason why MPW was linked to the restaurant in Von Essen's new hotel (MPW has denied that there was any discussion about a new restaurant).
But then on Friday Mira Bar-Hillel at the Evening Standard took a massive flyer when she decided that when Von Essen said they were in talks with an "internationally renowned chef" then it could only mean Gordon Ramsay.
Has Marco's star faded so much from the media spotlight, that Gordon even usurps him at the rumour level??
Ramsay's stable said the rumour was unfounded, but at least the connection (I guess not discouraged by Von Essen's PR) has won the hotel chain a few more column inches.
If there is any concern that everyone loves Gordon Ramsay then don't fret as Frank Bruni is still having a go about his new restaurant in New York on his blog! I guess this might be some consolation to Marco!