Kitchen Rat

Guests poured into the Taste of Christmas event last night at London's Excel for a slice of festive fun and glimpse of Gordon Ramsay.

In true showman style, Gordon Ramsay who was due to be cooking on stage was no where to be seen for the first few minutes.

Instead Mark Sergeant, head chef at Gordon Ramsay at Claridge's, and wine sommelier Olly Smith paced the stage encouraging the 300-strong audience to call out his name.

"Gordon, Gordon, Goooooorrddooonnn." Then, out of nowhere a figure paced down the stairs from within the audience in a luminous worker jacket, whipped off a hard hat and dark wig and ruffled his mop of blond highlights. Who would have thought it!

But the panto didn't finish there, the three hosts then took it in turns to kick inflatable puddings out into the audience and in a musical chairs style game, whoever had the puddings when the music stopped were invited up on to the stage to sit at tables, flanking the central kitchen to eat Ramsay's feast.

In good spirits, Ramsay welcomed all guests, asking their names and occupations. Touching on recent events he said to one guest, a pretty blonde PR girl: "I could do with your help the week I've had."

He then set to work preparing a chestnut, apple and parsnip soup starter; duck with sautéed Brussels sprouts main and a pear tart for dessert with Bailey's ice cream.