Controversial chef Gordon Ramsay under fire for eating 'delicious' guinea pigs

By Christine Estera|

Gordon Ramsay has come under fire from viewers after he was filmed feasting on guinea pigs in his new documentary series. 

The celebrity chef stars in the new National Geographic doco, Gordon Ramsay: Uncharted, which premiered in the US on Sunday and will follow the 52-year-old across the globe as he meets indigenous people and dines on local delicacies.

Gordon Ramsay eats guinea pig in Peru
The chef tucks into worms, guinea pigs and other local delicacies in his new doco 'Gordon Ramsay: Uncharted'. (National Geographic)

His first stop was Peru, where viewers watched on as Ramsay stumbled upon a home that had a smorgasbord of guinea pigs in various cooking stages: living guinea pigs, skinned guinea pigs and roasted guinea pigs.

"You do not know what you're missing. I am telling you now, delicious," Ramsay said about his meal, before adding it was "pretty good" and tasted like "a suckling pig." 

Gordon Ramsay eats guinea pig in Peru
Ramsay eats a roasted guinea pig with the locals in Peru. (National Geographic)

While the beloved pets are domesticated in western countries, in Peru guinea pigs (known by the locals as cuyes) have been a diet staple for more than 5000 years. 

"I can't feature roasted guinea pig on my menus here in the US," he explained. "I would be taken down."

Ramsay was taken down alright. Shortly after the episode aired, many Twitter users expressed their disapproval over Ramsay's meal.

"I realise people eat different things all over the world, they have to due to region, economics, etc. But being a guinea pig owner and lover I can't watch Gordon Ramsey's new show. Those poor sweet pigs," wrote on Twitter user, while another said, "My mother left the room after she saw the guinea pigs." 

Another commented, "@GordonRamsay you are so adorable with the kids on #Uncharted… those poor guinea pigs tho. Lol."

Later on in the series, Ramsay will travel to Laos, where he was filmed taking a shot of whisky that had been preserved in a jar full of geckos.

"That actually tastes better… With a gecko inside the flavour is extraordinary," he said on camera.

Gordon Ramsay: Uncharted premieres in Australia on Monday, August 5 at 8:30pm on National Geographic.

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