Toronto’s Queen West just got a major hit of star power — and a rare dose of “nice” from the world’s most notoriously fiery chef.
On Feb. 1, The Roasted Nut Company located at 768 Queen St. W. became the centre of a social media frenzy when Gordon Ramsay walked in unannounced. While many fans on Instagram initially suspected a look-alike, the shop has officially confirmed that the MasterChef star was indeed in the neighbourhood.
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According to shop employees, Ramsay was spotted wandering near Walnut Street, reportedly in town to film a new project. Despite being a global icon, he was apparently trying to keep things low-key — though his attempt at anonymity didn’t last long.
“It was definitely him,” a shop employee shared. “He was trying not to be seen, but he was very nice in person.”
So, what does a man with eight Michelin stars order at a boutique snack shop? Why a flat white and a single peanut butter cookie of course.
In a quintessential Toronto moment, the staff offered Ramsay a sample of their signature dry-roasted, preservative-free nuts. In a surprising twist, the man who usually demands more flavour actually turned them down, sticking strictly to his coffee and cookie combo.
The shop didn’t miss the chance for a viral moment, posting a selfie of Ramsay at the cash register with the punny caption: “Thank you CHEF!! We’ll Cashew Later☕️? Guess what the chef ordered in the comments?”
While Ramsay didn’t leave behind any Kitchen Nightmares style critiques, his presence alone has cemented The Roasted Nut Company as the current “it” spot for a midday pick-me-up. If it’s good enough for Gordon to dodge the paparazzi for, it’s probably worth the trip to Queen and Walnut.
