Gordon Ramsay Loses to Singapore Street Food Hawkers

In a stunt sponsored by Singapore-based cell phone provider SingTel, shouty TV chef Gordon Ramsay (can you hear him now?) took on three popular Singapore street-food hawkers in a cook-off dubbed the "Hawker Heroes culinary challenge." Spoiler alert: He lost. According to a press release, more than 1,000 locals started lining up at 1a.m. to participate as "people's choice" judges in the event, which previously used a public vote to determine which three street-food hawkers — Foo Kui Lian of Tian Tian Hainanese Chicken Rice, Ang Kiam Meng of Jumbo Seafood Restaurant, and Ryan Koh of 328 Katong Laksa — Ramsay would face-off against. Of the three dishes cooked up by the contestants, Ramsay won the popular vote for his chili crab but lost out in the chicken rice and laksa categories, ultimately losing by six percent of the total vote.

He's still a winner in some respects, though: According to a WSJ recap of the event: "Some fans were in tears when Mr. Ramsay wasn't able to sign their cookbooks or posters. One shouted out, 'Thanks for touching me!' when the chef was surrounded by a crowd."

Video: SingTel Hawker Heroes Challenge

· SingTel Hawker Heroes Challenge [YouTube]
· All Gordon Ramsay Coverage on Eater [-E-]
· All Singapore Coverage on Eater [-E-]