Gordon Ramsay names Tasmania as one of his favourite food destinations in the world - Travel News

Dec 02, 2025

It’s no easy feat to impress Gordon Ramsay, but this Australian state blew him away.

Gordon Ramsay has high standards and doesn’t shy away from voicing his disappointment. He’s built a whole career on it. So when the celebrity chef endorses something you know it’s not just good, it’s great.

In a recent interview with Condé Nast Traveller, Ramsay named Tasmania one of his favourite food destinations in the world, which will come as no surprise to Aussies. The island state has fast become one of the hottest spots for foodies.

“I fell in love with Australia because of the uniqueness in its cuisine,” says Ramsay. “[It’s] produce led. I couldn’t quite believe the standard of fish, shellfish, lamb, beef, it was incredible.”

But when it comes to Tasmania it was the whisky and lobsters for Ramsay that make it one of the best food destinations in the world.

“They produce some of the best whisky in the world in Tassie. There’s more whisky distilleries per square mile in Tasmania than anywhere else in the world. But I was blown away by the spiny lobsters,” reflects Ramsay in the interview.

“These things were like four feet long. I went diving there and it was in the middle of the great white highway. I’m bedding down amongst all this kelp and I’m on aerated tanks from the boat. It’s the first time I spotted a great white shark and I just stayed calm. I had my hand on the spiny lobster and I thought ‘I’ve got the prized asset and I’m about to be eaten by a great white’. I put my tummy on top of the spiny lobster, I laid down on the kelp and I waited for this 12 to 14 foot great white shark to pass me. I got up on the boat and I said to my dive buddy, ‘Did you see the size of that shark?’. He said, ‘Are you talking about the juvenile? The baby great white’. I’m like ‘Oh my god, that’s the baby one’. So yeah, Tasmania all day long.”

We couldn’t agree more. So does Peter Gilmore, one of Australia’s best chefs. Gilmore loves Tassie so much he bought a second home there and has started to grow his own produce on the property. We chatted with the acclaimed chef about his favourite spots to eat and drink on the Apple Isle. Here’s Gilmore’s guide to his favourite places to eat and drink in Tasmania.