Chef Gordon Ramsay in Austin on Nov. 18, 2012
What’s in a name? Quite a lot when it comes to top chefs and a renowned gastropub.
Bloomberg reports that celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay has applied for a U.K. trademark for the restaurant name the Spotted Pig, which happens to be the name of the famous New York eatery opened in 2004 by celebrity chef Mario Batali, restaurateur Ken Friedman and chef April Bloomfield, who also helms the restaurant. (Jay-Z and Bono are also co-owners.) The restaurant has remained one of New York City’s dining hot spots.
Ramsay’s company, Ramsay Holdings International, submitted the application last month, but objections to the application can be filed for up to two months. So far, neither Batali nor Bloomfield, who is British, has registered a public objection. Other celebrity chefs, however, have waded into the issue. Kitchen Confidential author Anthony Bourdain registered his personal objection on Nov. 20, tweeting, “That Gordon Ramsay would register name ‘Spotted Pig’ in London and screw April Bloomfield (who built the brand) over is shameful pathetic.” The condemnatory tweet earned more than 1,000 retweets, including one from celebrity chef nice-guy Jamie Oliver.