Gordon Ramsay once said most younger women couldn't cook to save their lives... now he is entrusting his reputation to one.

He has picked a Northern Ireland woman to take charge of the restaurant in Chelsea which bears his name.

Clare Smyth will be the first woman to take charge of a three Michelin-starred restaurant in the United Kingdom.

On Tuesday, a spokeswoman for Gordon Ramsay, confirmed the 29-year-old had been hired.

"She's worked with Gordon on and off since 2002 except for a period where she worked with another well-known chef," she said.

Ms Smyth was brought in by Ramsay last month to replace Simone Zanoni, who has moved to Versailles to open Ramsay's first establishment in France.

Johnny Elliott, another chef from Northern Ireland who will be joining the restaurant in January, told the Daily Telegraph newspaper Ms Smyth was an incredible chef.

"She knows everything you need to know. She is extremely nice, very direct, very straight and there is no side to her at all," he said.

NI chef Paula McIntyre has spent time in the kitchen with Clare and said that she was impressive.

"There are maybe three three-starred Michelin chefs in the world who are women and Clare would probably be one of those, so it's a big deal," she said.

Glasgow-born Ramsay is one of Britain's best known and most colourful chefs - famous for his fiery temper and strong language.

In October, he became one of the two most Michelin-starred chefs in the world after his New York restaurant was awarded two stars in its debut year.

It puts the star of TV shows The F Word and Hell's Kitchen level with French chef Alain Ducasse on 12 stars.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/northern_ireland/7117700.stm