Charlotte chef guides Gordon Ramsay through Smoky Mountains on NatGeo show
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Chef William Dissen of Charlotte's Haymaker (left) and Gordon Ramsay. Photo: National Geographic/Justin Mandel
In the National Geographic series, “Gordon Ramsay: Uncharted,” celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay travels around the world in a quest for the best local ingredients — from Croatia to North Carolina’s own Smoky Mountains.
Why it matters: Along the way, Ramsay learns from and faces off against local chefs like William Dissen of Charlotte’s Haymaker and Asheville’s The Market Place. Dissen’s episode airs July 4.
What to expect: Dissen spent about a week filming the episode alongside Ramsay, sharing local secrets on everything from foraging mushrooms to fly fishing.
- It was Ramsay’s first time in the area, and Dissen says he loved the “raw beauty” of the Great Smokies. “It really hit home to me what a special place we live in,” Dissen tells me.
- Watch for the conclusion of the episode on July 4 when Dissen and Ramsay go head-to-head cooking cuisine of the area.
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Background: Dissen was approached by the show about a year ago, in the thick of the COVID-19 pandemic. He almost missed out on the opportunity altogether because he thought the email requests were spam — too good to be true in a pandemic, he recalls feeling at the time.
- Dissen was tapped because of his extensive knowledge of foraging and his reputation as one of the country’s most sustainable chefs.
How to watch: Season three of “Gordon Ramsay: Uncharted” airs Monday, May 31. Dissen’s episode will air on National Geographic on July 4 at 10pm.
- It’s also available via Disney+ or Hulu (with the live TV add-on).
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