Gordon Ramsay Returns to Connecticut, Makes Surprise Stop at Popular Mystic Restaurant
Just weeks after announcing that Hell’s Kitchen would return to Foxwoods Resort Casino for new seasons, celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay has already been spotted back in Connecticut.
The renowned chef recently paid a visit to Oyster Club in Mystic, where he was photographed with restaurant staff following a meal. The restaurant later shared the moment on social media, celebrating Ramsay’s return and highlighting one of its most beloved dishes.
“When Gordon Ramsay falls for Renee Touponce’s empanadas, you know you’re doing something right,” the restaurant wrote in an Instagram post. The team also thanked Ramsay for once again stopping by and spending time with staff during his visit.
This isn’t the first time Ramsay has dined at Oyster Club. The chef also visited the restaurant in 2024, further cementing his appreciation for one of Mystic’s most acclaimed dining destinations.
At the center of Ramsay’s latest visit was executive chef and co-owner Renee Touponce, one of Connecticut’s most celebrated culinary talents. Touponce serves as executive chef and partner at both Oyster Club and The Port of Call and has earned widespread recognition in recent years. She was named a finalist for the prestigious James Beard Awards in both 2023 and 2024 and received the Connecticut Restaurant Association’s Chef of the Year honor in 2022.
Among the dishes that caught Ramsay’s attention were Touponce’s signature ground beef empanadas, which feature sofrito, olives, cheese, charred chili aioli, and chimichurri.
According to Oyster Club, the empanadas carry special meaning for Touponce, inspired by childhood memories of cooking alongside her mother. Over time, they have become one of the restaurant’s signature menu items and a favorite among both locals and visitors.
The restaurant noted that the labor-intensive dish is prepared as a team effort, with staff gathering together to fold each empanada by hand — a tradition that has become part of what makes the dish so special.
Ramsay’s Connecticut appearance comes shortly after Foxwoods Resort Casino announced production plans for Seasons 25 and 26 of Hell’s Kitchen. The hit culinary competition series previously filmed Seasons 23 and 24 at the Connecticut resort using a custom-built production studio modeled after the show’s iconic red and blue kitchens and dramatic dining room.
With filming preparations already underway, Ramsay’s latest stop in Mystic has only added to the excitement surrounding the return of Hell’s Kitchen to Connecticut.