Gordon Ramsay, of “Hell’s Kitchen,” and Mario Batali from “The Iron Chef” have had it out for each other for quite a while now, and Batali just gave an interview complaining about Ramsay. His biggest complaint? That Ramsay calls him “Fanta Pants” in public in reference to his penchant for orange shorts. Batali also says that Ramsay calls his restaurants trying to book tables, but that he’s banned him for the foreseeable future:

The beefy “Iron Chef” has prohibited the star of Fox’s “Hell’s Kitchen,” who runs a fancy place at the London NYC Hotel, from entering any of Batali’s dining spots, including the Spotted Pig and Babbo, after Ramsay began calling him “Fanta Pants” to make fun of the orange shorts Batali sometimes wears. The effeminate moniker is a nod to the popular brand of orange soda.

“I’ve banned him from my restaurants,” Batali sniffed to London’s Guardian. “Ramsay’s people call, trying to book tables, and I say no. I won’t have him in there.”

The feud goes back 18 months to when loudmouth Batali labeled rival Ramsay’s culinary fare dull and outdated and said he didn’t get New York. Batali says Ramsay retaliated by making up the nickname, which he sneakily spread behind his back.

“Gordon bugs me . . . Now he goes about town calling me Fanta Pants,” Batali fumed. He notes the ban could be lifted, “If [Gordon] called me himself and said, ‘Let’s sit down for a drink.’ I’m sure it would be fine. We’d be cool. But right now it’s not cool.”

Ramsay’s rep tried to make light of the simmering dispute, telling Page Six the two egomaniacal chefs will “get together someday and have a good laugh about it all.”

[from NY Post]

How does Batali know that it’s Ramsay trying to book tables? The way he says it makes it sound as if it’s happened multiple times. If Ramsay were really trying to sabotage Batali’s business, you’d think he’d find a better way to do so. Or at least have his assistant book it under another name. “Hello, can I have a reservation at eight for a Mr. Fanta Pants?”

You can’t expect much less from these two. The best chefs are known for their personalities, and they’re both television stars, which only adds to the egotism. Though I must admit, “Fanta Pants” is pretty clever. Somehow I doubt that the nicknames Batali calls Ramsay in private are quite so witty.

Picture note by Celebitchy: I found pictures of Batali in different orange clogs, some crocks, dating back to the fall of 2004. Credit: WENN