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Celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay was spotted in the Worcester area over the weekend.

Known for "Hell's Kitchen" and "MasterChef," the Food Network star is no stranger to Massachusetts, as he owns two restaurants in Boston - Ramsay's Kitchen and Gordon Ramsay Burger. However, this weekend, Ramsay traded Boston for Central Massachusetts.

While the exact reason Ramsay was in town is not known, he was seen with a camera crew around various towns in the Worcester area. Here's everywhere he went.

Where did Gordon Ramsay go in Massachusetts?

This past Saturday, Ramsay visited a restaurant, a bowling alley and a food truck in Northbridge.

Ramsay started his morning at The Neighborhood Kitchen, a breakfast restaurant in the town's Whitinsville neighborhood. According to a televised report from WBZ-TV, the chef stopped to meet fans when he exited the restaurant.

From there, Ramsay went to Sparetime Recreation bowling alley, where he was seen with a large film crew. The reason Ramsay was filming at the Northbridge bowling alley has not yet been made clear.

According to reports on Facebook, Ramsay also stopped by Smash’d, a food truck in Douglas that specializes in burgers.

"We got a chance to meet Gordon Ramsay today!!!" the food truck wrote on Facebook alongside pictures with the star, adding that Ramsay "absolutely loved" the Smash'd t shirt they made for him.

After a jam-packed day in central Massachusetts, Ramsay visited Rhode Island, where he was spotted Sunday morning at the Crazy Burger in Narragansett.

The relationship between the city of Worcester and the colleges it hosts may get more fraught.

Tensions were already high after city leaders took issue with Worcester Polytechnic Institute, College of the Holy Cross and the Massachusetts College of Public Health Sciences buying additional city property over the past 18 months “with little or no notice to the city‚” and reducing the city’s tax base.

Now, Worcester Mayor Joseph Petty and Worcester City Council Economic Development Committee Chair Candy Mero-Carlson said they filed two orders to create a community impact fund using the endowments of those colleges and others in the city, according to a Friday announcement.

The first order places a ballot question on this November’s ballot asking city residents if they support forcing the city’s private colleges and universities to invest 0.5% of their endowments into a city fund to “help finance needed housing, economic, and community development projects.”

The second order asks the city manager to research how such a fund could be used in collaboration with the Worcester Regional Research Bureau and Greater Worcester Community Foundation.

The endowments of the five colleges and universities targeted by the orders totals about $3.9 billion, the announcement said, which would put approximately $19 million into the fund.

“We need a new construct and parameters in how we work with our colleges and universities. A community impact fund or loan pool is a model whereby, through a very modest investment of their substantial endowments into local housing and economic and community development projects, our colleges and universities can still achieve a return on investment while creating jobs, housing, and expanding the tax base,” said Councilor Candy Mero-Carlson in the announcement.

City leaders have objected to recent property purchases by higher education institutions, which the announcement said totaled $64 million in the past 18 months.

In September, the City Council unanimously supported asking the city manager to create a new zoning ordinance requiring colleges and universities to publicly file a 10-year master plan with the city, outlining their growth and construction plans.

A couple months later, City Council members groused about a deal negotiated between the city manager and Worcester Polytechnic Institution over recent purchases of two hotels to turn them into student housing.

In Friday’s announcement, Petty called Worcester’s colleges and universities “an asset to Worcester.” However, he continued that leaders at those institutions needed to work with the city “in a new spirit of engaged partnership through annual strategic investments.”

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Eddy’s Pub & Sports Bar, a new business venture of chef/owners Ednardo Cardoso and Ednelio Flores, opened to the public on March 12 at 120 Stafford St., Worcester.

Owners say the Webster Square neighborhood pub is the ultimate spot for catching all sports action, offering a vibrant atmosphere, sports memorabilia and multiple large-screen TVs. “Variety of food, drinks and specialty cocktails make it an all-around enjoyable experience,” they said. The business has no association with the former Eddy’s Pub on West Boylston Street in Worcester. “We get so many questions, with people thinking that the old Eddy’s has made a comeback,” said Cardoso, who explained that he and his partner both are known by the first name “Eddy” and decided to name the pub after themselves. Note: Stogotz Tapas Restaurant and Piano Bar previously occupied the pub space, closing after less than a year in 2023.

Cardoso in December 2022 partnered in the opening of Two Chefs Italian Restaurant & Bar, 317 West Boylston St., Worcester, former location of Wild Willy’s, Eddy’s Pub and Stuart’s Diner. He remains an active partner of Two Chefs. In 2023, Cardoso also announced restaurant plans for the ground level of the Union Station Garage on Franklin Street in Worcester. When asked about an update on the space, Cardoso said, “It’s still a possibility,” adding that for now he’s concentrating on getting Eddy’s Pub successfully off the ground.

Flores, executive chef at Eddy’s Pub, is familiar with the local restaurant scene, having cooked 12 years at VIA Italian Table and 10 years at Funky Murphys Bar & Grill, both in Worcester. He and Cardoso first met while working the back of the house at VIA. “We had often talked about opening a restaurant together,” said Flores.

It took about a year to open Eddy’s Pub & Sports Bar, with the owners investing heavily in commercial-grade kitchen equipment and necessary renovations, said Cardoso, who works the front of the house and helps in the kitchen if needed. His son, Gabriele Cardoso, is the pub’s GM.

Eddy’s Pub & Sports Bar kitchen hours are from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Sunday, Monday and Wednesday; 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Currently, closed Tuesday. The bar remains open after kitchen closes. Seating is 90 in dining and bar areas. Telephone: (508) 304-9888; Connect on social media. Note: The pub’s wooden bar with unique features was crafted by Cardoso. Check it out.

The pub menu features a mix of appetizers, salads, full meals, with comfort food staples like burgers and sandwiches, fish and chips and pasta and meatballs, chicken Parmesan and steak tips with truffle fries, alongside options, such as North Atlantic Salmon and Cajun Ribeye.

A favorite of Chef Flores is the Steak Bites App, pan seared steak and onions, served with yuca fries. Cardoso’s pick is the Beef Brisket Sandwich, slow roasted brisket, Swiss cheese, caramelized onions “smothered” with the pub’s homemade zesty ranch, served between a pressed focaccia bread. “Our customers love that sandwich,” said Cardoso. “It’s a popular choice in a short time.”

Sometime in April, owners said they will make a few changes to the current menu. “We want to add lunch specials and a couple new signature drinks and beers on tap,” said Cardoso. Rising food costs and consumers’ tastes and preferences constantly change, requiring restaurants to adapt menus, he said. Currently, the pub’s menu prices range from $8.99 to $24.99. Also, a few menu items echo those from Cardoso’s other restaurant, Two Chefs.

The owners look toward to a grand opening celebration of the pub before the end of April. “Probably, on a Tuesday,” they said.

“We’re extremely happy with this location,” added Cardoso. “There’s plenty of parking, especially after 5 p.m. when most retail businesses in the plaza close.” They also hinted at possible outdoor activities this summer.

Eddy’s Pub & Sports Bar is a welcoming go-to neighborhood pub, even if you’re not a passionate sports fan. After all, some customers are perfectly content with a casual vibe, paired with drinks and shareable plates.

If you have a tidbit for the column, call (508) 868-5282. Send email to [email protected].

The Worcester real estate market is off to a competitive start this year.

Worcester is tied with Norwich, Connecticut at the 4th hottest housing market in America, according to Realtor.com’s January 2025 report. The top of the list is dominated by New England metros with Manchester taking the top spot and Hartford, Connecticut in the No. 2 spot.

The hottest housing markets are determined by looking at demand versus inventory. The median list price in Worcester is $527,000.

What was the No. 1 hottest housing market?

Manchester, New Hampshire took the crown as the hottest housing market in America, according the report.

According to Realtor.com, Manchester’s proximity to Boston (55 miles away), good school system, and thriving local economy has long kept the city a buyer favorite. It was also the No. 1 in October in 2024 and Zillow named it the top housing market of 2024.

Buyers also flock to the Granite State for its lack of sales and income taxes.

New England cities dominate the top 10 list

In addition to Worcester and Manchester, four other cities in New England made the top 10 hottest markets list.

“The Midwest and Northeast have reigned supreme as homes to most of the country’s hottest markets since mid-2022, when mortgage rates picked up steam,” said Realtor.com®senior economic research analyst Hannah Jones.

In addition to Hartford and Norwich, Concord, NH was sixth, and Providence, RI was ninth.

Springfield, which had been the country’s hottest market in November of 2024, was No. 13 in January. Boston, which was not represented on December’s top 20 list, was the No. 15 hottest housing market in January.