Casino News

Foxwoods marks 31 years

Ramsay's Hell's Kitchen to open this summer

Foxwoods President and CEO Jason Guyot announces the Gordon Ramsay partnership.

Foxwoods Resort Casino celebrated its 31st anniversary Friday with a quick speech or two, a cake cutting and giveaway, prayer, ceremonial drums, a blanket dance and the announcement that the resort's latest restaurant this summer would be a Hell's Kitchen by Gordon Ramsay.

A couple hundred people milled around a stage near the Rainmaker Expo Center to hear a quieter version of last year's 30th anniversary event (when the big news was that Great Wolf Lodge would be building a water park at the resort). In brief remarks, Rodney A. Butler, the Chairman of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation, referred to that project's groundbreaking recently as well as he additions of high-stakes bingo and the expo center.

Butler noted how the sprawling casino is an "economic driver in the region."

Foxwoods President and CEO Jason Guyot said the Mashantucket resort is already "much more than just a casino" and that officials are looking forward to Foxwoods becoming the "greatest integrated resort destination on the East Coast."

Celebrity chef Ramsay was seen in a brief video message in which he said he was excited to open the Foxwoods location. Unlike his TV show, Ramsay neglected to curse or yell at anyone. The graceful prayer of thanks and blessings for the casino resort was provided by Shirley Patrick (also known as Laughing Woman), who is an elder and spiritual leader of  Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation.  

Rodney Butler, tribal nation chairman, at the event.

The returning drum circle group Yootay Singers sang and banged a drum to herald the start of the proceedings and also provided backup for two young women who did a short blanket dance.                                                                                                    

In a release, Foxwoods said the Hell's Kitchen restaurant will be located in the Grand Pequot Concourse at the resort, which also has a restaurant by TV restaurateur Guy Fieri. The Ramsay eatery will seat nearly 260 guests, featuring a chef’s counter and 40-seat private dining room. It will be Ramsay’s sixth location of Hell's Kitchen.

The menu will feature signature classics from the show, says Foxwoods, including Beef Wellington and Sticky Toffee Pudding, as well as an extensive wine list, craft cocktails and beer list.

   Two young women do a blanket dance at the Friday announcement and    celebration.