CELEBRITY chef Gordon Ramsay gave a budding Italian restaurateur top tips on how to avoid turning her dream into a 'kitchen nightmare'!

Exuberant Karen Gilmour bluffed her way into a VIP food and drink forum in London and caught his attention.

"He was absolutely brilliant," said Karen, 41, of Highfield Road, Widnes, determined to turn a dilapidated off licence in Widnes Road into an upmarket trattoria.

She has never run a restaurant - her only catering experience is working on a butty van!

"The first thing he said was: "Are you mad?"

"When I told him I was a grafter and he could see I was determined, he was superb. He totally turned round the way we had been thinking."

Her rollercoaster ride to opening day is being filmed by Channel 4's Risking It All.

It's a huge gamble for Karen, her partner, Marcus Johnstone, 41 and their six children.

They've re-mortgaged their home, taken out personal loans, credit cards and sold two cars to fund their dream.

"Gordon told us the most important person we have to think about is the customer," said Karen.

"He is so passionate, he gave us fantastic advice and even asked us to tell him how we get on."

In just six weeks, Karen plans to serve first class Italian cuisine to customers.

"Once we've opened and everything settles down, you never know, Gordon might just pay us a visit!"