Saffron (pronounced  /ˈsæfrɒn/) is a spice derived from the flower of Crocus sativus, commonly known as the saffron crocus. Crocus is a genus in the family Iridaceae. Each saffron crocus grows to 20–30 cm (8–12 in) and bears up to four flowers, each with three vivid crimson stigmas, which are each the distal end of a carpel. Together with the styles, or stalks that connect the stigmas to their host plant, the dried stigmas are used mainly in various cuisines as a seasoning and colouring agent. Saffron, long among the world's most costly spices by weight, is native to Southwest Asia and was first cultivated in Greece. As a genetically monomorphic clone, it was slowly propagated throughout much of Eurasia and was later brought to parts of North Africa, North America, and Oceania.

The saffron crocus, unknown in the wild, likely descends from Crocus cartwrightianus, which originated in Crete or Central Asia;C. thomasii and C. pallasii are other possible precursors. The saffron crocus is a triploid that is "self-incompatible" and male sterile; it undergoes aberrant meiosis and is hence incapable of independent sexual reproduction—all propagation is by vegetative multiplication via manual "divide-and-set" of a starter clone or by interspecific hybridisation. If C. sativus is a mutant form of C. cartwrightianus, then it may have emerged via plant breeding, which would have selected for elongated stigmas, in late Bronze-Age Crete.

Gordon James Ramsay, OBE (born 8 November 1966) is a British chef, television personality and restaurateur. He has been awarded 13 Michelin stars in total and currently holds 12.

Ramsay is known for presenting TV programmes about competitive cookery and food, such as the British series Hell's Kitchen, The F Word, Ramsay's Best Restaurant, and Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares, along with the American versions of Hell's Kitchen, Kitchen Nightmares, and MasterChef.

Gordon Ramsay was born in Johnstone, Renfrewshire, Scotland, and raised in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, England from the age of 5. Ramsay is the second of four children; he has an older sister, Diane, a younger brother, Ronnie, and a younger sister, Yvonne. Ramsay's father Gordon (died 1997) was, at various times, a swimming pool manager, a welder, and a shopkeeper; his mother, Helen Cosgrove, and Yvonne have been nurses. Ramsay has described his early life as "hopelessly itinerant", as his family moved constantly due to the aspirations and failures of his father, who was violent. In 1976, they finally settled in Stratford-upon-Avon where he grew up in the Bishopton area of the town. In past public interviews, Ramsay has declined to describe his father as an alcoholic; however, his autobiography, Humble Pie, describes his early life as being marked by abuse and neglect from this "hard-drinking womaniser". At the age of 16, Ramsay moved out of the family house into a flat in Banbury.

Saffron Domini Burrows (born 22 October 1972) is an English actress who has appeared in such films as In the Name of the Father (1994), Circle of Friends (1995), Deep Blue Sea (1999), Enigma (2001), Troy (2004), Reign Over Me (2007) and The Bank Job (2008), as well as starring as Lorraine Weller on Boston Legal (2007-2008), Dr. Norah Skinner on My Own Worst Enemy (2008) and Det. Serena Stevens on Law & Order: Criminal Intent.

Burrows was born in London, England, to a politically active family; both her parents are socialists. Her father is an architect and teacher; her mother, Susie, is a teacher and feminist. At 15, she was discovered by Beth Boldt, (Burrows stands at 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)), and began a successful modelling career.

Burrows made her film debut in Jim Sheridan's In the Name of the Father (1993). Her first significant acting role was as an ambitious Irish woman in Circle of Friends (1995) and Ngozi Onwurah’s Welcome II The Terrordome (1995). Following this, she starred opposite Albert Finney in Dennis Potter’s Karaoke for the BBC (1996). Subsequently, she appeared in Hotel de Love (1996), Lovelife (1997), Nevada (1997), One Night Stand (1997), and The Matchmaker (1997). She appeared in Mike Figgis’ experimental film The Loss of Sexual Innocence (1999), in which she played twins, one raised in England, the other in Italy. Burrows then appeared in the thriller Deep Blue Sea (1999), and played the title role in Miss Julie (1999). Miss Julie premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival.