Marco Pierre White

Marco Pierre White is a British chef, restaurateur, and television personality. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential chefs in the world and has trained several high-profile chefs, including Gordon Ramsay and Mario Batali. White was the youngest chef ever to earn three Michelin stars, and has been awarded numerous other accolades throughout his career.

Early life and education

White was born on December 11, 1961 in Leeds, England. His mother died when he was six years old, and he was raised by his father, who was also a chef. White left school at 16 and began working in the kitchen of the Hotel St. George in Harrogate, North Yorkshire. He later moved to London, where he worked under the renowned chefs Pierre Koffmann and Raymond Blanc.

Career

In 1987, at the age of 26, White became head chef at Harvey's in London and earned his first Michelin star. He went on to become head chef at several other restaurants, including The Restaurant Marco Pierre White, which he opened in 1990. At the age of 33, he became the youngest chef ever to earn three Michelin stars, a feat that he achieved in 1994 at his restaurant, The Oak Room.

White retired from cooking in 1999, but continued to work as a restaurateur and television personality. He has owned and operated several restaurants, including The Yew Tree Inn in Highclere, Hampshire, and Frankie's Italian Bar and Grill in London. He has also published several cookbooks, including White Heat, which is widely regarded as one of the most influential cookbooks of the 20th century.

In addition to his work in the restaurant industry, White has appeared on several television shows, including Hell's Kitchen and MasterChef. He has also been the subject of several documentaries, including the 2008 film The Devil in the Kitchen.

Personal life

White has been married three times and has three children. His second wife, Lisa Butcher, is a former model and television presenter. White has been open about his struggles with alcoholism and has spoken publicly about his decision to quit drinking.

Legacy

White is widely regarded as one of the most influential chefs in the world and has had a significant impact on the restaurant industry. His emphasis on high-quality ingredients and simple, classic preparations has inspired a generation of chefs, including Gordon Ramsay, who has described White as his mentor and role model.

In addition to his impact on the culinary world, White has also been recognized for his philanthropic work. He has supported several charities, including the Make-A-Wish Foundation and the Prince's Trust, and has donated significant sums of money to various causes.

Awards and accolades

Three Michelin stars, The Oak Room (1994) Chef's Chef of the Year, AA Hospitality Awards (1996) Lifetime Achievement Award, Craft Guild of Chefs (2007) International Ambassador Award, Academy of Culinary Arts (2012)

Controversies

White has been involved in several controversies throughout his career. In 2007, he was criticized for refusing to allow Indian-born customer Sarah Pratley into his Yew Tree Inn pub, allegedly because of her ethnicity. White denied the accusation, and Pratley later dropped her complaint.

In 2018, White was criticized for comments he made in an interview with The Times, in which he referred to the Me Too movement as "a witch hunt". White later apologized for his remarks, stating that he had "no intention of causing offence".

In popular culture

White has been featured in several films and television shows, including the documentary The Devil in the Kitchen (2008) and the drama series The Tudors (2010). He has also appeared as a judge on the reality television show MasterChef and its spin-offs.

Selected bibliography

• White Heat (1990)
• Canteen Cuisine (1991)
• Wild Food from Land and Sea (1999)
• The Devil in the Kitchen (2008)
• Essentially Marco (2010)

See also

• List of chefs

External links

• Official website of Marco Pierre White
• Marco Pierre White on IMDb