Rick Stein is one of England's most recognisable chefs, a restaurateur
and a hugely popular television presenter. As a chef his speciality is
seafood, but with his series Food Heroes, Rick has shown that he's
equally passionate about the best of British produce whatever its
provenance. In his most recent series French Odyssey, he also revealed
a passion for the French way of life, and the way that food is
intimately tied up with the culture.
He was born in Oxfordshire to Eric and Dorothy Stein, who were of
German descent. He later moved to Padstow, Cornwall where he spent many
childhood holidays.
He graduated from Oxford University with a degree in English. He then
spent several years running a disco before buying an ailing local
nightclub in Padstow--a venture which would seem a million miles away
from cooking. However, when Rick opened his first restaurant it
specialised in freshly caught local produce, supplied by the fishermen
who had once frequented his club.
He has run the Seafood Restaurant for more than 25 years, seeing it
grow from a seaside bistro to an award-winning restaurant with an
international reputation. Since those early days, the Steins have added
guest bedrooms, a Seafood Delicatessen, a gift shop and two smaller
restaurants - St Petroc's Bistro and Rick Stein's Café. The most recent
addition is the Padstow Seafood School overlooking the Camel estuary
and a fish and chips takeaway.
He is respected by both his peers and critics alike winning a number of
awards and honours, including the Glenfiddich Trophy for his
outstanding contribution to widening the understanding and appreciation
of excellent food and drink in Britain through his work as a chef,
teacher, presenter and author. He has also won the AA Guide Chefs' Chef
of the Year for 1999-2000.
His many TV programmes and books include Rick Stein's Taste of the Sea,
Fruits of the Sea, Seafood Odyssey, Fresh Food, Seafood Lovers' Guide,
Food Heroes, French Odyssey and Mediterranean Escapes.
A committed humanitarian, Rick is also Patron of the charities Padstow
Youth Project, South West PESCA (Duchy Fish Quota Co.), the National
Mission for Deep Sea Fishermen, the National Coastwatch Institution,
the Dyslexia Research Trust and The National Trust.
He is also the head chef and co-owner of "Rick Stein at Bannisters" at
Mollymook, New South Wales, Australia, owns four restaurants in
Padstow, and a fish and chip shop in Falmouth, Cornwall. He is
represented in London, England by Useful Talent.
