Famous British Food Experts

Find out more about the greatest British Food Experts, including Gordon Ramsay, Marco Pierre White, Jamie Oliver, Ainsley Harriott and Heston Blumenthal.
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 1 
Jamie Oliver
(British Restaurateur and Cookbook Author)
Jamie Oliver
29
Birthdate: May 27, 1975
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Clavering, Essex Clavering, Essex, England

Jamie Oliver is an English restaurateur and chef who gained international recognition after appearing on popular TV shows, such as Jamie's Kitchen and The Naked Chef. In 2005, his Feed Me Better campaign helped introduce several children to healthier foods. He also established a charity restaurant called Fifteen, which employs disadvantaged young people.

 2 
Marco Pierre White
(British Chef, Restaurateur and Television Personality)
Marco Pierre White
18
Birthdate: December 11, 1961
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Leeds, England
Marco Pierre White is known as the world’s first celebrity chef and became the youngest and the first British chef to win three Michelin stars. He has trained chefs Gordon Ramsay and Mario Batali, and has appeared on culinary shows such as Hell's Kitchen and Marco Pierre White's Kitchen Wars.
 3 
Mary Berry
(English Food Writer, Chef and Television Presenter)
Mary Berry
3
Birthdate: March 24, 1935
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Bath, Somerset, England

Author of over 75 cookbooks, Mary Berry has also hosted several culinary shows, such as Mary Berry Cooks. The Guardian ranked her the second-best-dressed person over 50. A CBE and DBE recipient, she has also received the Guild of Food Writers Lifetime Achievement Award and an honorary degree.

 4 
Paul Hollywood
(Celebrity Chef and Television Presenter, Widely Known as a Judge on 'The Great British Bake Off')
Paul Hollywood
23
Birthdate: March 1, 1966
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Wallasey, Cheshire, England

Paul Hollywood is an English television presenter and celebrity chef. Since 2010, he has been appearing as a judge on the popular television baking competition, The Great British Bake Off. Paul Hollywood is also a motor racer. He has competed in several tournaments, such as GT Cup. In 2017, he took part in a race at Circuit of the Americas.

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 5 
Robert Irvine
(Celebrity Chef and Talk Show Host)
Robert Irvine
11
Birthdate: September 24, 1965
Sun Sign: Libra
Birthplace: Wiltshire, England, United Kingdom
English celebrity chef, Robert Irvine, is also a talk show host and currently operates two restaurants: one in Las Vegas and other in The Pentagon. He has also hosted a variety of programs including Dinner: Impossible, Worst Cooks in America, Restaurant: Impossible, A Hero's Welcome. Robert Irvine is the recipient of several civilian honors for his charitable work and service on numerous USO tours.
 6 
Heston Blumenthal
(British Celebrity Chef, TV Personality and Food Writer)
Heston Blumenthal
15
Birthdate: May 27, 1966
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Shepherd's Bush, London, England

Heston Blumenthal is a British celebrity chef whose unusual recipes, such as Scotch eggs and triple-cooked chips have been widely imitated. He is considered a pioneer of multi-sensory cooking and his scientific approach to cooking has earned him honorary degrees from several universities. In 2004, he won the prestigious Chef Award, joining the likes of Phil Howard and Gordon Ramsay.

 7 
Tana Ramsay
(English TV Broadcaster and Author of Cookery Books)
Tana Ramsay
3
Birthdate: December 11, 1974
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Croydon, London, England

Tana Ramsay is an English author famous for writing many cookbooks. The wife of popular chef Gordon Ramsay, Tana has appeared on several cooking shows, including the American version of MasterChef. A multi-talented personality, Tana Ramsay has also competed in a British reality television series called Dancing on Ice, where she was eliminated in the fourth week.

 8 
Prue Leith
(British-South African Restaurateur, Chef, Television Presenter, Journalist, Cookery Writer)
Prue Leith
16
Birthdate: February 18, 1940
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: South Africa

British-South African chef and culinary expert Prue Leith had begun her career with a lunch-supplying business. She later launched her Michelin-starred restaurant Leith's in Notting Hill and a culinary school. Best known as a judge on The Great British Menu, she is also associated with various charitable initiatives.

 9 
Ainsley Harriott
(English Chef and Television Presenter)
Ainsley Harriott
10
Birthdate: February 28, 1957
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Paddington, London, England

Ainsley Harriott is an English television presenter, chef, and entertainer. He is known for presenting popular cooking shows, such as Ready Steady Cook and Can't Cook, Won't Cook. A multi-talented personality, Ainsley Harriott is also a best-selling author whose books have sold more than two million copies worldwide.  He is also known for his singing and comedy skills.

 10 
Rick Stein
(English Celebrity Chef, Restaurateur and Television Presenter)
Rick Stein
12
Birthdate: June 30, 1947
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Churchill, Oxfordshire, England

Celebrity chef Rick Stein has managed the U.K.’s Stein Hotel and Restaurant with his first wife, Jill Stein. He later became the head chef and co-owner of Rick Stein at Bannisters in Australia, with his second wife, Sarah. He has authored cookbooks and presented culinary shows such as Seafood Odyssey.

 11 
Lisa Faulkner
(Actress, Presenter and Celebrity Chef)
Lisa Faulkner
8
Birthdate: February 19, 1972
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Merton, London, England

Named to the FHM 100 Sexiest Women in the World six times, actor Lisa Faulkner is best known for her roles in series such as Murder in Suburbia and EastEnders. She has also taught at a theater school and is a talented chef, having won Celebrity Masterchef and co-hosted other cookery shows.

 12 
Rachel Khoo
(British Cook, Author and Broadcaster)
Rachel Khoo
7
Birthdate: August 28, 1980
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Croydon, South London, England

Renowned British cook Rachel Khoo was born to a Malaysian Chinese father and an Austrian mother. Trained at the Le Cordon Bleu in Paris, she started her own restaurant at her small Belleville apartment. She later gained fame for her cookbook and her BBC series named The Little Paris Kitchen.

 13 
James Martin
(British Chef and Television Presenter Best Known for His Television Work with the BBC and ITV)
James Martin
8
Birthdate: June 30, 1972
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Malton, North Riding of Yorkshire, England

British chef James Martin initially gained fame with shows such as Ready Steady Cook and later hosted Saturday Kitchen for a decade. Apart from launching several restaurants, including a Michelin-starred one, he has also written food columns. He is an avid racing enthusiast and teaches at a cookery school, too.

 14 
Gordon Ramsay
(One of the Most Influential Chefs)
Gordon Ramsay
759
Birthdate: November 8, 1966
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: Johnstone, Renfrewshire, Scotland

A celebrated chef and restaurateur, British national Gordon Ramsay is also a writer and television personality. His TV shows about competitive cookery and food is quite popular. The Restaurant Gordon Ramsay, in Chelsea, is his signature restaurant. Known for his bluntness, short temper and strict manner, Ramsay has historically expressed a dislike for vegetarianism and veganism.

 15 
John Torode
(Australian-British Celebrity Chef and TV Presenter Known for His Show ‘MasterChef’ on BBC One)
John Torode
9
Birthdate: July 23, 1965
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Melbourne, Australia
Australian celebrity chef and restaurateur John Torode initially worked at the U.K.-based Conran Group's restaurants. He is also known for his appearances on shows such as This Morning and the revival of MasterChef in 2005. He owned the Luxe and Smiths of Smithfield and has also authored several cookbooks.
 16 
Jade Jones
(British R&B Singer and Chef)
Jade Jones
3
Birthdate: February 12, 1979
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: London, England
 17 
Gary Rhodes
(English Restaurateur and Television Chef)
Gary Rhodes
6
Birthdate: April 22, 1960
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: London, United Kingdom
Died: November 26, 2019

Best known for his appearances on shows such as MasterChef and Hell's Kitchen, Gary Rhodes later also launched his own series, Rhodes Around Britain. He owned several restaurants in the UK and the Middle East. The celebrity chef shocked everyone with his untimely death at age 59 due to brain hemorrhage.

 18 
Lorraine Pascale
(Celebrity Cook Known for Her Appearances in TV Shows: 'Baking Made Easy' and 'Home Cooking Made Easy')
Lorraine Pascale
7
Birthdate: November 17, 1972
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: London, England
British chef Lorraine Pascale has her TV shows in 70 countries worldwide and has sold one million books in UK. A highly successful fashion model in 1990s, Pascale is also the United Kingdom government Fostering and Adoption Ambassador. She was the first British Black model on the cover of American Elle and fronted campaigns for brands like Versace and Gap.
 19 
Gary Mehigan
(Chef, Restaurateur)
Gary Mehigan
6
Birthdate: February 12, 1967
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Hayling Island, Hampshire, England

Born in England, Gary Mehigan, celebrated chef and restaurateur, received his initial training in prominent London hotels before moving to Melbourne, Australia. After heading several well-known restaurants there, he opened his own establishment and currently co-owns The Boathouse, located in Moonee Ponds. Concurrently, he can also be seen on televisions productions like MasterChef Australia and Far Flung with Gary Mehigan.

 20 
Delia Smith
(English Cook and Television Presenter Known for Teaching Basic Cookery Skills in a No-Nonsense Style)
Delia Smith
6
Birthdate: June 18, 1941
Sun Sign: Gemini
Birthplace: Woking, Surrey, England

Delia Smith is an English TV presenter and cook best known for teaching the basic skills involved in cooking through her books and TV shows. One of the most popular celebrity chefs in England, Smith is widely regarded as an influential personality in the culinary world. She has also contributed as a columnist for major publications like the Evening Standard.

 21 
Nadiya Hussain
(British Celebrity Chef and Winner of the Sixth Season of 'The Great British Bake Off')
Nadiya Hussain
18
Birthdate: December 25, 1984
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Luton, Bedfordshire, England

Nadiya Hussain is a British TV chef, television presenter, and author. She is best known for winning the sixth series of The Great British Bake Off. Over the years Nadiya Hussain has become a household name in the UK by hosting shows like Nadiya's Family Favourites. In 2017, she was mentioned in Debrett's' 500 most influential people in the UK list.

 22 
Gino D'Acampo
(Chef)
Gino D'Acampo
1
Birthdate: July 17, 1976
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Torre del Greco, Italy
 23 
Fanny Cradock
(English Restaurant Critic, Television Chef and Writer)
Fanny Cradock
2
Birthdate: February 26, 1909
Sun Sign: Pisces
Birthplace: Leytonstone, Essex, England
Died: December 27, 1994

Famous for dressing up in ballgowns and wearing heavy make-up while cooking up exotic dishes, celebrity chef Fanny Cradock initially co-wrote cookbooks and food columns with her husband Johnnie Cradock. She had married four times, and had committed bigamy twice. She was known for her signature husky voice and dramatic style.

 24 
Yotam Ottolenghi
(British Chef, restaurateur, and Food Writer)
Yotam Ottolenghi
1
Birthdate: December 14, 1968
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Jerusalem, Israel
 25 
Clarissa Dickson Wright
(Celebrity Cook Who Along with Jennifer Paterson was Known as One of the 'Two Fat Ladies')
Clarissa Dickson Wright
5
Birthdate: June 24, 1947
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: St John's Wood, London, England
Died: March 15, 2014

Clarissa Dickson Wright was an English TV personality, celebrity cook, businesswoman, writer, and former barrister. Best remembered for appearing in the popular TV cooking program, Two Fat Ladies, along with Jennifer Paterson, Dickson Wright went on to become an important name in the culinary world. She also published several books and audio books pertaining to cooking.

 26 
Levi Roots
(Chef, Actor)
Levi Roots
6
Birthdate: June 24, 1958
Sun Sign: Cancer
Birthplace: Clarendon Parish
British-Jamaican reggae legend Levi Roots went from selling homemade barbecue sauce at the Notting Hill Carnival to appearing on the UK TV show Dragons' Den, where he secured a huge investment for his Reggae Reggae Sauce. He has also penned a cookbook and launched a Caribbean cookery show.
 27 
Charles Joughin
(Chef)
Charles Joughin
4
Birthdate: August 3, 1878
Sun Sign: Leo
Birthplace: Birkenhead, England
Died: December 9, 1956
English-American chef, Charles Joughin, was the chief baker aboard the RMS Titanic. A survivor of the disaster, he was depicted in two major films about the Titanic. He was also on board the SS Oregon when it sank and served on ships operated by the American Export Lines, as well as on World War II troop transports.
 28 
Keith Floyd
(British Celebrity Cook, Restaurateur and Television Personality)
Keith Floyd
7
Birthdate: December 28, 1943
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Sulhamstead, Berkshire, England
Died: September 14, 2009

Celebrity chef Keith Floyd was known for his signature style of presenting, his impeccable dress sense, and his love for red wine. After quitting his initial military career, he took up petty jobs in bars and restaurants, and eventually made it big as a chef on BBC cookery shows.

 29 
Jennifer Paterson
(Celebrity Cook Known for Her Liberal Use of Butter and Cream & The Show 'Two Fat Ladies')
Jennifer Paterson
2
Birthdate: April 3, 1928
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Kensington, London, England
Died: August 10, 1999

Jennifer Paterson was a British celebrity cook, television personality, actress, and author. She is best remembered for hosting the popular TV show Two Fat Ladies along with Clarissa Dickson Wright. She also contributed as a columnist for magazines like The Oldie and The Spectator.

 30 
Gennaro Contaldo
(Chef)
Gennaro Contaldo
1
Birthdate: January 21, 1949
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Minori, Italy
 31 
Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall
(English Celebrity Chef and Television Personality)
Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall
6
Birthdate: January 14, 1965
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Hampstead, London, England

Best known for hosting the River Cottage television series, Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall is a well-known television personality, journalist, writer and chef. At first, he mulled about a career in wildlife conservation; but later switched to cooking, beginning his career as sous-chef de cuisine. Eventually he expanded his area of operation, hosting television productions, writing books, campaigning on food and environmental issues.

 32 
Phil Vickery
(English Celebrity Chef Best Known for Working on ITV's 'This Morning')
Phil Vickery
3
Birthdate: May 2, 1961
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Folkestone, Kent, England

Phil Vickery is an English celebrity chef best known for his association with This Morning in which he has been appearing as part of the show's This Morning Cook In segment since 2006. He is also known for appearing in Ready Steady Cook where he is called Phil Victory for having a high win record in the cooking game show.

 33 
Simon Rimmer
(English Celebrity Chef Best Known for His On-Screen Partnership with 'Tim Lovejoy')
Simon Rimmer
4
Birthdate: May 5, 1963
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Wallasey, England

Simon Rimmer is an English celebrity chef and TV presenter best known for co-presenting the popular TV program Something for the Weekend along with Timothy Paul Lovejoy. Simon Rimmer has also appeared on other popular shows, such as This Morning and The Gadget Show.

 34 
Kim-Joy
(Chef as Runners-up on the 2018 Season of The Great British Bake Off)
Kim-Joy
1
Birthdate: May 17, 1991
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Belgium
 35 
Thomasina Miers
(English Cook, Writer, Television Presenter and the Co-founder of the Wahaca Chain of Mexican Street Food Restaurants)
Thomasina Miers
1
Birthdate: February 5, 1976
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England
English cook, Thomasina Miers, is the co-founder of Wahaca chain of Mexican street food restaurants. Also a writer and presenter, Miers has written books including Cook: Smart Seasonal Recipes for Hungry People, The Wild Gourmets: Adventures in Food and Freedom, with Guy Grieve, and Mexican Food Made Simple. In 2019, she became Officer of the Order of the British Empire. 
 36 
Jason Atherton
(English Chef and Restaurateur)
Jason Atherton
3
Birthdate: September 6, 1971
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Worksop, Nottinghamshire, England

Jason Atherton is an English restaurateur and chef whose restaurant Pollen Street Social, which is located in London, England, earned a Michelin Star in its opening year. Atherton has also served as the executive chef at Chef Gordon Ramsay's popular restaurant Maze. Over the years Jason Atherton has won several prestigious awards like Arena Magazine's Man of the Year.

 37 
Elizabeth David
(British Cookbook Author)
Elizabeth David
1
Birthdate: December 26, 1913
Sun Sign: Capricorn
Birthplace: Folkington
Died: May 22, 1992

Elizabeth David was a British cookery writer who strongly influenced the resuscitation of home cookery with books and articles about traditional British dishes and European cuisines. She is credited with authoring the influential cookery book, A Book of Mediterranean Food. Her works have influenced several prominent chefs like Jamie Oliver, Rick Stein, Tom Parker Bowles, Prue Leith, and Terence Conran.

 38 
Brian Turner
(British Chef and TV Personality)
Brian Turner
3
Birthdate: May 7, 1946
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Halifax, West Yorkshire, England

British chef Brian Turner was a regular on the BBC2 show Ready Steady Cook and on Saturday Kitchen. He has served celebrities such as Frank Sinatra and Elizabeth Taylor. A lover of French cuisine and red wine, he earned his first Michelin star while working at the Capital Hotel.

 39 
Antony Worrall Thompson
(English Restaurateur, Celebrity Chef and Television Presenter)
Antony Worrall Thompson
5
Birthdate: May 1, 1951
Sun Sign: Taurus
Birthplace: Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, England

Celebrity chef and cookbook author Antony Worrall Thompson initially took up a catering job in Essex, and then rose to become a head chef. He later launched several restaurants,including Ménage à Trois, which was Princess Diana’s favorite restaurant. He has also appeared on shows such as Food and Drink.

 40 
Tom Aikens
(Michelin-starred chef)
Tom Aikens
3
Birthdate: 1970 AD
Birthplace: Norwich, England,United Kingdom

Tom Aikens is an English chef who helped French restaurant Pied à Terre earn two Michelin stars in 1997. He became the youngest chef to earn Michelin stars since 1990 when Harveys earned the stars under Marco Pierre White. In 2003, Tom Aikens opened his eponymous restaurant which earned two Michelin stars by 2008. However, the restaurant was closed in 2014.

 41 
Ching He Huang
(British Food Writer and TV Chef)
Ching He Huang
2
Birthdate: April 8, 1978
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Tainan, Taiwan
Taiwanese-born food writer and TV chef, Ching-He Huang, is recognized as a foodie entrepreneur across the world. Author of nine best-selling cookbooks, Ching has also appeared in a variety of television cooking programs. Ching has been at the cutting edge of Chinese food for over a decade and is known for promoting simple Chinese cookery through her shows.
 42 
Matilda Ramsay
(Gordon Ramsay's Daughter)
Matilda Ramsay
0
Birthdate: November 15, 2001
Sun Sign: Scorpio
Birthplace: London, England

Matilda “Tilly” Ramsay, better known as celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay’s youngest daughter, has also gained fame with her own CBBC cookery and lifestyle show, Matilda and the Ramsay Bunch. The Children’s BAFTA-nominated culinary expert has also penned a cookbook and is a fairly well-known social-media influencer.

 43 
Rose Gray
(British Chef and Founder of the 'River Café')
Rose Gray
3
Birthdate: January 28, 1939
Sun Sign: Aquarius
Birthplace: Bedford, England
Died: February 28, 2010

Chef and cookbook author Rose Gray is best known for co-founding the Michelin-starred The River Café in London, with Ruth Rogers, her long-time collaborator, and for her series The Italian Kitchen. Before starting her cooking venture, she taught fine arts at a school. She had also opened a furniture business.

 44 
Isaac Carew
(British Chef and Model)
Isaac Carew
6
Birthdate: March 24, 1986
Sun Sign: Aries
Birthplace: Hackney, London

Better known as singer Dua Lipa’s former boyfriend, Isaac Carew is a chef-turned-model who is known for his website The Dirty Dishes. He initially helped his father in kitchens and later joined a culinary school. Spotted by an agent outside Selfridges, he later modeled for brands such as Moschino and Valentino.

 45 
Raissa Ramos Ribeiro
(Chef Who Competed on MasterChef Professionals 2017)
Raissa Ramos Ribeiro
1
Birthdate: September 12, 1995
Sun Sign: Virgo
Birthplace: Brazil
 46 
Chetna Makan
(Chef Who Competed on the 5th Season of The Great British Bake Off)
Chetna Makan
1
Birthdate: December 18, 1979
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Jabalpur, India
 47 
cherish Finden
(Pastry Chef)
cherish Finden
1
Birthdate: December 20, 0000
Sun Sign: Sagittarius
Birthplace: Singapore