Michael Caines

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Michael Andrew Caines, MBE (born 1969) is an English chef, born in Exeter, Devon.

He is currently head chef of Gidleigh Park in Devon, the Royal Clarence in Exeter, and developing the Abode hotels concept with Andrew Brownsword.

[edit] Biography

Born in Exeter in 1969, he was adopted into a family where his mother nurtured his love of cooking. He attended Exeter catering college, earning him the accolade ‘Student of the Year’ in 1987. He subsequently spent an influential three years under mentor Raymond Blanc at Le Manoir aux Quat' Saisons in Oxfordshire, before moving to France to learn under Bernard Loiseau in Saulieu and Joël Robuchon in Paris.

He became the Head Chef at Gidleigh Park in 1994, but only two weeks into the job suffered a car accident in which he lost his right arm. He was back in the kitchen part time two weeks later, and fulltime within a month.

In 1999, Gidleigh Park was awarded a second Michelin Star, and in 2001 Caines won Chef of the Year at The Catey Awards.

Michael Caines Restaurants Ltd was founded in 1999, and the Michael Caines Restaurant opened at the Bristol Marriott Royal in July 2003. However, meeting with Andrew Brownsword in early 2000 resulted in a partnership and the purchase of the Royal Clarence, Exeter in October 2000. Together, they have developed the Abode hotel concept.

In 2006, Caines and John Burton Race represented the Southwest of England in the BBC television series Great British Menu [1]. Caines beat the Dartmouth based chef to go on to the final round.

Caines was created a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) on 17 June 2006.