Rick Stein
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Christopher Richard (Rick) Stein OBE (born January 4, 1947) is an English chef, restaurateur and television presenter.
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[edit] Biography
Born in Oxfordshire, Stein attended Uppingham School and read English at New College, Oxford. Tiring of life in the city, he moved to Padstow, Cornwall where he had spent many happy childhood holidays.
Stein opened his first business in Padstow in 1974, and now specialises in fish cookery. His business operates three restaurants, a bistro, a cafe, a seafood delicatessen, patisserie shop, a gift shop and a cookery school. His impact on the local economy of Padstow is such that it has been nicknamed "Padstein".
As well as running his business, Stein has become a popular television presenter on food, and was often accompanied by his Jack Russell Terrier, "Chalky" who died in January 2007[1]. Stein has written and presented a number of cookery series on BBC television including Rick Stein's Taste of the Sea, Fruits of the Sea, Seafood Odyssey, Fresh Food, Seafood Lovers' Guide, Food Heroes, and in 2005 French Odyssey where he undertakes a gastronomic tour across France by barge from Bordeaux to Marseille.
A book has accompanied each series, and his book English Seafood Cookery won the Glenfiddich Award for Food Book of the Year in 1989.
Stein was awarded the OBE in the 2003 New Year Honours list for services to tourism in Cornwall.
[edit] Personal life
Stein's father committed suicide in Cornwall in front of his sister, in sight of the family home. Stein participated in Stephen Fry's documentary on bipolar disorder, and gave a frank account of his own experiences with the condition. Stein's brother is Professor John Stein who teaches and researches medicine, and in particular dyslexia and neurophysiology, at Oxford University, where he is a fellow of Magdalen College, Oxford. Stein is also the uncle of Radio 1 and nightclub DJ Judge Jules.
Stein and his wife Jill jointly built up the food business which today is valued at £32 million, and employs 300 people in Padstow. In 2003 Stein left Jill for Australian PR girl Sarah Burns, who represents Stein's publishers. Jill was okay with the situation, but warned Stein that if he ever brought Burns into the restaurant that she would hit the PR girl. In summer 2006 Stein took Burns to his restaurant and Jill hit her with a turnip. In November 2006 the couple instructed the same legal team that dealt with the divorce of Prince Charles and Lady Diana as well as Sir Paul and Lady McCartney - Stein has hired Fiona Shackleton, while Jill has hired Anthony Julius to help carve up the £32million seafood business empire.[2]
Rick had a very famous dog named Chalky who was born in 1989 and died on the 13 January 2007.
[edit] Publications
- English Seafood Cookery, 1988 - (Glenfiddich Cook Book of the Year 1989)
- Beach to Belly, 1994 (foreward)
- Taste of the Sea, 1995 (André Simon Cook Book of the Year 1996)
- Good Food Award Best Cookery Book, 1995/1996
- Rick Stein Fish, 10 Recipes 1996
- Fruits of the Sea, 1997 (ISBN 0-563-38457-3)
- Rick Stein’s Seafood Odyssey, 1999 (ISBN 0-563-55186-0)
- Rick Stein’s Seafood Lovers’ Guide, 2000 (ISBN 0-563-48871-9)
- Rick Stein’s Seafood, 2001
- Gourmand World Cookbook Awards, 2001 - winner of category: Best Seafood and Fish in English & - winner of category: Best in the World Fish and Seafood (German translation – Gold medal - Gastronomische Akademie Deutschland 2003)
- My Favourite Seafood Recipes, 2002 (Marks and Spencers cookery book)
- Rick Stein’s Food Heroes, 2002 (Gourmand World Cookbook Awards 2002 - winner of category: Best Local Cookery Book - winner of category: Best Cookery Book of the Year in Great Britain)(Jacob’s Creek World Food Media Awards 2003 - Silver for best hard cover recipe book)
- Rick Stein’s Guide to the Food Heroes of Britain, 2003 (Gourmand World Cookbook Awards 2003 - winner of category: Best Guide)
- Rick Stein’s Food Heroes, Another Helping, 2004
- Rick Stein's Seafood - Complete Seafood - James Beard Foundation Award 2005 for Cook Book of the Year
- Rick Stein's Complete Seafood (ISBN 1-58008-568-7)
[edit] TV
- Floyd on Fish, BBC TV, 1985 (Steins first television appearance - Floyd called him Nick several times)
- Taste of the Sea, BBC TV, 1995 (Glenfiddich TV Programme of the Year Award), Good Food Award Television Cookery Programme of the Year)
- Fruits of the Sea, BBC TV, 1997 (Silver Medal World Food Media Awards Adelaide 1997)
- Rick Stein’s Seafood Odyssey, BBC TV, 1999 (Bronze Medal World Food Media Awards Adelaide 1999)
- Fresh Food, BBC TV, 1999
- Personal Passions, BBC TV 1999
- Food & Drink, BBC TV, 1999 (Gold Award for Best Television Food Segment Within a Show – World Food Media Awards Adelaide 1999)
- Rick Stein’s Seafood Lover’s Guide, BBC TV, 2000 (Glenfiddich TV Programme of the Year Award 2001)
- Jacob’s Creek World Food Media Awards – Silver for best Television Food Show
- Friends for Dinner, BBC TV, 2000
- Rick Stein on Fishing, Carlton TV, 2001
- Rick Stein’s Food Heroes, BBC TV, 2002 (Jacob’s Creek World Food Media Awards 2003 - Gold for best Television Food Show)
- Rick Stein’s Food Heroes, Another Helping, BBC TV October 2003, Series 2 BBC TV February 2004
- Rick Stein's French Odyssey, May 2005
- Betjeman and Me: Rick Stein's Story, August 2006
- Rick Stein and the Japanese Ambassador, BBC TV, 2006
[edit] Other Awards
Restaurant:
- RAC/Sunday Times Taste of Britain Best Restaurant Award 1984
- Decanter Magazine Restaurant of the Year 1989
- The Good Hotel Guide Cesar Award 1995
- Egon Ronay’s Restaurant of the Year 1996
- Hotel & Restaurant Magazine Seafood Restaurant of the Year 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001 & 2003
- AA Award – English Seafood Restaurant of the Year Award 2002
Rick:
- The Good Food Award Television and Radio Personality - 1995/1996
- The England for Excellence Awards – Outstanding Contribution to
- Tourism Award - 1988 – 1998
- Caterer & Hotelkeeper 1999 Chef Award – Chef of the Year
- AA Guide Chefs’ Chef of the Year 1999 – 2000
- Waterford Wedgwood Hospitality Award - 1999
- The Glenfiddich Trophy – 2001
- The Cornwall Tourist Award – A special award for outstanding services to Cornwall 2002
- O B E – New Year’s Honour 2003 For services to West Country Tourism
- CatererSearch 100 - Named 4th most influential chef in UK in 2005
[edit] Charity Work
Rick is Patron of the following charities:
- Padstow Youth Project
- South West PESCA (Duchy Fish Quota Co)
- The National Mission for Deep Sea Fishermen
- National Coastwatch Institution
[edit] References
- ^ BBC News website 16 January 2007 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/cornwall/6268025.stm
- ^ The Sun Newspaper 20 November 2006 http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-2006530895,00.html
