Marcus Wareing facts for kids
Wareing in 2018
|
|
| Born | 29 June 1970 Southport, Lancashire, England |
|---|---|
| Cooking style | European cuisine |
| Education | City & Guilds in Catering |
|
Rating(s)
|
|
|
Previous restaurant(s)
Marcus
 The Gilbert Scott Tredwells L’Oranger Pétrus Grill Room at the Savoy Hotel Banquette La Fleur |
|
|
Television show(s)
Great British Menu
Boiling Point Masterchef: The Professionals Chef vs Science: The Ultimate Kitchen Challenge Marcus Wareing's Tales from a Kitchen Garden |
|
|
Award(s) won
Restaurant Association's Young Chef of the Year 1995
The Catey Awards Chef of the Year 2003 Tatler Restaurateur of the Year 2004 GQ Chef of the Year 2009 |
|
| Official website | |
| Marcus Wareing Restaurants | |
| Signature | |
 |
|
Marcus Wareing (born 29 June 1970) is a famous English chef. He used to own the one-Michelin-starred restaurant called Marcus, which closed in December 2023. Since 2014, Marcus has been a judge on the popular TV show MasterChef: The Professionals.
Contents
Early Life and First Steps in Cooking
Marcus Wareing was born in Southport, Lancashire, in 1970. His dad was a merchant who sold fruits and potatoes to schools.
When Marcus was 11, he started helping his dad. He would pack potatoes and ride along during deliveries. He earned 10p for every 5-pound bag of potatoes he packed! This money went straight into his savings account. Later, his dad's business faced challenges because schools started using frozen food instead of fresh produce. Marcus says his dad's hard work taught him a lot about being dedicated.
At Stanley High School, Marcus discovered he was really good at cooking. He then went to Southport College and took a three-year course in catering. This is where he learned many important cooking skills.
Building a Chef's Career
Marcus Wareing started his professional cooking journey at the Savoy Hotel in 1988, when he was 18. He worked there as a junior chef. In 1993, he joined Albert Roux at the famous Michelin starred restaurant Le Gavroche. This is where he first met another well-known chef, Gordon Ramsay.
After working in places like New York City and Amsterdam, Marcus joined Gordon Ramsay's restaurant, Aubergine, when it opened in 1993. He became the second-in-command chef there. He worked with Ramsay for 15 years and was often called Ramsay's top student. In 1995, while at Aubergine, Marcus was named Young Chef of the Year.
Marcus says Gordon Ramsay taught him how to cook, calling it "the most important time in my life." In 1995, Marcus spent a year working with other famous chefs in America and France. When he came back to the UK, he became a head chef for the first time at a new restaurant called L’Oranger. At just 25 years old, he earned his first Michelin star there.
Opening His Own Restaurants
After some changes, Marcus and Gordon Ramsay worked together to open Pétrus in 1999. Marcus was the head chef. Pétrus quickly earned a Michelin star just seven months after opening.
In 2003, Pétrus moved to the Berkeley Hotel. In the same year, Marcus became the main chef at the Grill Room in the Savoy Hotel. He was also named Chef of the Year. At the Savoy, Marcus chose to serve British food, which the Grill Room was known for. Pétrus later earned two Michelin stars and five AA Rosettes. The Savoy Grill also got its first Michelin star in 2004.
Marcus also opened other places, like an American-style diner called Banquette. He was voted Restaurateur of the Year in 2004. In 2007, Pétrus received its second Michelin star, showing how successful it was.
In 2008, Marcus decided to open his very own restaurant, separate from Gordon Ramsay's company. He wanted to create his own path. This led to him opening Marcus Wareing at The Berkeley. This new restaurant quickly won awards, including Best Restaurant in London and a Michelin star in 2009. It was also named Time Out's restaurant of the year in 2010.
After this success, Marcus Wareing Restaurants was started. In 2011, Marcus opened his second restaurant, The Gilbert Scott, inside the beautiful St. Pancras Renaissance Hotel. He believes in using high-quality, seasonal British food from small local suppliers.
In 2014, his main restaurant, Marcus Wareing at The Berkeley, was updated and renamed Marcus. He also opened Tredwells in London. In 2020, Tredwells became fully owned by his colleague, Chantelle Nicholson. In 2021, The Gilbert Scott closed after a successful 10 years. In September 2023, Marcus announced that his Michelin-starred restaurant Marcus would close permanently at the end of the year. He plans to open a new restaurant in a different place soon.
Marcus on Television
Marcus Wareing first appeared on TV in 1999 in a documentary series called Boiling Point. This show followed him during his time as Gordon Ramsay's second-in-command chef. A follow-up show in 2000, Beyond Boiling Point, showed his move to Pétrus and when he earned his first Michelin star.
In 2003, Marcus was one of 13 chefs chosen to recreate Leonardo da Vinci's famous painting, The Last Supper. He was photographed throwing a brie cheese in the air!
In 2006, Marcus represented the North of England in the BBC show Great British Menu. He won his regional heat and went to the final. The public chose his dessert, an egg custard tart with Garibaldi biscuits, to be served at Queen Elizabeth II's 80th birthday party.
Marcus has continued to be a judge on Great British Menu. He has also appeared on MasterChef, MasterChef: The Professionals, and Celebrity MasterChef. Since 2014, he has been a main judge on MasterChef: The Professionals, helping to find the best new chefs.
Cookbooks and Other Projects
Marcus Wareing has written nine cookbooks. Some of his popular books include Marcus at Home (2016), New Classics (2017), Marcus Everyday (2019), and Marcus' Kitchen (2021).
In 2021, Marcus started a cooking training program called "Forward with Marcus Wareing" for young chefs.
In 2022, a TV show called Marcus Wareing's Tales from a Kitchen Garden aired on BBC Two. It showed Marcus at his small farm in East Sussex, where he visited British farmers and gardeners. A second series of the show aired in 2023.
In December 2023, a special Christmas cooking series called Marcus Wareing At Christmas was shown on Food Network. In May 2024, his new show Marcus Wareing Simply Provence aired on BBC2.
Personal Life
Marcus Wareing is married to Jane, and they have three children: Jake, Archie, and Jessie. He met Jane when they both worked at Gravetye Manor. Marcus was the second chef, and Jane worked at the reception desk. Gordon Ramsay was the best man at their wedding in 2000 and is the godfather to their oldest son, Jake.
Marcus has also helped raise money for charities like Action Against Hunger. He even took part in a charity boxing event, as he used to be an amateur boxer when he was younger. He also supports campaigns for sustainable fishing.
Published Works
- Marcus at Home (2016)
- New Classics (2017)
- Marcus Everyday (2019)
- Marcus' Kitchen (2021)
