Marcus Wareing facts for kids
Wareing in 2018
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| Born | 29 June 1970 Southport, Lancashire, England |
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| Cooking style | European cuisine |
| Education | City & Guilds in Catering |
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Rating(s)
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Previous restaurant(s)
Marcus
 The Gilbert Scott Tredwells L’Oranger Pétrus Grill Room at the Savoy Hotel Banquette La Fleur |
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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 |
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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 |
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| Official website | |
| Marcus Wareing Restaurants | |
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Marcus Wareing (born 29 June 1970) is a famous English chef. He used to own a restaurant called Marcus, which had one Michelin star, but it closed in December 2023. Since 2014, Marcus Wareing has been a judge on the popular TV show MasterChef: The Professionals.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Marcus Wareing was born in Southport, Lancashire, England, in 1970. His dad worked as a merchant, selling fruits and potatoes to schools.
When Marcus was 11, he started helping his dad. He would pack potatoes and go along on deliveries. He earned 10p for every 5-pound bag of potatoes he packed. He saved all his money in a Post Office account. Later, his dad's business closed because schools started using frozen food instead of fresh produce. Marcus says his dad's hard work inspired him.
At Stanley High School, Marcus discovered he was naturally good at cooking. After school, he went to Southport College. There, he studied catering for three years, earning a City & Guilds qualification.
Culinary Career
Marcus Wareing began his cooking career at the Savoy Hotel in 1988 when he was 18. He worked as a commis chef, which is a junior chef. In 1993, he moved to Le Gavroche, a restaurant with a Michelin star, where he first met chef Gordon Ramsay.
After working in New York City, Amsterdam, and at Gravetye Manor in Sussex, Marcus joined Gordon Ramsay's restaurant, Aubergine, when it opened in 1993. He became the sous chef, working closely with Ramsay for the next 15 years. People often called him Ramsay's "protégé," meaning a talented person taught by an experienced one. In 1995, while at Aubergine, Marcus was named Young Chef of the Year.
Marcus has said that Gordon Ramsay taught him how to cook, calling it "the most important time in my life." In 1995, Marcus left Aubergine for a year to learn from other famous chefs in America and France. When he returned 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 Pétrus and Other Restaurants
Marcus Wareing and Gordon Ramsay later opened a restaurant together called Pétrus in 1999. Marcus was the head chef. The restaurant quickly earned a Michelin star within seven months.
In 2003, Pétrus moved to Berkeley Hotel. That same year, Marcus also became the Chef Patron of the Grill Room at the Savoy Hotel. He was named Chef of the Year by the Catey Awards. The Savoy Grill earned its first Michelin star in 2004 under his leadership. Pétrus eventually received two Michelin stars and five AA Rosettes, which are high awards for restaurants.
Marcus also opened an American-style diner called Banquette at The Savoy. He was voted Restaurateur of the Year in 2004. In 2007, Pétrus received its second Michelin star.
Starting His Own Restaurant Group
In 2008, Marcus Wareing decided to open his own restaurant without Gordon Ramsay. This led to a public disagreement between the two chefs. Marcus wanted to create his own path. He opened his restaurant, Marcus Wareing at The Berkeley, which later became simply Marcus.
His new restaurant quickly won awards, including Best Restaurant in London in 2008 and 2009. It also earned a Michelin star in 2009 and was named Time Out's restaurant of the year in 2010.
After opening Marcus Wareing at The Berkeley, he founded Marcus Wareing Restaurants. In 2009, GQ magazine named him Chef of the Year. In 2011, he opened his second restaurant, The Gilbert Scott, inside the St. Pancras Renaissance Hotel. Marcus believes in using high-quality, seasonal British food from small suppliers.
In 2014, his main restaurant at the Berkeley Hotel was refurbished and renamed Marcus. He also opened Tredwells in London. Tredwells later became fully owned by Chantelle Nicholson, who had been its Chef Patron. In 2021, The Gilbert Scott restaurant closed after a successful 10 years. In September 2023, Marcus Wareing announced that his Michelin-starred restaurant Marcus would close permanently in December 2023. Its last day of service was December 26, 2023.
Television and Media Appearances
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 sous chef. A follow-up show in 2000, Beyond Boiling Point, showed his move to Pétrus and earning his first Michelin star.
In 2006, Marcus Wareing competed in the BBC TV series Great British Menu. He represented the North of England and won his regional heat. In the final, the public chose his dessert, an egg custard tart with Garibaldi biscuits, to be served at a banquet for the Queen's 80th birthday.
Marcus has continued to be a judge on Great British Menu. He has also appeared on MasterChef, MasterChef: The Professionals, and Celebrity MasterChef. In 2014, he became a main judge on MasterChef: The Professionals.
Marcus Wareing has written nine cookbooks. Some of his popular books include Marcus at Home (2016), which was a bestseller, New Classics (2017), Marcus Everyday (2019), and Marcus' Kitchen (2021).
In 2021, he started a cooking apprenticeship program called "Forward with Marcus Wareing." In 2022, his TV show Marcus Wareing's Tales from a Kitchen Garden aired on BBC Two. It showed his small farm in East Sussex and featured him visiting British farmers and gardeners. A second series aired in 2023.
In December 2023, a ten-part Christmas cooking series called Marcus Wareing At Christmas aired on Food Network. In May 2024, his new show Marcus Wareing Simply Provence aired on BBC2 and BBC iPlayer.
Personal Life
Marcus Wareing's brother, Brian, is a catering teacher. Marcus is married to Jane, and they have three children: Jake, Archie, and Jessie. He met Jane when they both worked at Gravetye Manor. Gordon Ramsay was the best man at Marcus's wedding in 2000 and is the godfather to his oldest son, Jake.
Marcus has supported charities like Action Against Hunger. In 2012, he took part in a charity boxing event with other chefs to raise money. He also supports the Environmental Justice Foundation in their efforts to promote sustainable fishing.
Published Works
- Marcus at Home (2016)
- New Classics (2017)
- Marcus Everyday (2019)
- Marcus' Kitchen (2021)
