Paul Rankin facts for kids
Rankin at The Good Food Show in 2011
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| Born | 1 October 1959 Glasgow, Scotland |
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Paul Rankin (born October 1, 1959) is a famous chef from Ballywalter, County Down, Northern Ireland. He was born in Glasgow, Scotland. Paul grew up in Ballywalter after his parents moved back there. This was shared in a TV show called Proud Parents in 2006.
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Paul Rankin's Cooking Journey
In 1989, Paul Rankin opened his restaurant called Roscoff. This restaurant was very special. It was the first one in Northern Ireland to win a Michelin Star. A Michelin Star is a very important award. It shows a restaurant has amazing food and service. Roscoff quickly became a popular spot. Business people and artists in Belfast loved it. People even traveled from Dublin just to eat there!
Sadly, Paul had to sell Roscoff in 2005. This was due to money problems. The building is now home to a restaurant called CoCo. Many talented chefs learned their skills at Roscoff. These include Dylan McGrath, Michael Deane, and Robbie Millar.
Later, Paul Rankin faced more business challenges. In 2009, he sold most of his Rankin Group businesses. This helped him pay off debts. He managed to avoid going bankrupt. However, his last main restaurant, Cayenne, closed in 2013. Paul said the tough economy and city protests were reasons for this. The late Robbie Millar became famous after working at Roscoff.
TV Shows and Appearances
Paul Rankin first appeared on TV in a series called Gourmet Ireland. This show was on both BBC and RTE. Paul and his wife, Jeanne, both starred in it. Jeanne is a very good pastry chef. She was also a regular on the BBC cooking show Ready Steady Cook.
In 1999, Paul was the first chef from Northern Ireland to get a Michelin Star. He has written five cookbooks. He also ran a chain of restaurants and cafés. These included Cayenne and Roscoff in Belfast. His Canadian wife, Jeanne, helped him get into cooking. She is also a co-owner of their business.
In 2006, Paul competed in the BBC's Great British Menu. This was a competition to cook for Queen Elizabeth II. It was for her 80th birthday.
Paul also appeared on The X Factor: Battle of the Stars in 2006. He was on the show with other chefs. These included Jean-Christophe Novelli, Aldo Zilli, and Ross Burden. He has also been on the TV show Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is.
Food Products
In 2002, Irwin's Bakery teamed up with Paul Rankin. They launched the Rankin Selection range of Irish bread. These products first appeared in Waitrose stores. Later, they were sold in other supermarkets across the UK and Ireland. The range included soda bread, potato farls, and barmbrack. In 2021, these products were renamed Irwin's Together. They no longer use Rankin's name.
The Rankin Selection also included pork sausages. These were made by a Northern Irish company called Finnebrogue. Paul Rankin supported a campaign to keep Finnebrogue's venison factory open. He said it was "world class" and something Northern Ireland should be proud of.
Awards
- Outstanding Contribution to the Hospitality Industry Award
Personal Life
Paul and Jeanne Rankin were married for over 25 years. They separated in 2011. Their separation was friendly.
Paul and Jeanne met in the 1980s. They were both working at Le Gavroche. This is a famous restaurant in London. Paul started there as a dishwasher. Jeanne started as a waitress. Soon, they both moved into the kitchen. That's where their cooking careers began.
Jeanne had a riding accident. This caused her constant pain. It meant she could no longer work as a pastry chef.
In 2012, Paul Rankin spoke about Alzheimer's disease. He shared that his father was suffering from the disease. He said his father no longer recognized him.
Books
- Hot Food (1997)
- Gourmet Ireland (1997)
- Gourmet Ireland 2 (1998)
- Ideal Home Cooking (1998)
- New Irish Cookery (2005)
- Steps 2 work programme
