Raymond Blanc facts for kids
Blanc at the 2019 Chelsea Flower Show
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| Born | 19 November 1949 Near Besançon |
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| Cooking style | French |
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Rating(s)
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Current restaurant(s)
Le Manoir aux Quat' Saisons
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Award(s) won
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Raymond Blanc (born 19 November 1949) is a famous French chef. He is known for his amazing cooking and for teaching many other top chefs. Raymond Blanc is the chef at Le Manoir aux Quat' Saisons. This is a special hotel and restaurant in Great Milton, Oxfordshire, England. His restaurant has earned two Michelin stars, which is a very high award in cooking. He learned to cook all by himself, and he has helped many other chefs, like Heston Blumenthal, become successful.
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Raymond Blanc's Early Life
Raymond Blanc was born on November 19, 1949. He grew up in a small village called Saône in eastern France. This area is known for its beautiful countryside.
While his sisters learned cooking from their mother, Raymond's father taught him about gardening. His father gave him a special basket and a map for his 10th birthday. Raymond would collect fresh ingredients from the garden. Then, his mother would teach him how to cook with them. This helped him learn about fresh food from a young age.
Raymond Blanc's Career Journey
Raymond Blanc started his career as a waiter. He worked at a restaurant in France that had a Michelin star. However, he was fired for giving cooking advice to the head chef! Luckily, the manager knew of a job in England.
In 1972, Raymond moved to England. He didn't speak much English at first. He started working at a place called The Rose Revived. He later married the owner's daughter, Jenny, and they had two sons.
Before opening his own place, Raymond worked for another French chef in Oxford. In 1977, Raymond and Jenny opened their first restaurant, Les Quat' Saisons. It was in a small space between shops. Even so, it was a huge success right away! It won important awards, including two Michelin stars.
Maison Blanc and Le Manoir
In 1981, Raymond Blanc started a chain of bakeries and cafes called La Maison Blanc. These places sold delicious French breads and pastries. There were 14 Maison Blanc locations across the country. The chain was later closed in 2017.
In 1983, Raymond bought a beautiful old house in Great Milton. He turned it into Le Manoir aux Quat' Saisons. This became a famous country hotel and restaurant. It quickly earned two Michelin stars. Many people consider it one of the best places to eat in the country.
Raymond also wanted to make good French food available to everyone. So, in 1996, he opened Le Petit Blanc in Oxford. This was the first of a chain of smaller, more casual restaurants. He wanted to create places where families and busy people could enjoy tasty French food.
Raymond faced some health challenges when he was 42. These were believed to be from working very hard.
Brasserie Blanc Restaurants
In 2003, the Le Petit Blanc restaurants became known as Brasserie Blanc. Raymond still helps create new menus and trains the cooking teams. Since 1996, he has opened many Brasserie Blanc locations across the UK. These include restaurants in Oxford, Cheltenham, Manchester, Leeds, and London.
Other Roles and TV Shows
In 2012, Raymond Blanc became the president of the Sustainable Restaurant Association. This group helps restaurants be more environmentally friendly. He also became the Culinary Director for Eurostar, the train service that connects the UK and Europe.
In 2013, Raymond worked with the Mayor of London to help young people get jobs in the food industry. He took on many apprentices at his Brasserie Blanc restaurants.
Raymond Blanc also supports the Children's Food Festival. This event teaches kids about healthy eating and cooking.
He has appeared on many TV shows. In 2014, he presented Kew on a Plate with Kate Humble. This show taught viewers how to grow and cook vegetables.
Chefs Raymond Blanc Has Trained
Raymond Blanc has taught or employed many chefs who later became famous. Some of them include:
- Sat Bains
- John Burton-Race
- Heston Blumenthal
- Michael Caines
- Marco Pierre White
Raymond Blanc's TV Appearances
Raymond Blanc has been on many popular TV shows in the UK. He often shares his cooking skills and passion for food.
- 1985 - Take Six Cooks
- 1987 - Food and Drink - A six-part series on BBC2.
- 1994 - Blanc Mange - A BBC2 series about food and chemistry.
- 2007 - The Restaurant series 1 - A BBC Two show where couples competed to win their own restaurant.
- 2010 - Kitchen Secrets - A BBC cooking show with easy and inspiring recipes.
- 2012 - The Very Hungry Frenchman - A BBC 2 series.
- 2013 - Raymond Blanc: How to Cook Well - A series of cooking programs on BBC 2.
- 2015 - Kew on a Plate - A show about growing and cooking vegetables.
- 2021 - Simply Raymond - Series 1; April 2021.
- 2022 - Simply Raymond - Series 2; January - February 2022.
- 2024 - Raymond Blanc's Royal Kitchen Gardens - February - May 2024.
He also made a guest appearance on the BBC comedy show Miranda.
Raymond Blanc's Personal Life
Raymond Blanc has two sons, Olivier and Sebastien. He lives in Oxford with his partner, Natalia Traxel. In 2008, he received an honorary OBE award. This is a special honor given by the British Queen or King.
