Raymond Blanc is one of the world’s most renowned chefs. The French chef has worked with and trained some of the top names in the food industry, written multiple cookbooks, and appeared on television many times. Therefore, most people know something about this chef or, at the very least, have heard his name. However, there are many facts about Raymond Blanc that people do not know. Here are some Raymond Blanc facts you might not know and may find interesting to read.
Raymond Blanc Facts: His Early and Personal Life
Where Was Raymond Blanc Born?
Raymond Blanc was born on the 19th of November 1973. He is from Besancon, the Franche-Comte region’s capital, which lies between the Jura Mountains and Burgundy. He then grew up in a village called Saone.
Is There a Family History in the Food Industry?
Although there is no family history in the food industry, cooking and food were important aspects of his family life. His mother, who he fondly called Maman Blanc, taught his two sisters to cook, while his father taught Blanc and his two brothers to forage and work in the kitchen garden. For his 10th birthday, his father bought him a foraging map and colander. Blanc would forage and collect things in his colander, and then his mother would teach him how to cook with it.
Is Raymond Blanc Married?
Raymond Blanc was married to Jenny Blanc from 1976 to 1985. His ex-wife is the daughter of the former owner of The Rose Revived in Oxfordshire, where Raymond Blanc once worked. Raymond Blanc is now with his long-term partner Natalia Traxel, a nutritionist at the Raymond Blanc cookery school. The couple lives in a country home in Oxford.
Does Raymond Blanc Have Children?
Raymond Blanc has two sons, Olivier and Sebastian, from his marriage to Jenny Blanc.
When Did Raymond Blanc Move to England?
Raymond Blanc moved to England in 1972 after he was sacked from Le Palais de la Biere. He got a job in The Rose Revived in Newbridge, Oxfordshire, even though he could barely speak English and used a notepad. He went on to marry the owner’s daughter.
Where Does Raymond Blanc Live?
Raymond Blanc currently lives in a country house in the village of Great Milton in Oxfordshire, England. It is the same village where he opened his country house hotel and double Michelin-starred restaurant, Le Manoir aux Quat’ Saisons.
Facts About Raymond Blanc: His Restaurants and Culinary Career
What Was Raymond Blanc’s First Job in the Food Industry?
Before becoming a chef, Raymond Blanc trained as a waiter at Le Palais de la Biere, a Michelin-starred restaurant in Besancon. Unfortunately, he was fired from his position in 1972 after criticizing the head chef’s methods of cooking. The manager had heard about a job in England and recommended Blanc for the position. It was a turning point in Blanc’s life as not only did he get a start in the food industry, but he also moved to the area in which he still lives and met the woman he married.
When Did Raymond Blanc Open His First Restaurant?
Raymond Blanc spent some time working under chef patron Andre Chavagnon at La Sorbonne, a French restaurant on Oxford High Street. In 1997, he struck out on his own and opened his first restaurant, Les Quat’ Saisons, in Summertown, Oxford. Opening his restaurant created a huge personal debt as he borrowed from 18 people and mortgaged his house. Despite the location between Oxfam and a lingerie shop, the restaurant was an instant success.
What Other Restaurants Has Blanc Owned?
Blanc opened La Maison Blanc, a chain of cafes, boulangeries, and patisseries, in 1981. There were 14 branches, including one in Oxford and several in London. The chain also sold its cakes in Waitrose. La Maison Blanc chain closed in 2012. Blanc purchased a manor house in Great Milton, a village in Oxfordshire, in 1983. It opened as Le Manoir aux Quat’ Saisons and became a double Michelin-starred restaurant. In 1996, Raymond Blanc opened a chain of smaller restaurants called Le Petit Blanc.
Raymond Blanc Facts: Other Aspects of Blanc’s Culinary Career
How Many Cookbooks Has Raymond Blanc Published?
Raymond Blanc has published 13 cookbooks. His first was Recipes from Le Manoir aux Quat’ Saisons in 1988. His most recent, published in 2021, was Simply Raymond.
Which Chefs Has Raymond Blanc Trained?
Throughout his career, Raymond Blanc has trained many chefs, many of whom have gone on to become successful in the industry. These include many famous chefs who are known for both their culinary prowess and their television appearances. Some of the chefs trained by Raymond Blanc include:
- Sat Bains
- Marco Pierre White
- John Burton Race
- Michael Caines
- Heston Blumenthal
What Other Work Does Blanc Do in the Food Industry?
In addition to his restaurants, Raymond Blanc has worked extensively in other areas of the food industry, despite never being formally trained as a chef. He became the Culinary Director for Eurostar and the president of the Sustainable Restaurant Association in 2012. A year later, he collaborated with Boris Johnson on a scheme to encourage young people to embark on apprenticeships and careers in the hospitality and food industry. Furthermore, Raymond Blanc is a patron of the Children’s Food Festival.
Raymond Blanc’s Television Appearances
When Did Raymond Blanc First Appear on Television?
Raymond Blanc first appeared on television in 1985 when he was featured on Take Six Cooks.
When Did Raymond Blanc Get His Own Television Series?
In 1987, Raymond Blanc got his own television series, Food & Drink, which was a six-part series on BBC2.
Has Raymond Blanc Appeared on Saturday Kitchen?
Like many successful chefs, Raymond Blanc was invited to appear on Saturday Kitchen, which was presented at that time by James Martin. He took part in the omelette challenge, where guest chefs competed every week to cook an omelette in the fastest time. Although Blanc ranked at the bottom of the list with the slowest time, Martin nudged him up the list for garnishing his omelette with truffle. It meant that he finished higher than Ken Hom.
Did Raymond Blanc Present The Restaurant?
Raymond Blanc was one of the presenters, mentors, and judges on The Restaurant, which was a televised cooking competition where couples competed to win their own restaurant. Blanc offered his personal backing to the winners. The series ran for three seasons.
What Other Television Series Has Raymond Blanc Presented?
In addition to Food & Drink and The Restaurant, Raymond Blanc has presented several other television series. These include The Very Hungry Frenchman, Raymond Blanc’s Christmas Feast, Kew on a Plate, Simply Raymond, Blanc Mange, and Raymond Blanc: How to Cook Well.
What Other Television Appearances Has Raymond Blanc Made?
Blanc has appeared on multiple other television series as a guest or a judge. These include Housecall, Friends for Dinner, Passion for Perfection, and So What Do You Do All Day. He has also appeared multiple times on MasterChef as a guest judge alongside regular judges John Torode and Gregg Wallace.
Other Raymond Blanc Facts You Might Not Know
He Has an Honorary OBE
Raymond Blanc received an honorary OBE in 2008.
Blanc Has Suffered Ill Health
One of the Raymond Blanc facts that people do not know is that the chef experienced ill health in his 40s. When he was 42, he suffered two mini-strokes. It is Blanc’s belief that stress and overwork were the cause of his ill health.
What Is Raymond Blanc’s Favourite Food?
Raymond Blanc loves simple cooking with fresh ingredients. He has said he would find it difficult to list just one dish but loves something as simple as a salad of heritage tomatoes with sourdough bread. The chef also told Olive Magazine that he loves anything starchy, such as dishes with lentils or chickpeas.
He Loves Growing His Own Ingredients
Blanc grew up learning to grow ingredients in the garden to cook. It is a philosophy he still uses and loves, growing ingredients for his restaurants in kitchen gardens.
We hope you enjoyed reading our Raymond Blanc facts. Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.