Our top chefs - Michael Caines
Date Created: 13 Feb 2012 13:09
Michael Caines is one of Britain's most acclaimed chefs, he has held two Michelin stars since 1999 at Gidleigh Park Devon, where he is Executive Head Chef. In 2006 he was awarded an MBE for services to the hospitality industry, AA Chef's Chef of the Year in 2007 and has gone on to collect awards and accolades year on year..
Gidleigh Park was voted the UK’s best restaurant by the Hardens guide - the food was described as exceptional, serving distinctive modern European cuisine utilising the finest local and regional produce and ingredients. In February 2009, he also took on the role of Executive Chef at The Bath Priory, Bath, Gidleigh Park's sister establishment.
In 2000, he founded Michael Caines Restaurants and took over food and beverage operations at The Royal Clarence, Exeter, Britain's first hotel. A chance encounter with Andrew Brownsword led to the creation of ABode Hotels. Amongst numerous other recent accolades, Michael has cooked in 10 Downing Street for the Prime Minister, and he took part in ‘The Great British Menu' chef's competition broadcast on BBC2 television for the honour of cooking for the Queen's 80th birthday. More recently he hosted the final for celebrity MasterChef, putting the contestants through their paces in the kitchen’s of Gidleigh Park
Early days
Michael attended Exeter Catering College where his precocious talent was already evident, earning him the accolade ‘Student of the Year' in 1987. He subsequently spent a year and a half at the Grosvenor House Hotel, Park Lane in London, before embarking on three influential years under his mentor Raymond Blanc at Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons in Oxfordshire. From here he then moved to France for a further formative period of training, honing his profession under the guidance of such superstars chefs as the late Bernard Loiseau in Saulieu and Joël Robuchon in Paris.
Michael now works closely with Exeter College where he has set up the Michael Caines academy, nurturing aspiring chefs and creating a pool of talent for the future.
Throw into this working mix a real commitment to charities close to Michael’s heart and you begin to appreciate what an incredible personality and talent Michael is, with so much more still to come. |
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