Jason Atherton
Encyclopedia
Jason Atherton is an English chef
. He was the Executive Chef at Gordon Ramsay
's Michelin starred
Maze in London until 30 April 2010.
hotelier and her joiner
husband, Atherton ran away to London when his parents were on holiday aged 16. After training at Boston College, Lincolnshire
, he spent six weeks training with the Army Catering Corps
, which he hated.
at Harvey’s, before joining Restaurant Marco Pierre White at the Hyde Park Hotel.
Atherton then served as sous chef at Stephen Terry
’s Coast, before becoming head chef at Oliver Peyton
’s Mash & Air in Manchester
. In 1998 Atherton backpacked to Spain, and became the first British chef to complete a stage at Ferran Adrià
’s three-Michelin-star El Bulli
restaurant after initially agreeing to work unpaid.
Atherton returned to London to work alongside Stephen Terry
at Claudio Pulze’s Frith Street restaurant, winning Caterer and Hotelkeeper Acorn award for young achievers in 2000 for his work at both Frith Street and as executive chef at the Cantina Vinopolis. After opening L’Anis in Kensington
in 2001 with Pulze, on its closure he joined Gordon Ramsay in 2002 as executive chef of the Verre and Glasshouse restaurants at the Hilton Dubai Creek, Dubai
.
Atherton returned to London in 2005, to open Maze at the Marriott Grosvenor Square hotel, mixing contemporary French food
with Asian nuances
. The restaurant won a Michelin star and three AA rosettes within a year of opening, and now has branches in New York city and Prague
, Czech Republic. Following a period of sales not being as high as hoped, the Prague venture was effectively closed in February 2009.
In April 2010, Atherton announced that he was leaving Maze to open his own restaurant in Mayfair rumoured to be entitled Pollen Street Social. It will be a 60 cover seat restaurant with private dining rooms. The restaurant is scheduled to open on 18 April 2011, with reservations being taken from 31 March. It will also feature London's first dessert bar.
In May 2010 Atherton opened his first independent restaurant venture, at the Waterhouse at South Bund hotel in Shanghai. called "table no. 1 by Jason Atherton". The kitchen there is currently led by head chef Scott Melvin, who is also a business partner, owning 50% of the business.
's Saturday Kitchen
, alongside host James Martin
.
In 2008, Atherton won the London and Southeast heat of the BBC Two
programme Great British Menu
– the judges were his old boss Peyton, alongside Prue Leith
and Matthew Fort
. He eventually won the starter and main course section in a public vote, in a meal served at The Gherkin, hosted by Heston Blumenthal
.
with their baby daughters.
Chef
A chef is a person who cooks professionally for other people. Although over time the term has come to describe any person who cooks for a living, traditionally it refers to a highly skilled professional who is proficient in all aspects of food preparation.-Etymology:The word "chef" is borrowed ...
. He was the Executive Chef at Gordon Ramsay
Gordon Ramsay
Gordon James Ramsay, OBE is a Scottish chef, television personality and restaurateur. He has been awarded 13 Michelin stars....
's Michelin starred
Michelin Guide
The Michelin Guide is a series of annual guide books published by Michelin for over a dozen countries. The term normally refers to the Michelin Red Guide, the oldest and best-known European hotel and restaurant guide, which awards the Michelin stars...
Maze in London until 30 April 2010.
Biography
The son of a SkegnessSkegness
Skegness is a seaside town and civil parish in the East Lindsey district of Lincolnshire, England. Located on the Lincolnshire coast of the North Sea, east of the city of Lincoln it has a total resident population of 18,910....
hotelier and her joiner
Joiner
A joiner differs from a carpenter in that joiners cut and fit joints in wood that do not use nails. Joiners usually work in a workshop since the formation of various joints generally requires non-portable machinery. A carpenter normally works on site...
husband, Atherton ran away to London when his parents were on holiday aged 16. After training at Boston College, Lincolnshire
Boston College, Lincolnshire
Boston College is a predominantly further education college in Boston in Lincolnshire, England. It is a Centre of Vocational Excellence for Early Years Care.-History:...
, he spent six weeks training with the Army Catering Corps
Army Catering Corps
The Army Catering Corps was a corps of the British Army, responsible for the feeding of all Army units. It was originally formed in March 1941 as part of the Royal Army Service Corps, and became a corps in its own right in 1965....
, which he hated.
Career
After working as commis chef at Skegness’ County hotel, he returned to London as commis chef under Boyd Gilmour, and then under Pierre Koffmann (at La Tante Claire) and Nico Ladenis. He then joined Marco Pierre WhiteMarco Pierre White
Marco Pierre White is a British celebrity chef, restaurateur and television personality. He is noted for his contributions to contemporary international cuisine, and his exceptional culinary skills....
at Harvey’s, before joining Restaurant Marco Pierre White at the Hyde Park Hotel.
Atherton then served as sous chef at Stephen Terry
Stephen Terry
Stephen Terry is a professional chef from Wales, who was taught by Marco Pierre White and currently owns, and is Head Chef at, the Hardwick Restaurant in Abergavenny, Wales.The Hardwick was awarded a Michelin Bib Gourmand rating in 2011....
’s Coast, before becoming head chef at Oliver Peyton
Oliver Peyton
Oliver Peyton is an Irish restaurateur and judge on the BBC television series Great British Menu.- Biography :Oliver Peyton was born in Swinford, County Mayo, Ireland....
’s Mash & Air in Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
. In 1998 Atherton backpacked to Spain, and became the first British chef to complete a stage at Ferran Adrià
Ferran Adrià
Ferran Adrià i Acosta is a Catalan chef born on May 14, 1962 in L'Hospitalet de Llobregat. He was the head chef of the El Bulli restaurant in Roses on the Costa Brava, and is considered one of the best chefs in the world.-Career:...
’s three-Michelin-star El Bulli
El Bulli
elBulli was a Michelin 3-star restaurant near the town of Roses, Catalonia, Spain, run by chef Ferran Adrià. The small restaurant overlooked Cala Montjoi, a bay on Catalonia's Costa Brava, and has been described as "the most imaginative generator of haute cuisine on the planet" and does a great...
restaurant after initially agreeing to work unpaid.
Atherton returned to London to work alongside Stephen Terry
Stephen Terry
Stephen Terry is a professional chef from Wales, who was taught by Marco Pierre White and currently owns, and is Head Chef at, the Hardwick Restaurant in Abergavenny, Wales.The Hardwick was awarded a Michelin Bib Gourmand rating in 2011....
at Claudio Pulze’s Frith Street restaurant, winning Caterer and Hotelkeeper Acorn award for young achievers in 2000 for his work at both Frith Street and as executive chef at the Cantina Vinopolis. After opening L’Anis in Kensington
Kensington
Kensington is a district of west and central London, England within the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. An affluent and densely-populated area, its commercial heart is Kensington High Street, and it contains the well-known museum district of South Kensington.To the north, Kensington is...
in 2001 with Pulze, on its closure he joined Gordon Ramsay in 2002 as executive chef of the Verre and Glasshouse restaurants at the Hilton Dubai Creek, Dubai
Dubai
Dubai is a city and emirate in the United Arab Emirates . The emirate is located south of the Persian Gulf on the Arabian Peninsula and has the largest population with the second-largest land territory by area of all the emirates, after Abu Dhabi...
.
Atherton returned to London in 2005, to open Maze at the Marriott Grosvenor Square hotel, mixing contemporary French food
French cuisine
French cuisine is a style of food preparation originating from France that has developed from centuries of social change. In the Middle Ages, Guillaume Tirel , a court chef, authored Le Viandier, one of the earliest recipe collections of Medieval France...
with Asian nuances
Asian cuisine
Asian cuisine styles can be broken down into several tiny regional styles that have roots in the peoples and cultures of those regions. The major types can be roughly defined as East Asian with its origins in Imperial China and now encompassing modern Japan and the Korean peninsula; Southeast Asian...
. The restaurant won a Michelin star and three AA rosettes within a year of opening, and now has branches in New York city and Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
, Czech Republic. Following a period of sales not being as high as hoped, the Prague venture was effectively closed in February 2009.
In April 2010, Atherton announced that he was leaving Maze to open his own restaurant in Mayfair rumoured to be entitled Pollen Street Social. It will be a 60 cover seat restaurant with private dining rooms. The restaurant is scheduled to open on 18 April 2011, with reservations being taken from 31 March. It will also feature London's first dessert bar.
Books
- "Maze: The Cookbook", published by Quadrille Publishing Ltd; hardback edition (18 April 2008)
- "Gourmet Food for a Fiver", published by Quadrille Publishing Ltd (16 April 2010)
Television
Atherton has become a regular guest on BBC OneBBC One
BBC One is the flagship television channel of the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It was launched on 2 November 1936 as the BBC Television Service, and was the world's first regular television service with a high level of image resolution...
's Saturday Kitchen
Saturday Kitchen
Saturday Kitchen Live is a 90 minute cookery programme, which is broadcast live on BBC One on Saturday mornings. It is currently presented by James Martin; previous presenters have included Antony Worrall Thompson and Gregg Wallace. The programme is currently produced by Cactus TV...
, alongside host James Martin
James Martin (chef)
James Martin , is an English cook who first appeared on television in 1996.-Television career:...
.
In 2008, Atherton won the London and Southeast heat of the BBC Two
BBC Two
BBC Two is the second television channel operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It covers a wide range of subject matter, but tending towards more 'highbrow' programmes than the more mainstream and popular BBC One. Like the BBC's other domestic TV and radio...
programme Great British Menu
Great British Menu
Great British Menu is a BBC television series in which top British chefs compete for the chance to cook one course of a four course banquet. The first series banquet was for the Queen on her 80th birthday. The second series was to cook for the British Ambassador to France at the British Embassy...
– the judges were his old boss Peyton, alongside Prue Leith
Prue Leith
Prudence Margaret Leith, CBE is a restaurateur, caterer, TV cook, broadcaster and cookery writer. She was born in South Africa, with her working life spent mostly in London, England....
and Matthew Fort
Matthew Fort
Matthew Fort is a British food writer and critic. Matthew Fort attended Eton College, and later Lancaster University. He has been the Food and Drink editor of The Guardian for over ten years. He also writes for Esquire, The Observer, Country Living, Decanter and Waitrose Food Illustrated...
. He eventually won the starter and main course section in a public vote, in a meal served at The Gherkin, hosted by Heston Blumenthal
Heston Blumenthal
Heston Marc Blumenthal OBE is an English chef and owner of The Fat Duck, a three-Michelin-starred restaurant in Bray, Berkshire voted Best Restaurant in the UK by The Good Food Guide 2007 and 2009, and voted best restaurant in the world by Restaurant magazine in 2005...
.
- Starter – Bacon, lettuce and tomato with Croque Monsieur (recipe)
- Main course – Dexter beef fillet, ox cheek, smoked potato puree and marrow bone (recipe)
Personal life
Married, Atherton and his wife live in South LondonSouth London
South London is the southern part of London, England, United Kingdom.According to the 2011 official Boundary Commission for England definition, South London includes the London boroughs of Bexley, Bromley, Croydon, Greenwich, Kingston, Lambeth, Lewisham, Merton, Southwark, Sutton and...
with their baby daughters.