Rick Stein is one of England's most recognisable chefs, a restaurateur and a hugely popular television presenter. As a chef his speciality is seafood, but with his series Food Heroes, Rick has shown that he's equally passionate about the best of British produce whatever its provenance. In his most recent series French Odyssey, he also revealed a passion for the French way of life, and the way that food is intimately tied up with the culture.He was born in Oxfordshire to Eric and Dorothy Stein, who were of German descent. He later moved to Padstow, Cornwall where he spent many childhood holidays.He graduated from Oxford University with a degree in English. He then spent several years running a disco before buying an ailing local nightclub in Padstow--a venture which would seem a million miles away from cooking. However, when Rick opened his first restaurant it specialised in freshly caught local produce, supplied by the fishermen who had once frequented his club.He has run the Seafood Restaurant for more than 25 years, seeing it grow from a seaside bistro to an award-winning restaurant with an international reputation. Since those early days, the Steins have added guest bedrooms, a Seafood Delicatessen, a gift shop and two smaller restaurants - St Petroc's Bistro and Rick Stein's Café. The most recent addition is the Padstow Seafood School overlooking the Camel estuary and a fish and chips takeaway.He is respected by both his peers and critics alike winning a number of awards and honours, including the Glenfiddich Trophy for his outstanding contribution to widening the understanding and appreciation of excellent food and drink in Britain through his work as a chef, teacher, presenter and author. He has also won the AA Guide Chefs' Chef of the Year for 1999-2000.His many TV programmes and books include Rick Stein's Taste of the Sea, Fruits of the Sea, Seafood Odyssey, Fresh Food, Seafood Lovers' Guide, Food Heroes, French Odyssey and Mediterranean Escapes.A committed humanitarian, Rick is also Patron of the charities Padstow Youth Project, South West PESCA (Duchy Fish Quota Co.), the National Mission for Deep Sea Fishermen, the National Coastwatch Institution, the Dyslexia Research Trust and The National Trust.He is also the head chef and co-owner of "Rick Stein at Bannisters" at Mollymook, New South Wales, Australia, owns four restaurants in Padstow, and a fish and chip shop in Falmouth, Cornwall. He is represented in London, England by Useful Talent.
