John Torode’s culinary journey began in Australia where as the youngest of three brothers, Torode began learning to cook under the tutelage of his grandmother, meaning he had a passion for cooking from youth. He then proceeded to live with his father, a commercial and property dealer who also owned an orange juice factory who often was away due to the nature of his work. Torode dropped out of school by the age of 16 to attend culinary college, pursuing his passion for food stemming from his grandmother. Throughout his early career in Melbourne, Torode broke into the restaurant scene working for multiple restaurants all throughout the suburb of Aspendale, before proceeding to take apprenticeships in the more affluent and luxurious suburb Beaumauris.
By 1991, Torode had moved to the UK, having experience from across Melbourne. Torode quickly attained the position of sous chef in the high-end Le Point de la Tour and Quaglino’s, the latter being where he would meet future MasterChef co-host Gregg Wallace who would supply vegetables to the restaurant.
By the mid 90’s, Torode began to make a name in television, working on ITV’s This Morning, becoming a staple of the show until 2000. This would be the first time that Torode would be in the public eye in food television. The year 2000, would also mark the opening of Torode's first restaurant, Smiths of Smithfield, which is still serving food to this day.
In both television and entrepreneurship, Torode found increasing success during the 2000’s with his break-through role on MasterChef alongside Greg Wallace, which he has continued to do alongside Wallace for 16 years as of 2021.
Additionally, Torode opened another restaurant The Luxe in Spitalfields, which following years of leadership and dedication, Torode opted to eventually sell The Luxe along with Smiths of Smithfield. However, during his tenure, both restaurants made a turnover of £9.2 million, cementing Torode as a chef to which success appears natural and profit inevitable.
Following his success both entrepreneurially and becoming a firm presence on the BBC, Torode turned to exploring and inspiring the community through food. Promoting projects like ‘Come, eat together!’, a programme designed to encourage elderly people to share food to curb loneliness amongst the old. Furthermore, Torode hosted ‘New British Kitchen’ alongside former MasterChef winner, Hardeep Singh Kohli, in showing the role of different importanted foods on Britain, reflecting the multicultural landscape of the country.
John Torode has had fruitful success both commercially and on television, becoming a leading figure for food on the BBC.