Birthday: 27 May 1966
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A true Londoner, Heston was born in Shepherd’s Bush on the 27 May 1966 to a Jewish family and developed his interest in cooking throughout his teenage years. It was while on holiday in France with his family that he first dined at a three Michelin Star restaurant in Provence (L'Oustau de Baumanière), an experience which ignited his love affair for fine food.
After school Heston headed straight for the top, securing an apprenticeship with Raymond Blanc at the French Chef’s famous Le Manoir Aux Quat Saisons. Things didn’t go as planned however, and Heston left after just one week, thinking perhaps the kitchen wasn’t for him after all. Following stints working as a handful of different jobs Heston eventually decided to come back to cooking. Over the next ten years he taught himself classic French dishes at night after work and has spoken about the life-changing experiencing of reading On Food and Cooking: The Science and Lore of the Kitchen by Harold McGee which encourages the reader to question everything – a sort of life mantra Heston would then go on to adopt.
In 1995 Heston opened his first restaurant, The Fat Duck, which now holds three Michelin stars and was one of the first places to practice ‘New Cookery’. This scientific approach to cooking covets precision techniques while valuing tradition. Notable dishes of Heston’s to be made in this way include his bacon and egg ice cream and parsnip cereal. Heston also owns The Hinds Head in Bray, Dinner by Heston Blumenthal at the Mandarin Oriental in London and The Perfectionists’ Café in Heathrow Airport, as well as a Dinner by Heston Blumenthal in Melbourne.
Over the years Heston has made many TV appearances, both presenting and co-hosting various series for BBC and Channel 4.
Throughout his career Heston has garnered many awards and accolades, as well as being chosen to cook for the Queen on occasion. Other merits include being bestowed an OBE in 2006 and various honoury degrees for his cooking influenced by science.
In his personal life, Heston has been married twice. He was with his first wife Zanna for 22 years, and the couple have three children together – Jack, Jessie and Joy. Following his separation from Zanna, Heston dated Suzanna Pirret for four years, and since 2018 the chef has been married to Stephanie Gouveia, who he married in the Maldives in May 2018.