Marco Pierre White, the “Godfather of modern cooking” was born on the 11th December 1961 in Leeds the third son of Frank and Rosa White.
He attended school in Allerton High School in Leeds and after leaving without any qualifications he decided to train as a chef like his Father and Grand Father. He began his training in the kitchen at the Hotel St George in Harrogate in Yorkshire and later moved onto the Box Tree in Ilkley, West Yorkshire. This is where his real love affair with food was born and blossomed under the guidance of Malcolm Reid and Colin Long, brilliant Restauranteurs who were inspired by the Restaurants of Paris during this golden era of Classical Cuisine.
Marco felt a calling to continue his culinary journey and arrived in London as a 16-year-old with only £7.36, a box of books and a bag of clothes. He began his classical culinary training as a commis chef under the Roux brothers at Le Gavroche where he became Albert’s protege. Marco thrived and his kitchen skills and reputation developed.
He continued his training under Pierre Koffman at La Tante Claire, moving to work in the kitchen of Raymond Blanc at Le Manor, and later with Nico Ladenis of Chez Nico at Ninety Park Lane. He then branched out to work on his own, working in the kitchen at the Six Bells public house in Kings Road with assistant Mario Batali.
In 1987, Marco became the Head Chef and joint owner of Harveys in Wandsworth Common, where he won his first Michelin star, with a kitchen staff that included the young Gordon Ramsay and his journey within his own right and own restaurants began. At 33, he become the youngest chef in the world to be awarded three Michelin stars at the Hyde Park Hotel.
During these years he had a team including Gordon Ramsay, Eric Chavot ,Heston Blumenthal (The Fat Duck), Bryn Williams , Matt Tebbutt , Robert Reid, Mario Batali, Donovan Cooke Jason Atherton, James Stocks and from Australia Shannon Bennett, Curtis Stone, Spencer Patrick among many others.
After hanging up his Apron Marco has developed his own Restaurant portfolio with over 50 Restaurants in the Uk as well as Dubai, Abu Dhabi and more planned. He has also opened his first hotel, Rudloe Hall near Bath which has been a labour of love. He has starred in Hells Kitchen UK, Hells Kitchen Australia, Masterchef Australia and there is more to come as the story continues to unfold…
