Christopher Richard Stein, CBE (born 4 January 1947) is an English celebrity chef, restaurateur, writer and television presenter. Along with business partner (and first wife) Jill Stein, he runs the Stein hotel and restaurant business in the UK. The business has a number of renowned restaurants, shops and hotels in Padstow along with other restaurants in Marlborough, Winchester and Barnes. He is also the head chef and a co-owner of the "Rick Stein at Bannisters" restaurants in Mollymook and Port Stephens in Australia, with his second wife, Sarah.[1] He writes cookery books and has presented numerous cookery series for the BBC.
Early years
Of German descent, Christopher Richard Stein was born on 4 January 1947[2] in Churchill, Oxfordshire, to Eric Stein (1908-1965) and Dorothy Gertrude née Jackson (1909-1999).[3] He was born and brought up on a farm.[4][5][6]
Stein was educated at Wells Court, a preparatory school just outside Tewkesbury,[7] then Wells House, the Court's bigger sister-school at Malvern Wells, and then Uppingham School. He took A-levels in English, history and geography, but failed all of them. He moved to a cram school in Brighton, gaining E grades in English and history.[8]
Being on his own, he read widely, reflected on his attitude to education, and applied successfully to New College, Oxford, where he earned an English degree in 1971. Shortly after that, he moved to Padstow.[11]
Career
After graduating, Stein converted a mobile disco in Padstow, which he had run as a student, into a quayside nightclub with his friend, Johnny. It became known for its freeze-dried curries. However, the nightclub lost its licence and was closed down by the police, mainly due to frequent brawls with local fishermen. The pair still had a licence for a restaurant in another part of the building, so they continued with that to avoid bankruptcy.[10][11] Stein ran the kitchen using the experience he had gained as a commis chef. Eventually he converted it into a small harbour-side bistro, The Seafood Restaurant, with his first wife Jill in 1975.[12] As of 2015[update],[needs update] his business operates four restaurants, a bistro, a café, a seafood delicatessen, a pâtisserie shop, a gift shop and a cookery school.[13]
In 2007, threats against Stein's businesses were made by Cornish nationalists.[14] His impact on the economy of Padstow is such that it has been nicknamed "Padstein".[15] In 2009, Stein made his first acquisition in the nearby village of St Merryn, 3½ miles from Padstow, taking over the Cornish Arms public house on the village's outskirts, intending to keep it as a traditional Cornish pub.[16]
In October 2009, Stein and his future second wife (fiancée at the time), the publicist Sarah Burns, opened Rick Stein at Bannisters in Mollymook, Australia. Stein said at the time of opening, "Ever since a memorable weekend eating Pambula oysters and flathead in Merimbula in the sixties, I've had the image of the clean blue sea and sweet seafood of the South Coast fixed in my head so when I was introduced to Mollymook about six years ago I knew that one day I would open up a restaurant celebrating local fish and shellfish but keeping it really simple."[1]
In 2018, Stein opened a second Rick Stein at Bannisters in Salamander Bay in Port Stephens, with his second wife, Sarah. Stein has become a popular television presenter on food programmes. After appearing once as a guest chef in Keith Floyd's 1985 series Floyd on Fish and in his 1986 series Floyd on Food, he was offered the chance to present his own series – like the "travelogue" style of cookery show pioneered by Floyd – on BBC television, using Floyd's producer and director David Pritchard.[17]
His shows have included Rick Stein's Taste of the Sea, Fruits of the Sea, Seafood Odyssey, Fresh Food, Seafood Lovers' Guide, Food Heroes, French Odyssey, Mediterranean Escapes, Far Eastern Odyssey, Rick Stein's Spain and Rick Stein's India. In the last five series,[when?] he set out in search of the best in the region's foods.[18]
A book has accompanied each series, and Stein's book English Seafood Cookery won the Glenfiddich Award for Food Book of the Year in 1989. Stein was awarded the OBE in the 2003 New Year Honours for services to tourism in Cornwall[21] and the CBE in the 2018 New Year Honours for services to the economy.[22]
On 22 June 2020, it was confirmed that Stein's restaurant in Porthleven, Cornwall would close permanently due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The restaurant had been closed since March 2020.[23] In July 2020, it was announced that chef Michael Caines would take over the restaurant.[24]
Personal life
In 1965, when Stein was 18, his father, a retired managing director of The Distillers Company, who suffered from bipolar disorder, killed himself by jumping from a cliff near the family's holiday home at Trevose Head.[25][26][27]
Stein met his first wife Jill Newstead[28] in Padstow. They married in 1975, both aged 28, and set up their restaurant and hotel business. Stein has three sons with Jill: Edward, Jack, and Charles who are involved in the family business.[29][30]
Stein met Sarah Burns, 20 years his junior, in Australia in 1997, when he was 50. She was also married, and working as a publicity manager for Australia Gourmet Traveller magazine.[31][32] Stein and Burns had a secret five-year affair before Jill found out in 2002.[33] She and Stein separated in 2002 and divorced in 2007,[34] but agreed to continue to run the business together.[35] Burns divorced in 2003, and she and Stein married on 7 October 2011.[31][32]
Stein has a brother, John, and a sister, Henrietta.[36] He also has a half-brother, Jeremy, his mother's son from her first marriage.[36] He is the uncle of DJ and music producer Judge Jules,[37] and the artist Lucy Stein.
In 2022, Stein underwent open heart surgery at the Royal Brompton Hospital to repair a defective heart valve.[38] Appearing live on BBC's, The One Show in October 2023, promoting his book, "Simple Suppers", he shared that his heart surgery experience had inspired his back to basics recipes but he inadvertently used a swear word and the show's host and Stein had to apologise for the error.[39]
Rick Stein's Seafood Lovers' Guide (ISBN 0-563-48871-9), 2000
Rick Stein's Seafood, 2001 - Gourmand World Cookbook Awards, 2001 – winner of category: Best Seafood and Fish in English; Best in the World Fish and Seafood (German translation – Gold medal – Gastronomische Akademie Deutschland 2003)
My Favourite Seafood Recipes, 2002 (Marks and Spencer cookery book)
Rick Stein's Food Heroes, 2002 – Gourmand World Cookbook Awards 2002 – winner of category: Best Local Cookery Book; Best Cookery Book of the Year in Great Britain / Jacob's Creek World Food Media Awards 2003: Silver for best hardcover recipe book
Rick Stein's Guide to the Food Heroes of Britain (ISBN 0-563-52175-9), 2003 – Gourmand World Cookbook Awards 2003 – winner of category: Best Guide
Rick Stein's Food Heroes, Another Helping (ISBN 0-56348-752-6), 2004
Rick Stein's Complete Seafood (ISBN 1-58008-568-7) – winner of the James Beard Foundation Award 2005 for Cook Book of the Year
Rick Stein's French Odyssey (ISBN 0-56352-213-5), 2005
Rick Stein's Mediterranean Escapes (ISBN 0-563-49366-6), 2007
Rick Stein Coast to Coast (ISBN 9781846076145), 2008
Rick Stein's Far Eastern Odyssey (ISBN 1-84607-716-8), 2009
My Kitchen Table: Rick Stein's 100 Fish and Seafood Recipes (ISBN 9781849901581), 2011
Rick Stein’s Food Stories, BBC Two, February 2024. 15 Episodes[61]
DVD / VHS
Rick Stein Cooks Fish (1997 VHS, re-issued as a bonus on Seafood Odyssey DVD)
Rick Stein's Taste of the Sea (1999 VHS release of 1995 broadcast)
Rick Stein's Seafood Odyssey (1999 VHS & 2005 DVD)
Rick Stein's Seafood Lovers Guide (2001 VHS)
Rick Stein's Food Heroes (2003 VHS & 2005 DVD. DVD release also includes the six episodes of Rick Stein's Food Heroes, Another Helping, Series 1.)
Rick Stein's French Odyssey (2007 DVD)
Rick Stein's Mediterranean Escapes (2009 DVD)
Rick Stein's Far Eastern Odyssey (2010 DVD)
Rick Stein's Spain (2011 DVD)
Rick Stein's India (2013 DVD)
Rick Stein's Venice To Istanbul (2015 DVD)
Rick Stein's Tastes of the World: From Cornwall to Shanghai (2016 DVD - a compilation of six individual broadcasts: Rick Stein's Taste of Shanghai, Rick Stein's German Odyssey, Rick Stein & The Japanese Ambassador Rick Stein Tastes the Blues, Rick Stein's Taste of the Italian Opera, Rick Stein's Cornish Christmas)
Rick Stein's Long Weekends (2017 DVD)
Rick Stein's Mexico (2018 DVD)
Rick Stein's Secret France (2019 DVD)
Other awards
For the restaurant:
RAC/The Sunday Times Taste of Britain Best Restaurant Award 1984
The Cornwall Tourist Award – A special award for outstanding services to Cornwall 2002
OBE – 2003 New Year Honours: For services to tourism in Cornwall[63]
CatererSearch 100 – 14th most influential chef in UK in 2005[64]
In 2012, Stein was among the British cultural icons selected by pop artist Sir Peter Blake to appear in a new version of his most famous artwork – the Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band album cover – to celebrate the British cultural figures of the last six decades.[65]
5 July 2016, Rick and Jill Stein received the Special Award at the prestigious Catey Awards, for their more than 41 years of outstanding contribution to the hospitality industry.[66]
CBE – 2018 New Year Honours: For services to the economy[67]
References
^ a b"Rick Stein at Bannisters". Archived from the original on 2 April 2012. Retrieved 28 July 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
^"Rick Stein". dunedinlibraries.govt.nz. Archived from the original on 25 July 2017. Retrieved 4 January 2017.
^"Rick Stein signs books in city". Oxford Mail. 23 July 2011.
^"Rick Stein - National Portrait Gallery". Npg.org.uk.
^"My Secret Life: Rick Stein, chef, 63". The Independent. 21 May 2010. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
^"Rick Stein: 'Oh God, I've had a lot of therapy'". TheGuardian.com. 27 July 2020.
^Sale, Jonathan (2 November 2000). "An Education in the Life of Rick Stein, Master Chef". The Independent. London.
^Stein, Rick (31 May 2015). "Rick Stein - A Life Through Food". The Food Programme (Interview). Interviewed by Sheila Dillon. Bristol: Anne-Marie Bullock. Retrieved 25 January 2018.
^"Caterer and Hotelkeeper 100: Rick Stein, the Seafood Restaurant". Caterer and Hotelkeeper. 6 December 2012. Archived from the original on 5 October 2013. Retrieved 29 May 2013.
^ a b"Rick Stein - Celebrity Angels". 23 July 2012. Archived from the original on 16 October 2019. Retrieved 28 July 2016.
^ a b"A fishy twist in the tale of two brothers", Oxford Today, Volume 22 No 3, Trinity 2010, archived from the original on 6 October 2013
^"The Seafood Restaurant". Rickstein.com. Retrieved 5 December 2016.
^"BBC Lifestyle". Archived from the original on 26 April 2012. Retrieved 28 July 2016.
^Haines, Lester. "Cornish separatists menace Jamie Oliver". The Register. Retrieved 28 July 2016.
^Gerard, Jasper (14 January 2009). "Rick Stein's Seafood Restaurant in Padstow". The Daily Telegraph. London. Archived from the original on 12 January 2022. Retrieved 2 September 2017.
^"Rick's food empire reels in village pub". 11 April 2009. Archived from the original on 5 May 2013. Retrieved 28 July 2016.
^David Pritchard obituary
^"BBC Shop US & Canada - DVDs, Blu-rays & Best of British TV". Bbcshop.com. Retrieved 28 July 2016.
^"Celebrity chef Stein's dog dies". BBC News. 16 January 2007. Retrieved 1 August 2012.
^Laurie Bogart Morrow (2012), "Chalky", The Giant Book of Dog Names, Gallery, p. 88, ISBN 9781451666908
^"Debrett's – Rick Stein". Archived from the original on 7 November 2010. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
^"Rick awarded CBE in New Year's Honours List". Rick Stein. 26 June 2018.
^"Rick Stein confirms closure of two restaurants". Thecaterer.com. 22 June 2020. Retrieved 30 August 2020.
^"Rick Stein Porthleven to be taken over by Michael Caines". Falmouthpacket.co.uk. 2 July 2020. Retrieved 30 August 2020.
^"Rick Stein". Who Do You Think You Are?. Series 6. Episode 3. 16 February 2009. 03:18 minutes in. BBC. ... when he committed suicide here on this coast.[dead YouTube link]
^Viner, Brian (24 August 2002), "Rick Stein: The chef in a pickle, yearning for the simple things in life", The Independent, archived from the original on 24 January 2009
^"Rick Stein: 'Public trauma? It's the price of fame'". You.co.uk. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
^"Rick Stein: My second wife has saved me from my father's shadow". Express.co.uk. 2 December 2013.
^Adams, Tim (19 April 2015). "The Stein family saga: 40 years of the Seafood Restaurant". The Guardian.
^"Find out about Rick Stein restaurants and more". Archived from the original on 20 October 2014. Retrieved 28 July 2016.
^ a bSinger, Melissa (9 October 2011). "Celebrity chef Stein walks down the aisle in relaxed Aussie style". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 29 August 2018.
^ a b"My midlife odyssey". Theaustralian.com. 27 September 2013.
^Burgess, Kaya (11 April 2024). "Rick Stein: work killed my marriage". ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 11 April 2024.
^"Celebrity chef's marriage ends". Metro.co.uk. 8 June 2007.
^Tyzack, Anna (22 October 2011). "Jill Stein: Stepping out from her husband Rick's shadow". Archived from the original on 12 January 2022.
^Holt, Laura (10 February 2012). "My Life in Travel: Judge Jules, DJ and music producer". The Independent. Retrieved 21 July 2017.
^"Rick Stein says surviving open heart surgery has made him simplify the way he cooks for his new..." news.knowledia.com. 7 October 2023. Retrieved 26 October 2023.
^Allday, Jasmine (26 October 2023). "The One Show's Gethin Jones forced to apologise as guest swears live on air". The Mirror. Retrieved 27 October 2023.
^"The Seafood Restaurant". Rickstein.com. Retrieved 5 September 2020.
^"Caterersearch.com 100: Rick Stein". Thecaterer.com. Retrieved 5 September 2020.
^"Stein's Fish and Chips". Trevearfarm.co.uk. Retrieved 5 September 2020.[permanent dead link]
^"Rick Stein becomes Pub Landlord". Bighospitality.co.uk. 9 February 2009. Retrieved 5 September 2020.
^"Rick Stein's Fish & Chips, Falmouth". Thecaterer.com. 20 April 2010. Retrieved 5 September 2020.
^"Rick Stein hails Winchester at restaurant launch". Hampshirechronicle.co.uk. 4 November 2014. Retrieved 5 September 2020.
^"Rick stein opens new restaurant in porthleven". Barefootcornwall.com. 15 October 2014. Retrieved 5 September 2020.
^"Rick Stein restaurant in Cornwall to close permanently". 22 June 2020. Retrieved 5 September 2020.
^"Rick Stein Fistral now open". Rickstein.com. 31 March 2015. Retrieved 5 September 2020.
^"Rick Stein's Sandbanks restaurant to open its doors in November". Bournemouthecho.co.uk. 15 October 2015. Retrieved 5 September 2020.
^"Rick Stein Marlborough restaurant to open next month". Thecaterer.com. 21 September 2016. Retrieved 5 September 2020.
^"Rick Stein creates new dishes for first London restaurant". Thecaterer.com. 21 September 2016. Retrieved 5 September 2020.
^"Rick Stein team launches Stein's on the Quay: a new pop-up seafood restaurant in Padstow". Restaurantindustry.co.uk. 17 July 2020. Retrieved 10 September 2020.
^"New South Coast restaurant: Rick Stein at Bannisters". Illawaramercury.com.au. 24 July 2009. Retrieved 5 September 2020.
^"Bannisters Port Stephens Opens September 2018". Alluxia.com. Retrieved 5 September 2020.
^Rick Stein's Simple Suppers. ASIN 1785948148.
^Rick Stein’s Food Stories. ASIN 1785948601.
^"Pointless Celebrities". BBC. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
^"Rick Stein's Cornwall – New BBC TV Series". Retrieved 13 December 2020.
^"Rick Stein's Cornwall to return to BBC Two for a second series". Tellymix.co.uk. 22 June 2021. Retrieved 24 August 2021.
^"Food, crime, and an Italian road trip are all coming to the BBC Daytime and Early Peak schedules". Bbc.co.uk/mediacentre. Retrieved 3 December 2022.
^"Rick Stein's Food Stories commissioned for BBC Two". Retrieved 12 February 2024.
^"Rick Stein's French Odyssey". Bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
^"Rick Stein". Bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
^"View the full CatererSearch 100". The Caterer. 11 May 2005. Archived from the original on 22 August 2016. Retrieved 21 August 2016.
^"New faces on Sgt Pepper album cover for artist Peter Blake's 80th birthday". The Guardian. 27 March 2016.
^"Rick Stein and Jill Stein win a Catey Award". Rickstein.com. 19 July 2016. Retrieved 5 September 2020.
^"Rick Stein awarded CBE in New Year's Honours list 2018". Bighospitality.co.uk. 2 January 2018. Retrieved 17 August 2020.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Rick Stein.
Official website
Rick Stein at IMDb
Interview with Rick Stein – RadioLIVE New Zealand, June 2010.