Michael Caines
Encyclopedia
Michael Andrew Caines, MBE
(born 1969) is an English
chef
, born in Exeter
, Devon
.
He is currently head chef of Gidleigh Park
in Devon
, the Royal Clarence in Exeter
, and developing the Abode hotels concept with Andrew Brownsword
.
in 1969, he was adopted into a family where his mother nurtured his love of cooking. He attended Exeter Catering College, earning him the accolade ‘Student of the Year’ in 1987. His first job as a chef was at the Michelin starred Grosvenor House Hotel in Exeter. He subsequently spent an influential three years under mentor Raymond Blanc
at Le Manoir aux Quat' Saisons
in Oxfordshire
, before moving to France
to learn under Bernard Loiseau
in Saulieu
and Joël Robuchon
in Paris
.
He became the Head Chef at Gidleigh Park in 1994, but he lost his right arm in a car accident soon afterwards. In 1999, Gidleigh Park was awarded a second Michelin Star
, and in 2001 Caines won Chef of the Year at The Catey Awards
.
Michael Caines Restaurants Ltd was founded in 1999, and the Michael Caines Restaurant opened at the Bristol Marriott Royal in July 2003. However, meeting with Andrew Brownsword
in early 2000 resulted in a partnership and the purchase of the Royal Clarence, Exeter
in October 2000. Together, they have developed the Abode hotel concept.
Currently there are 6 hotels in the Abode group: Exeter, Canterbury, Glasgow, Manchester, Chester, and Salisbury. Caines is also executive chef for Bath Priory Limited, which own both Bath Priory Hotel and Gidleigh Park Hotel. Within Abode Hotels, exists Michael Caines Restaurants, as well as Michael Caines Taverns, Bars & Grills. Caines role within the Abode fanchise (aside co-founder) is Director of Food & Beverage.
In 2006, Caines and John Burton Race
represented the Southwest of England
in the BBC
television series Great British Menu
Caines beat the Dartmouth
based chef to go on to the final round.
Caines was created a Member of the Order of the British Empire
(MBE) on 17 June 2006.
As an adopted child himself, he supports a number of local agencies, as well as amputee initiatives and charities. Michael is Patron of Families for Children, Adoption Agency, www.familiesforchildren.org.uk, a voluntary adoption agency covering Cornwall, Devon and Dorset.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(born 1969) is an English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
chef
Chef
A chef is a person who cooks professionally for other people. Although over time the term has come to describe any person who cooks for a living, traditionally it refers to a highly skilled professional who is proficient in all aspects of food preparation.-Etymology:The word "chef" is borrowed ...
, born in Exeter
Exeter
Exeter is a historic city in Devon, England. It lies within the ceremonial county of Devon, of which it is the county town as well as the home of Devon County Council. Currently the administrative area has the status of a non-metropolitan district, and is therefore under the administration of the...
, Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
.
He is currently head chef of Gidleigh Park
Gidleigh Park
Gidleigh Park is a restaurant within a hotel located in Chagford, Devon, England. The executive head chef is Michael Caines. , the restaurant holds two stars in the Michelin Guide. It was named the No 1 UK restaurant by the Sunday Times Food List on 31 October 2010.-Description:The...
in Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
, the Royal Clarence in Exeter
Exeter
Exeter is a historic city in Devon, England. It lies within the ceremonial county of Devon, of which it is the county town as well as the home of Devon County Council. Currently the administrative area has the status of a non-metropolitan district, and is therefore under the administration of the...
, and developing the Abode hotels concept with Andrew Brownsword
Andrew Brownsword
Andrew Douglas Brownsword , is an English entrepreneur, developing his fortune through the greeting cards and gifts of Forever Friends. He has regularly featured on the Sunday Times Rich List, with an estimated fortune of £190 million....
.
Biography
Born in ExeterExeter
Exeter is a historic city in Devon, England. It lies within the ceremonial county of Devon, of which it is the county town as well as the home of Devon County Council. Currently the administrative area has the status of a non-metropolitan district, and is therefore under the administration of the...
in 1969, he was adopted into a family where his mother nurtured his love of cooking. He attended Exeter Catering College, earning him the accolade ‘Student of the Year’ in 1987. His first job as a chef was at the Michelin starred Grosvenor House Hotel in Exeter. He subsequently spent an influential three years under mentor Raymond Blanc
Raymond Blanc
Raymond Blanc OBE is a French chef, born in Besançon, France. Today he is one of the Britain's most respected chefs. Blanc is the owner and chef at Le Manoir aux Quat' Saisons, a hotel-restaurant in Great Milton, Oxfordshire, England. The restaurant has two Michelin stars and scored 9/10 in the...
at Le Manoir aux Quat' Saisons
Le Manoir aux Quat' Saisons
Le Manoir aux Quat' Saisons is a luxury hotel-restaurant in the village of Great Milton near Oxford, in Oxfordshire, England. It is located in an historic manor house near the church that was visited by Oliver Cromwell.The restaurant has two Michelin stars and scores 9/10 in the Good Food Guide...
in Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire is a county in the South East region of England, bordering on Warwickshire and Northamptonshire , Buckinghamshire , Berkshire , Wiltshire and Gloucestershire ....
, before moving to France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
to learn under Bernard Loiseau
Bernard Loiseau
Bernard Loiseau was a French chef. He committed suicide by firearm in 2003 when newspaper reports hinted that his restaurant might lose its 3-star status.-Early life:...
in Saulieu
Saulieu
Saulieu is a commune in the Côte-d'Or department in the Burgundy region in eastern France.Capital of the Morvan, and found in the Morvan Regional Park, Saulieu is located to the southeast of Paris on the RN6 road.-History:...
and Joël Robuchon
Joël Robuchon
Joël Robuchon is a French chef and restaurateur. He was titled "Chef of the Century" by the guide Gault Millau in 1989 and also awarded the Meilleur Ouvrier de France in cuisine in 1976...
in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
.
He became the Head Chef at Gidleigh Park in 1994, but he lost his right arm in a car accident soon afterwards. In 1999, Gidleigh Park was awarded a second Michelin Star
Michelin Guide
The Michelin Guide is a series of annual guide books published by Michelin for over a dozen countries. The term normally refers to the Michelin Red Guide, the oldest and best-known European hotel and restaurant guide, which awards the Michelin stars...
, and in 2001 Caines won Chef of the Year at The Catey Awards
The Catey Awards
First occurring in 1984, the Caterer and Hotelkeeper awards, or Cateys, are a UK award ceremony for the hospitality industry. They have been described as the hospitality industry's equivalent of the Oscars....
.
Michael Caines Restaurants Ltd was founded in 1999, and the Michael Caines Restaurant opened at the Bristol Marriott Royal in July 2003. However, meeting with Andrew Brownsword
Andrew Brownsword
Andrew Douglas Brownsword , is an English entrepreneur, developing his fortune through the greeting cards and gifts of Forever Friends. He has regularly featured on the Sunday Times Rich List, with an estimated fortune of £190 million....
in early 2000 resulted in a partnership and the purchase of the Royal Clarence, Exeter
Exeter
Exeter is a historic city in Devon, England. It lies within the ceremonial county of Devon, of which it is the county town as well as the home of Devon County Council. Currently the administrative area has the status of a non-metropolitan district, and is therefore under the administration of the...
in October 2000. Together, they have developed the Abode hotel concept.
Currently there are 6 hotels in the Abode group: Exeter, Canterbury, Glasgow, Manchester, Chester, and Salisbury. Caines is also executive chef for Bath Priory Limited, which own both Bath Priory Hotel and Gidleigh Park Hotel. Within Abode Hotels, exists Michael Caines Restaurants, as well as Michael Caines Taverns, Bars & Grills. Caines role within the Abode fanchise (aside co-founder) is Director of Food & Beverage.
In 2006, Caines and John Burton Race
John Burton Race
John Burton Race is a British michelin starred chef, television personality and celebrity chef, made famous by the Channel 4 series French Leave and its sequel Return of the Chef and I'm A Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here.-Biography:John Burton Race, successful Michelin Star chef, television...
represented the Southwest of England
South West England
South West England is one of the regions of England defined by the Government of the United Kingdom for statistical and other purposes. It is the largest such region in area, covering and comprising Bristol, Gloucestershire, Somerset, Dorset, Wiltshire, Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. ...
in the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
television series Great British Menu
Great British Menu
Great British Menu is a BBC television series in which top British chefs compete for the chance to cook one course of a four course banquet. The first series banquet was for the Queen on her 80th birthday. The second series was to cook for the British Ambassador to France at the British Embassy...
Caines beat the Dartmouth
Dartmouth, Devon
Dartmouth is a town and civil parish in the English county of Devon. It is a tourist destination set on the banks of the estuary of the River Dart, which is a long narrow tidal ria that runs inland as far as Totnes...
based chef to go on to the final round.
Caines was created a Member of the Order of the British Empire
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(MBE) on 17 June 2006.
Personal life
Caines lives near Exeter in mid-Devon, with his partner Ruth and their son Joseph and daughter Hope.As an adopted child himself, he supports a number of local agencies, as well as amputee initiatives and charities. Michael is Patron of Families for Children, Adoption Agency, www.familiesforchildren.org.uk, a voluntary adoption agency covering Cornwall, Devon and Dorset.