Born:
January 14, 1965
in
London
Best Known For:
His unusual gastronomic tastes.
Early-life:
Born January 14, 1965, in London. His family moved to rural Gloucestershire when he was six, where his love of the countryside began. 'I was suddenly released into this world of fields, forests and streams, so I would just wander around all day and explore,' he said. After attending Eton, studying philosophy and psychology at Oxford and doing conservation work in Africa, he decided to make his childhood passion for food his career.
Career:
Despite being untrained, Fearnley-Whittingstall became a sous chef at the River Cafe, but claims he had to leave because he was too messy. Since then, he's worked as a restaurant critic, but gained fame by hosting A Cook on the Wild Side and TV series Escape to River Cottage in 1999, which focused on his experiences of running a self-sufficient smallholding in Dorset. It also showcased his love of using ingredients growing naturally in the countryside. He's hosted several spin-off series, including TV Dinners, The River Cottage Treatment, and Treats from the Edwardian Country House. He has his own production company and spearheaded a campaign to highlight the maltreatment of animals, particularly chickens.
Quote:
'I struggle not to be a tyrant in the kitchen, but I interfere with other people's cooking and my wife finds that annoying, understandably.'
Trivia:
He helped turn an old Axminster inn into an organic produce shop.