Jason Atherton

Infobox Chef
name = Jason Atherton


caption =
birthdate = Birth year and age|1971
birthplace = Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England
deathdate =
deathplace =
style = French/Italian cuisine
education = Boston College, Lincolnshire
Army Catering Corps
ratings = Michelin stars Rating|3|3
Mobil Rating|4|5
Good Food Guide Rating|10|10
restaurants = MazeRating|1|3
television = Great British Menu
prevrests =
awards =
website = http://www.gordonramsay.com/maze/chefs/executivechef/

Jason Atherton (born circa 1971 in Sheffield, South Yorkshire),citeweb|url=http://www.caterersearch.com/Articles/2008/05/02/320655/jason-atherton.html|title=Jason Atherton|publisher=Caterer Search|accessdate=2008-06-15] is an English chef, currently Executive Chef at Gordon Ramsay's Michelin starred Maze in London.

Biography

The son of a Skegness hotelier and her joiner husband, Atherton ran away to London when his parents were on holiday aged 16. [citeweb|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/wine/main.jhtml?xml=/wine/2008/05/16/edxanthe116.xml|title=Recipes: Jason Atherton's Maze Grill|author=Clay, Xanthe|work = The Telegraph|date=2008-05-16|accessdate=2008-06-15] After training at Boston College, Lincolnshire, he spent six weeks training with the Army Catering Corps, which he hated.

Career

After working as commis chef at Skegness’ County hotel, he returned to London as commis chef under Boyd Gilmour, and then under Pierre Koffmann (at La Tante Claire) and Nico Ladenis. He then joined Marco Pierre White at Harvey’s, before joining Restaurant Marco Pierre White at the Hyde Park Hotel.

Atherton then served as sous chef at Stephen Terry’s Coast, before becoming head chef at Oliver Peyton’s Mash & Air in Manchester. In 1998 Atherton backpacked to Spain, and became the first British chef to complete a stage at Ferran Adrià’s three-Michelin-star El Bulli restaurant after initially agreeing to work unpaid. [citeweb|url=http://observer.guardian.co.uk/foodmonthly/futureoffood/story/0,,1969709,00.html|title=5. Ramsay's rising star: Jason Atherton|work = The Guardian|accessdate=2008-06-15]

Atherton returned to London to work alongside Stephen Terry at Claudio Pulze’s Frith Street restaurant, winning Caterer and Hotelkeeper Acorn award for young achievers in 2000 for his work at both Frith Street and as executive chef at the Cantina Vinopolis. After opening L’Anis in Kensington in 2001 with Pulze, on its closure he joined Gordon Ramsay in 2002 as executive chef of the Verre and Glasshouse restaurants at the Hilton Dubai Creek, Dubai. [citeweb|url=http://uktv.co.uk/food/item/aid/577618|title=Jason Atherton|publisher=UK TV Food|accessdate=2008-06-15]

Atherton returned to London in 2005, to open Maze at the Marriott Grosvenor Square hotel, mixing contemporary French food with Asian nuances. The restaurant won a Michelin star and three AA rosettes within a year of opening, and now has branches in New York city and Prague, Czech Republic.

Television

Atherton has become a regular guest on BBC One's "Saturday Kitchen," alongside host James Martin. [citeweb|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/chef_biogs/a.shtml|title=Jason Atherton|publisher=BBC Food|accessdate=2008-06-15] [citeweb|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006v5y2|title=Saturday Kitchen - schedule|publisher=BBC Food|accessdate=2008-06-15]

In 2008, Atherton won the London and Southeast heat of the BBC Two programme "Great British Menu" - the judges were his old boss Peyton, alongside Prue Leith and Matthew Fort. He eventually won the starter and main course section in a public vote, in a meal served at The Gherkin, hosted by Heston Blumenthal.

*Starter – Bacon, lettuce and tomato with Croque Monsieur ( [http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/database/baconlettuceandtomat_88832.shtml recipe] )
*Main course – Dexter beef fillet, ox cheek, smoked potato puree and marrow bone ( [http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/database/dexterbeeffilletoxch_88833.shtml recipe] )

Personal life

Married, Atherton and his wife live in West London with their baby daughter.citeweb|url=http://www.gordonramsay.com/maze/chefs/executivechef/|title=Atherton Bio|publisher=Gordon Ramsay|accessdate=2008-06-15]

References

External links

* [http://www.gordonramsay.com/maze/chefs/executivechef/ Atherton bio as Executive Chef at Maze]