Famed for his comfort food-style recipes, award winning celebrity chef and TV presenter James Martin has steadily earned himself a stellar reputation within the food business.
Realising his passion for cooking from an early age, James Martin first embarked on his culinary journey through a catering college in Scarborough. For three consecutive years, he earned the title of ‘Student of the Year’. After his training was complete, Martin worked in London under the guidance of influential chefs such as Antony Worrall Thompson and Marco Pierre White. He later took up a position as a pastry chef in the acclaimed five Red Star award-winning hotel, Chewton Glen. A few weeks before his 22nd birthday, Martin was appointed head chef of the newly opened Hotel and Bistro du Vin.
It was after this achievement that Martin’s TV career began. His first taste of the screen was during his appearances on Sky One. This led to other successful ventures such as Ready, Steady, Cook and The Big Breakfast. Over the next ten years, Martin’s television career blossomed, seeing him film shows such as Entertaining with James and Housecall. One of the defining moments of his career was in 2006; Martin became the presenter of the BBC One show Saturday Kitchen. Reaching audiences of up to 3.5 million, Martin became a staple for weekend viewers—a familiar face for avid food fans.
During his career, Martin has opened a number of successful restaurants. One of the most notable is James Martin Manchester, which opened in 2013. The modern British menu is set against an industrial chic backdrop. The establishment was awarded a spot on The Sunday Times Top 100 UK restaurants for 2015/16. Over the years James Martin has produced 20 best selling cookbooks, packed with savoury and sweet delights, all with his signature flair.
Since stepping down from Saturday Kitchen in 2016, Martin has fulfilled a number of other ambitious projects including the launch of his cookery school at Chewton Glen and the ITV hit series, James Martin’s French Adventure. Due to the programme’s success, Martin has now announced the release of a follow up show that sees him exploring the diverse cuisines of the US: James Martin’s American Adventure. Martin has also returned with a morning primetime spot, Saturday Morning with James Martin. Being aired since September 2017, Martin is joined by a number of celebrity guests who help him navigate the nation’s latest recipes and food trends.
Catch our exclusive interview with James Martin where he discusses his new cookbook, James Martin’s French Adventure.
If you enjoyed reading our interview with James Martin, check out the digital edition of World Food Tour here where you’ll be able to find other interviews with well-known chefs as well as plenty of recipes.
