Christopher Richard “Rick” Stein, DBA (born January 4, 1947) is a renowned English chef, restaurateur, and television presenter. Together with his partner Jill Steyn, they have owned a hotel and restaurant business in the UK for over forty years. They also own several well-known restaurants, shops, and hotels in Padstow, Cornwall, and other restaurants in Marlborough, Winchester, and Barnes, London. He is also the head chef and co-owner of Rick Steyn at Bannisters restaurants in Mullimook and Port Stephens, Australia, together with his second wife Sarah. He has published cookbooks and hosted several television programs.

Childhood

Christopher Richard Stein is of German descent and was born on January 4, 1947, in Churchill, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom, to Eric and Dorothy Stein.

He was a pupil at Wells Court, a preparatory school near Tewkesbury. He then attended Wells House, its senior sister school, in Malvern Wells, from the ages of 10 to 13. He then went to Appingem Grammar School. He took exams in English, history, and geography, but failed them all. He then attended a tutoring school in Brighton and managed to pass English and history with flying colors.

Stein completed an internship in hotel management at the former Grand Western Royal Hotel in Paddington (now the London Hilton Paddington). He worked there as a chef for six months. Devastated by his father’s suicide, at the age of 19 he went to Australia, where he worked as a slaughterhouse worker and office clerk at a shipyard. Around this time, he traveled to New Zealand and Mexico to “take a break.”

He read extensively on his own and, seeking further education, enrolled at New College, Oxford University, where he received a degree in English in 1971. Shortly thereafter, he moved to Padstow, Cornwall.

Personal life

Rick Stein znaki.fm/persons/rick-stein/ met his first wife, Jill Newstead, in Padstow, Cornwall. They married in 1975 and developed their restaurant and hotel business. With Jill, he had three sons, Edward, Jack, and Charles, who are involved in the family business.

He met Sarah Burns, who was 20 years younger than him, in Australia in 1997, when she was working as a publications manager for Australia Gourmet Traveler magazine. They dated for five years until Jill found out and divorced Rick in 2007. Rick and Jill agreed to continue running their business together. Rick and Sarah were married on October 7, 2011.

Rick has a brother, Johnny, and a sister, Henrietta. He also has a half-brother, Jeremy, from his mother’s first marriage. He is the uncle of DJ and music producer DJ Jules.

Charitable work

Stein is a patron of the following charitable organizations: Padstow Youth, Southwest PESCA, National Mission for Deep Sea Fishermen, National Coastguard Foundation, Dyslexy Research Fund та National Trust for Missions of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty.

Other awards for the restaurant:

  • RAC/Sunday Times: Taste of Britain Award for Best Restaurant of 1984.
  • Decanter Magazine: Restaurant of the Year 1989.
  • César Award for Best Hotel Guide 1995.
  • Egon Roni’s Guide: Restaurant of the Year 1996.
  • Hotel and Restaurant Magazine: Seafood Restaurant of the Year in 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, and 2003.

For people:

  • Kalo Fadio Channel Award for Radio and Television Personality of 1995/1996.
  • England Excellence Awards: Award for Outstanding Contribution to Tourism 1988-1998.
  • Caterer Magazine Award: Chef of the Year 1999.
  • AA Cookbook Guide: Chef of the Year 1999-2000.
  • Waterford Wedgwood: Hospitality Award 1999.