Raymond Blanc, OBE

Raymond Blanc OBE was born in Besancon, France, in 1949 and arrived on British shores in 1972 where he began to carve his career. Not even he could have imagined how illustrious it would become, or how his name would be treated with the respect it so rightly deserves. When you think it all began by happy misfortune, the story becomes even more compelling.

Blanc's career began at the Rose Revived - a restaurant in Newbridge - when the chef was taken ill. As Blanc stepped in to take up the challenge, the journey began and culminated in him opening his own restaurant, Le Manoir aux Quat' Saisons in Great Milton Oxford in 1984. Le Manoir aux Quat' Saisons is the only country house hotel in the UK to have achieved and retained two Michelin stars and this year, celebrates quarter of a century!

In 2008, Raymond Blanc was awarded an honorary OBE. This year he was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Tatler Restaurant Awards. These join a long list of accolades that has firmly positioned Blanc in the culinary firmament.

Blanc also has interests in both Maison Blanc, with outlets around the UK and Brasserie Blanc, a group of brasseries inspired by Maman Blanc's cooking.

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