Born in Exeter in 1969 and adopted into a large and loving family, Michael Caines gained his passion for food from his mother who he used to enjoy helping in the kitchen. Says Michael, “I grew up in a large family, and my love of food and cooking came from the big family meals we always shared together, prepared by my mother, who was a wonderful cook. My father loved to grow vegetables and fruit in our garden, and so I grew up appreciating the flavours of the freshest foods, picked that day and simply prepared.”
Michael attended Exeter Catering College before spending an influential three years under his mentor Raymond Blanc at Le Manoir aux Quat’ Saisons in Oxfordshire. He then moved to France for a further couple of years, learning his profession under the guidance of such superstar chefs as the late Bernard Loiseau in Saulieu and Joël Robuchon in Paris.
In 1994 he took up the position of Head Chef at Gidleigh Park and in 1999 earned his second Michelin star. Not long after starting at Gidleigh Park, Michael lost his right arm in a car accident but was back at work within the month. ‘What my accident did was focus my mind,’ he explains. With 20 years at Gidleigh Park under his belt, Michael is now a partner and director of the Abode Hotels group and ‘Michael Caines Restaurants’ in Exeter, Canterbury, Manchester, Chester and Bath. He has cooked at 10 Downing Street for the Prime Minister and taken part in the BBC’s Great British Menu chefs’ competition for the Queen’s 80th birthday.
Author photo © David Griffen
Author's Website: https://www.michaelcaines.com/
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