Gary Rhodes

Gary Rhodes (22 April 1960 – 26 November 2019) was an English restaurateur and television chef, known for his love of English cuisine and ingredients and for his distinctive spiked hair style. He fronted shows such as MasterChef, MasterChef USA, Hell's Kitchen, and his own series, Rhodes Around Britain. As well as owning several restaurants, Rhodes also had his own line of cookware and bread mixes. Rhodes went on to feature in the ITV1 programme Saturday Cooks, as well as the UKTV Food show Local Food Hero before his sudden death at age 59.

Early years

Rhodes was born in Camberwell, south London, in 1960, to Gordon and Jean (née Ferris) Rhodes. He moved with his family to Gillingham, Kent, where he went to The Howard School in Rainham. He then attended catering college in Thanet where he met his wife Jennie.

Career

Rhodes' first job was at the Amsterdam Hilton Hotel. He was hit by a Ford Transit van in Amsterdam, leaving him with serious injuries. He then toured Europe in various jobs before becoming sous chef at the Reform Club in Pall Mall, and then on to the Michelin-starred Capital Hotel in Knightsbridge, where he worked under Brian Turner. Rhodes became the head chef at the Castle Hotel, Taunton, in Somerset. He retained the hotel's Michelin star at the age of 26. As part of his programme Floyd on Britain & Ireland, Keith Floyd watched Gary make roast oxtail.