- Television chef Gary Rhodes has died aged 59, his family have confirmed
- A statement from his family said he passed away with his wife Jennie by his side
- The chef, a household name in the early 2000’s, moved to Dubai in 2011
- PR director of Grosvenor House Dubai, said he was ‘working until day he died’
- It is not known how he died, but in a now deleted tweet, Jamie Oliver said it came after a ‘tragic fall’
Television chef Gary Rhodes has died aged 59 with his wife by his side, his family revealed this morning.
The father-of-two, famous for his gelled spiky hair, passed away in Dubai where he has lived since 2011.
It is not known how the Michelin starred chef died, but Jamie Oliver posted on Instagram that he had ‘passed away after a tragic fall.’
Oliver deleted the tweet, and reposted a tribute without those words, calling him ‘a fantastic chef and incredible ambassador for British cooking.’
A PR director at the Grosvenor House Dubai, where the chef had restaurant Rhodes W1, said he was working ‘until the day he died.’
In a statement from the family today, they said: ‘The Rhodes family are deeply saddened to announce the passing of beloved husband, father and brother, Gary Rhodes OBE.
‘Gary passed away last evening, Tuesday 26th November 2019, at the age of 59, with his beloved wife Jennie by his side.
‘The family would like to thank everyone for their support and ask for privacy during this time.’
Tributes have flooded in for the chef, who was a household name in the early 2000s, with fellow culinary star James Martin describing him as a ‘gent and genius.’
A statement from his family said: ‘The Rhodes family are deeply saddened to announce the passing of beloved husband, father and brother, Gary Rhodes OBE
He worked in number of restaurants in London throughout the 1990s. He made his big break on television at the age of 27.
PR director at the Grosvenor House Dubai, Jaideep Bhatia, said: ‘He arrived in Dubai in 2007 and had two restaurants, Rhodes 2010 at Le Royal Meridien Beach Resort and Spa, and Rhodes W1 at the Grosvenor.
‘He was working until the day he died. He was working until Tuesday.’
Mr Bhatia said he was unable to confirm any further details about Mr Rhodes’ death, as everything else had to come ‘from the family’.
A message on the Rhodes Twenty10 website read: ‘Closed from 16th September until further notice.’
Its Facebook page has not been updated since September 8.
Television chef Gary Rhodes has died aged 59, his family have confirmed. Pictured right: Rhodes with his wife Jennie
Grosvenor House Dubai and Le Royal Meridien Beach Resort and Spa said in a statement: ‘The team are devastated to hear of the tragic passing of Chef Gary Rhodes OBE.
‘Not only has the industry lost a true culinary legend, we have also lost an inspirational human being and a very dear friend.
‘No words can express our sadness at Gary’s death or our gratitude for the opportunity to work with him. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Rhodes family.’
Rhodes was famed for fronting shows MasterChef, MasterChef USA, Hell’s Kitchen and Rhodes Around Britain throughout his career spanning 30 years.
Jamie Oliver has this morning led tributes to Rhodes, posting on Instagram: ‘My heart felt sympathies to his wife , kids, friends and family, sending love and thoughts.
Rhodes in an image posted to Instagram on November 21
Gary Rhodes pictured in Dubai in an image posted on his Instagram on November 19
‘Gary was a fantastic chef and incredible ambassador for British cooking, he was a massive inspiration to me as a young chef.
‘He reimagined modern British cuisine with elegance and fun. rest in peace Chef.’
Simon Hulstone tweeting: ‘Very sad to get a message this morning from Dubai informing me of the brilliant Chef and mentor Gary Rhodes passing last night.
‘What a shining star for British gastronomy. Rest well Chef.’
Gordon Ramsay said: ‘We lost a fantastic chef today in Gary Rhodes. He was a chef who put British Cuisine on the map.
Rhodes with his wife Jennie and two sons Samuel and George
Rhodes pictured with his two sons Samuel and George in an image posted on George’s Instagram on Father’s Day
‘Sending all the love and prayers to your wife and kids. You’ll be missed Gx’
TV chef James Martin posted: ‘Hugely influential in my life and the life of the British food scene. Gent and genius…RIP Gary, I can’t believe you’re gone.’
Ainsley Harriott tweeted: ‘So sad to hear the news about Gary Rhodes. A true culinary icon and a lovely man. Sending my love and thoughts to his wife Jennie and their boys. RIP, my friend. xx’
Chef Brian Turner, who worked with Rhodes early in his career, tweeted: ‘Such sad news of the passing away of one of England’s great chefs, Gary Rhodes.
‘A man I was privileged to know from his very early days, watching his success & noting the number of young people he inspired in our wonderful industry. A true friend. RIP chef.’
Simon Rimmer posted on Instagram: ‘Tragic news that Gary Rhodes has died. Champion of British food and gave me some of the best advise I’ve ever had at the start of my career. Thoughts and love to Jennie and the boys.’
Daniel Clifford posted: ‘Rest in peace a true British classic Gary Rhodes you open the door for so many young English cooks.’
Jamie Oliver has this morning led tributes to Rhodes, posting on Instagram: ‘My heart felt sympathies to his wife , kids, friends and family, sending love and thoughts’
Gordon Ramsay said: ‘We lost a fantastic chef today in Gary Rhodes’
Chef Simon Hulstone also paid tribute to Rhodes after his death was confirmed this morning
Rhodes, known for his distinctive spiking hair style, was a household name in the early 2000s, and fronted shows such as Masterchef and Hells Kitchen. In 2006 he competed in the BBC’s Great British Menu.
Born in south London in 1960, his family moved to Gillingham, Kent. He went to catering college in Thanet which is where he met his wife Jennie.
In the 1970s he had to have major brain surgery when he was hit by a transit van on a night out.
He was known for his love of British cuisine and earned a record five Michelin Stars throughout his career. He was the author of more than 18 cookery books.
In 2008 he appeared on Strictly Come Dancing but was the third celebrity to be voted off. He moved to Dubai in 2011.
Rhodes, known for his distinctive spiking hair style, was a household name in the early 2000s
Gary Rhodes went to on celebrity chef stardom after learning to cook by preparing meals for his family when his father walked out on them when he was just six
Gary Rhodes taught himself to cook after his father walked out on his family and he took cooking responsibilities on to help his mother
by Richard Spillett
Gary Rhodes credited the beginnings of his culinary genius to experiences in his young life, after his father walked out on the family when he was just six.
The chef was born in south London in 1960 before the family moved to the Medway town of Gillingham in Kent.
He later told how the family was left shell shocked after his father, a caretaker, ran away with a next door neighbour and disappeared from their lives.
Their new situation led to Gary becoming the family cook, and gave him the sense of hard-work and responsibility which never left him.
In an interview in 2008, he told the Daily Mail: ‘My father walking out on me and my brother and two sisters made us grow up so quickly. When I look back, I realise I had quite a responsible head on young shoulders. It made me much stronger, because I had to be – so good did come out of bad.’
‘When he left, my mother had four children, and the youngest – my sister Cheryl – was only a baby. We lived in a council flat and money was tight. When mum had to go back to work as a secretary, I became the family cook.
‘By the time Cheryl was six or seven, I was picking her up from school, taking her home and planning what I was going to cook for her that evening. While other teenage boys were off playing football, I was busy keeping house.’
Rhodes, one of the first breed of celebrity chefs, with Princess Diana at the gala night to celebrate the film Apollo 13 in 1995
At 15, he got a place at catering college, where he met Jennie, who he would later marry and who has been with him throughout his life. She was by his side when he died last night.
His first real job in catering came when he was 19, becoming a commis chef at the Amsterdam Hilton.
The couple returned to the UK following a horrific van accident in Holland, after which Jennie was told Gary could be brain-damaged and might never talk again.
He needed six months off work, but recovered and returned to Britain to get his ‘big break’ in the industry, becoming head chef at the Castle Hotel in Taunton aged 26.
The move allowed the couple to buy their first home, although Gary later admitted he had to work long hours to retain the hotel’s Michelin star.
He later said: ‘I can’t bear it when young chefs quit because they can’t stand the hours, or they say the money isn’t enough. It was how I started out – you reap the rewards years later.’
And reap the rewards he did; in 1990 he moved to London and became head chef at the Greenhouse Restaurant in Mayfair.
Rhodes at the opening of his London restaurant Rhodes W1 in 2007
He made a name for himself by reviving British classics, including fish cakes, oxtails and bread and butter pudding. Under Gary’s stewardship, the restaurant was awarded a Michelin star in 1996.
By this time, Rhodes was appearing on TV, first appearing on Hot Chefs, alongside other members of the first wave of celebrity chefs; Antony Worrall Thompson and Ken Hom.
This led him on to the series Rhodes Around Britain in 1994 and Gary Rhodes’s Perfect Christmas in 1998.
Rhodes on Strictly with partner Karen Hardy
Rhodes founded the first restaurant of his own the following year, 1997, when City Rhodes opened. The chain later expanded to open three other Rhodes and Co eateries around the UK.
He starred on Masterchef, for which he found most fame, first in 1993 but in more episodes in 2001, and Masterchef USA. In 2006, he was honoured with an OBE for services to the hospitality industry.
In 2007, Rhodes began his work in Dubai, opening Rhodes Mezzanine at The Grosvenor House Hotel, Dubai. It went on to win ‘Restaurant of the Year’.
In 2008, he competed in the sixth series of Strictly Come Dancing, partnering with pro Karen Hardy, but was voted off just three weeks in.
He said of his time on the show: ‘I’ve cooked live in front of thousands of people; I have spoken in public and appeared on television without so much as a butterfly in my stomach
‘And each Saturday, I would arrive early in preparation for the live Strictly show feeling really positive.
‘But as the day wore on, the nerves would set in and, at that moment when you know you are about to face a live audience, a panel of judges and ten million viewers, they would announce: ‘Gary and Karen’, and I would think, ‘Oh, my God’.
‘The nerves just pulled me apart. I didn’t realise I could ever be as nervous as that.’
He moved over to the UAE to concentrate on Mezzanine and three other venues he later opened there.
source:dailymail