Celebrity Chef: James Tanner
When James Tanner became the latest recruit to the ever-popular TV series Ready Steady Cook (BBC1) the show drew in close to 3 million viewers per episode. Since then he has appeared on Step up to the Plate, Saturday Kitchen (BBC1), Something for the Weekend, Put Your Menu Where Your Mouth Is, Take on the Takeaway (BBC 2), Country House Sunday (ITV), Munch Box (CITV), Winner Winner School Dinner (CBBC) and is a currently resident chef on Lorraine (ITV).
2010 saw James’ career soar, with his own range of products with Matalan incorporating everything from cookware to kitchen textiles with a new range hitting the shops in 2011. Previously, he was a regular co-presenter for Great Food Live for UKTV Food. James and his brother Chris filmed their own 15 part series The Tanner Brothers, broadcast on the Carlton South West region in December 2003, and repeated on Great Food Live in 2004 and on UKTV Style.
James is regularly asked to work with top brands; he was the face of Blossom Hill’s Summer 2012 campaign, and in Autumn 2012 launched the new range of Heinz soups with a series of soup-inspired recipes. In 2013 he worked with Flora Buttery, and in October 2015 became chef ambassador for Coup de pates UK.
In 1999, aged 23, James and his brother Chris realised their boyhood dream and opened Tanners Restaurant in Plymouth. This was the perfect opportunity to put into practice their excellent Roux Brothers training. It was voted AA Awards – Best Restaurant in the UK 2007/8 and continued to be hugely successful until the brothers decided to sell it in 2014 to focus on their other businesses. James and Chris now have The Barbican Kitchen in Plymouth which they opened in 2006, The Catch in Looe – winning ‘Best Newcomer’ in the National Fish and Chip Awards 2016, and The Kentish Hare in Bidborough, Kent, which opened in May 2014 and within 8 months was listed in the Michelin pub guide, awarded 2 AA rosettes, and won the Top 50 Gastropub Awards ‘One to Watch’ award in 2015 and ‘Newcomer of the Year’ in 2016.
James is a regular at food festivals up and down the country and in 2014 began work as the newly appointed Chef Director of Salon Culinaire at the Hotelympia show. He is also the chairman of judges for The Nestlé Professional Toque d’Or, an annual competition for young catering students.
He is passionate about using local, seasonable and sustainable produce of excellent quality. James was involved in the first Red Tractor Week, supporting farmers, processors, retailers and distributors who work together to maintain and raise production standards, and in May 2015 hosted the Western Daily Press Food and Farming Awards.
James’ books include For Chocolate Lovers, and Ice Cream co-written with his brother Chris, and his first solo book, James Tanner Takes 5: Delicious Dishes Using Just 5 Ingredients. His second book, ‘Old Favourites, New Twists – 100 classic recipes with a difference’ was published 11th July 2013 by Kyle Cathie.
On Sunday we are delighted to welcome James Tanner to The Stoves Cookery Theatre.
You can also watch Celebrity Chef, Paul Rankin at the Theatre Kitchen on Monday 27th August.
When:
Where:
Cornhill, Bury St Edmunds town centre, IP33 1DX
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