Jamie Oliver named most iconic British chef

Celebrity chef Jamie Oliver has been named the most iconic British chef of all time.

 

The TV chef, whose School Dinners campaign made him a household name, beat culinary rivals Delia Smith and multi-Michelin-starred chef Gordon Ramsay into second and third place respectively.

 

The poll, by food magazine Olive, questioned close to 2,000 people and saw Rick Stein in fourth position followed by River Cottage chef Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall.

 

Whittingstall recently caused a surge in sales of organic chickens after he launched a campaign against the battery-farmed birds.

 

Heston Blumenthal, the three-Michelin-starred chef-proprietor of the iconic Fat Duck restaurant in Bray, Berkshire, only came in 11th place, with Gary Rhodes coming 14th and Marco Pierre White landing at 16.

 

The top 20 is completed by the likes of Mrs Beeton, whose Book of Household Management was considered the definitive guide to running a Victorian household, as well as the Two Fat Ladies, Ainsley Harriott and Antony Worrall Thompson.

 

Olive editor Christine Hayes said: "Though their cooking styles couldn't be more different, British food legends Jamie, Delia and Gordon, made the top three. British cooking is no longer something to be sneered about and our iconic British chefs' poll recognises the talent that has helped to make this happen."

 

Olive magazine's 10 most iconic British chefs of all time:

 

1. Jamie Oliver
2. Delia Smith
3. Gordon Ramsay
4. Rick Stein
5. Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall
6. James Martin
7. Nigella Lawson
8. Keith Floyd
9. Nigel Slater
10. Elizabeth David
11. Heston Blumenthal
12. Mrs Beeton
13. Marguerite Patten
14. Gary Rhodes
15. Ainsley Harriott
16. Marco Pierre white
17. Two Fat Ladies 18. The Hairy Bikers
19. Graham Kerr
20. Antony Worrall Thompson

 

Jamie Oliver names fifth Jamie's Italian site

 

Keith Floyd named most decadent foodie by Olive magazine

 

Caterer blog: Rhodes goes buff

 

Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall calls on industry to switch to free-range poultry

 

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