Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Jamie Oliver
Jamie Oliver
James Trevor "Jamie" Oliver, MBE (born 27 May 1975) is an English celebrity
chef, restaurateur, and media personality known for his food-focused television shows,
cookbooks and more recently his global campaign for better food education.
Early life
Oliver was born and raised in the village of Clavering. His parents run a pub/restaurant, The
Cricketers, where he practiced cooking in the kitchen.[1] He was educated at Newport Free
Grammar School.[2]
Oliver left school at age sixteen with two GCSE qualifications in Art and Geology[3]and went on
to attend Westminster Catering College now Westminster Kingsway College.[1][4] He then
earned a City & GuildsNational Vocational Qualification (NVQ) in home economics.
Career
His first job was a pastry chef at Antonio Carluccio's Neal's Yard restaurant, where he first gained
experience with preparing Italian cuisine, and developed a relationship with his mentor Gennaro
Contaldo. (Later in his career, Jamie employed Contaldo to help run his successful collection of
high street restaurants, Jamie's Italian[4]). Oliver moved to The River Caf, Fulham, as a sous
chef. It was there that he was noticed by the BBCin 1997, after making an unscripted
appearance in a documentary about the restaurant, "Christmas at the River Cafe".[5] In 1999, his
BBC show The Naked Chef dbuted, and his cookbook became a #1 bestseller in the United
Kingdom.[6] That same year, Oliver was invited to prepare lunch for thenPrime Minister Tony
Blair at 10 Downing Street.[6]
In June 2000, Oliver became the face of the United Kingdom supermarket chain Sainsbury's,
through an endorsement deal worth $2 million a year.[6] In July 2011, after eleven years, the
partnership between Oliver & Sainsbury's ended. The final television advertisement was for
Christmas 2011.[7]
After three series of Naked Chef programmes (The Naked Chef, Return of the Naked
Chef & Happy Days with The Naked Chef) for the BBC, Oliver moved to Channel 4 in the United
Kingdom, where his first series was a documentary, Jamie's Kitchen which followed the setting
up of 15 restaurant in London. The restaurant, in Westland Place, London, continues to train
young adults who have a disadvantaged background for careers in the restaurant business.[8]
References
1.
"An in-depth look at your favourite celebrity personalities". Hello! Magazine. Retrieved 2
April 2009.
8. "Jamie Oliver Puts America's Diet on a Diet", 11 October 2009; accessed 10 August 2014.
9. "Oliver's pukka life as chef". BBC News. 13 June 2003. Retrieved 11 January 2011. TV chef Jamie
Oliver has been honoured with an MBE for his services to the hospitality industry ...
10. Habershon, Ed; Lois Rogers (6 November 2005). "Jamie Oliver's recipe for success brings in
millions". The Times(London, UK). Retrieved 11 January 2011.
11. "Jamie Oliver: Family & friends helped when banks said no". Business Matters magazine.
Retrieved 8 July 2010.
12. "Oxford Opening for Oliver". BigHospitality.co.uk. Retrieved2 June 2008.
13. "Wishes Big Enough to Change the World Congratulations Jamie Oliver 2010 TED Prize
Winner". TED Prize. Retrieved 17 March 2010.