Who is Gary Jones and where is his Michelin star-winning restaurant Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons?
MICHELIN starred chef Gary Jones knows more than most about whipping up a tasty dish or two.
Here is everything you need to know about the head chef at Le Manoir aux Quat'Saison, and why his restaurant is so popular...
Who is chef Gary Jones?
Gary is a Merseyside lad who's been working as a chef for more than 30 years.
He trained through a catering course at Carlett Park, on the Wirral, before heading down to London to work at Mountbatten Hotel in Covent Garden.
While there, he also worked shifts at The Waterside Inn - which was, at the time, run by legendary French brothers Albert and Michel Roux.
The talented cook was soon offered the chef de partie position at The Waterside, but turned it down out of respect for his then head chef.
Gary, who describes himself on Twitter as a "family man and Exec Chef", is a dad who has been with his wife for 30 years - and married for 21.
What restaurants has Gary Jones worked at?
Gary joined the Waterside in 1989 at the age of 21 and, a year later to the day, started working as chef de partie at Raymond Blanc's legendary Le Manoir.
But he recognised that his chances of moving up the ranks were limited, and instead jetted off to work on Richard Branson's infamous luxury resort Necker Island.
After a brief stint working in the Maldives, Gary returned to Britain to lead the kitchen at Homewood Park in Bath and, by 1998, had earned his first Michelin star and four AA rosettes.
He then took a job at Waldo's, the renowned restaurant at Cliveden country house, Berks, and won a second star and four AA rosettes.
It wasn't long before Raymond came in for dinner at Waldo's and started tempting Gary back with the promise of the head chef position at Le Manoir.
He eventually took the post in 1999 and remains at the restaurant today, as the proud holder of two Michelin stars and the maximum five AA rosettes.
Where is Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons?
Belmond Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons is in the picturesque village of Great Milton, just outside Oxford.
It is a hotel and restaurant, owned by Raymond Blanc OBE. It was awarded two Michelin stars in 1984, a year after opening, and has held them ever since.
MOST READ IN FOOD
The hotel has extensive vegetable and herb gardens, providing the kitchen with fresh, organic produce - which Gary describes as "our secret weapon".
It's also the site of the exclusive Raymond Blanc Cookery School - while Bake Off: Creme De La Creme judge Benoit Blin is the head pastry chef at the restaurant.
Sadly, food of this quality doesn't come cheap. Prices start at £85 for a five-course tasting lunch, while a seven-course dinner costs £162 per person. You can .