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'{{Short description|British chef and restaurateur}} {{BLP sources|date=June 2021}}{{Use British English|date=July 2012}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2019}} {{Infobox chef | image = MarcoPierreWhite.jpg | caption = White in 2012 | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1961|12|11}} | birth_place = [[Leeds]], England | style = {{hlist|[[French cuisine|French]]|[[British cuisine|British]]|[[Italian cuisine]]}} | spouse = {{plainlist| * {{marriage|Alex McArthur<br />|1988|1990|end=div}} * {{marriage|[[Lisa Butcher]]<br />|1992|end=div}} * {{marriage|Mati Conejero<br />|2000|end=separated}} }} | ratings = Michelin stars {{Michelinstar|3|3}} | restaurants = {{Plainlist| * London Steakhouse Company * Wheeler's Fish & Chips * Marco Pierre White Steak House & Grill * Wheeler's of St James's * Mr White's English Chophouse * Koffman & Mr White's * Marco's New York Italian * Marconi Coffee and Juice Bar * Bardolino * The English House, Singapore }} | prevrests = {{Plainlist| * [[Harveys (restaurant)|Harveys]] {{Michelin stars|2}} * [[The Restaurant Marco Pierre White]] {{Michelin stars|3}} }} | television = {{Plainlist| * ''Marco'' * [[Boiling Point (1998 miniseries)|''Boiling Point'']] * [[Hell's Kitchen (UK TV series)|''Hell's Kitchen UK'']] * ''Marco's Great British Feast'' * [[The Chopping Block (U.S. TV series)|''The Chopping Block'']] * ''[[Kitchen Burnout]]'' * ''[[MasterChef Australia: The Professionals]]'' * ''[[MasterChef Australia]]'' * ''[[Hell's Kitchen Australia]]'' }} | website = {{URL|Marcopierrewhite.co}} }} '''Marco Pierre White''' (born 11 December 1961) is a British chef, restaurateur, and television personality.<ref name="Times Online">{{cite news|last=Johnson|first=Richard|title=White Heat|url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/food_and_drink/article2181961.ece|access-date=14 February 2011|newspaper=The Times|date=5 August 2007|location=London, UK |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081014015118/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/food_and_drink/article2181961.ece |archive-date=14 October 2008 }}</ref> In 1995, aged 33, White became the first British chef to be awarded three [[Michelin stars]]. He has trained notable chefs such as [[Mario Batali]], [[Heston Blumenthal]], [[Shannon Bennett]], [[Gordon Ramsay]] and [[Curtis Stone]].<ref name="HumblePie">{{cite book |last= Ramsay|first=Gordon|title=Humble Pie|year=2006|publisher=[[HarperCollins]]|location=UK|isbn=0-00-722967-4}}</ref> He has been dubbed "the first [[celebrity chef]]"<ref name="Times Online"/> and the ''[[enfant terrible]]'' of the UK restaurant scene.<ref>''Radio Times'', London, 1–7 September 2007.</ref> ==Early life== Marco Pierre White was born in [[Leeds]] on 11 December 1961,<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=h6u0Q3zvan8C&pg=PT7 |title=Marco Pierre White: Making of Marco Pierre White, Sharpest Chef in History |last=Hennessy |first=Charles |date=28 February 2011 |publisher=Random House |isbn=978-1-4464-0875-9 |pages=7 }}</ref> the third of four sons born to Maria-Rosa Gallina, an Italian immigrant from [[Veneto]], and Frank White, a chef. When Marco was six, his mother died from a [[cerebral haemorrhage]] caused by complications from the birth of Marco's younger brother. He left [[Allerton High School]] in Leeds without any qualifications and decided to train as a chef like his father. ==Career== White first trained at Hotel St George in [[Harrogate]] and then at the [[Box Tree]] in [[Ilkley]]. In 1981, he went to [[London]] with "£7.36, a box of books, and a bag of clothes",<ref name="Times Online"/> and began his classical training as a ''[[commis]]'' with [[Albert Roux|Albert]] and [[Michel Roux]] at [[Le Gavroche]]. He continued his training under [[Pierre Koffman]] at [[La Tante Claire]], moving to work in the kitchen of [[Raymond Blanc]] at [[Le Manoir aux Quat' Saisons|Le Manoir]],<ref>{{cite news|author=Raphael Brion|url=http://eater.com/archives/2012/12/01/heston-blumenthal-rejects-the-claim-he-trained-under-marco-pierre-white.php|title=Heston Blumenthal Rejects the Claim He Trained Under Marco Pierre White – Feuds|publisher=Eater National|date=1 December 2012|access-date=21 June 2014}}</ref> and later with [[Nico Ladenis]] of Chez Nico at Ninety Park Lane. He then branched out on his own, working in the kitchen at the Six Bells public house in the [[Kings Road]] with assistant [[Mario Batali]].<ref name="Times Online"/> In 1987, White opened [[Harveys (restaurant)|Harveys]] in [[Wandsworth Common]], London, where he won his first [[Michelin star]] almost immediately, and his second a year later.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/1998/04/27/bad-boy-in-the-kitchen|title=ANNALS OF COOKING – Bad Boy In The Kitchen|date=27 April 1998|magazine=The New Yorker|access-date=23 September 2020}}</ref> He also won the Newcomer Award at the 1987 [[The Catey Awards]], run by ''[[The Caterer]]'' magazine. White's notable protégés who worked at Harveys include [[Gordon Ramsay]], [[Phil Howard (chef)|Phil Howard]], [[Stephen Terry]], and [[Éric Chavot]].<ref>{{cite book |first=Marco Pierre |last=White |year=2006 |chapter=14. Beautiful Doll |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HVCgAwAAQBAJ&dq=marco%20pierre%20stephen%20terry%20gordon%20howard&pg=PA127 |title=The Devil in the Kitchen: Sex, Pain, Madness, and the Making of a Great Chef |publisher=Bloomsbury |page=127 |isbn=9781596919327 }}</ref> He later became chef-patron of [[The Restaurant Marco Pierre White]] in the dining room at the former Hyde Park Hotel, where he won the third Michelin star, and then moved to the Oak Room at the [[Le Méridien Piccadilly Hotel]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/marco-pierre-white-to-retire-from-the-kitchen-1121376.html|title=Marco Pierre White to retire from the kitchen|date=24 September 1999|work=independent.co.uk|access-date=19 August 2017}}</ref> In 1995, at the age of 33, White became the first British chef to be awarded three Michelin stars and the youngest chef to achieve three stars to that point.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/why-michelin-chefs-return-stars/index.html|title=Why Michelin chefs are handing back their stars}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.eater.com/2017/9/21/16345242/chefs-give-back-michelin-stars|title=Why Do Chefs 'Give Back' Their Michelin Stars?|first=Hillary Dixler|last=Canavan|date=21 September 2017|website=Eater}}</ref> His record was superseded by [[Massimiliano Alajmo]] in 2002, who achieved three stars at the age of 28.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.foodandwine.com/news/massimiliano-alajmos-michelin-star-restaurants|title=Massimiliano Alajmo's Michelin Star Restaurants|website=Food & Wine}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/big-interview-leeds-s-own-enfant-terrible-of-british-cooking-marco-pierre-white-1-8646004|title=Big interview: Leeds's own enfant terrible of British cooking Marco Pierre White|work=The Yorkshire Post|access-date=6 February 2018}}</ref> Although White worked for seventeen years to pursue his ambition, he ultimately found that, in spite of his accomplishments, recognition and fame, his career did not provide him with adequate returns in his personal life. So, in 1999, he retired and returned his Michelin stars.<ref name="observer-barber">{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2007/oct/21/foodanddrink.features9|last=Barber|first=Lynn|title=What's Eating Marco? (Observer Food Monthly interview)|date=21 October 2007|newspaper=[[The Observer]]|location=London, UK|access-date=29 March 2022}}</ref> {{cquote|I was being judged by people who had less knowledge than me, so what was it truly worth? I gave Michelin inspectors too much respect, and I belittled myself. I had three options: I could be a prisoner of my world and continue to work six days a week, I could live a lie and charge high prices and not be behind the stove or I could give my stars back, spend time with my children and re-invent myself.<ref name="caterer">{{Cite news|author=Mark Lewi|date=25 April 2007|title=Marco Pierre White on why he's back behind the stove for TV's Hell's Kitchen|work=[[Caterer and Hotelkeeper]]|location=London, UK|url=http://www.caterersearch.com/Articles/2007/04/25/313310/exclusive-marco-pierre-white-on-why-hes-back-behind-the-stove-for-tvs-hells-kitchen.html|access-date=26 April 2007}}</ref>}} ==Career change== White announced his retirement from the kitchen in 1999, and cooked his final meal for a paying customer on 23 December at the Oak Room.<ref name="Times Online"/> He also returned all his Michelin stars. After his retirement from cooking, he became a restaurateur. Together with [[Jimmy Lahoud]], he set up White Star Line Ltd, which they operated together for several years before ending their partnership in 2007.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.caterersearch.com/Articles/2006/09/21/308890/marco-pierre-white-profile-ranked-46-in-the-caterersearch100-in-2006.html |title=Marco Pierre White Profile |date=September 2006 |work=Caterer & Hotelkeeper | location = London }}</ref> [[File:Marco-pierre-white-sh-bristol.jpg|alt=A brightly lit restaurant setting, with tables set, but no people.|thumb|Marco Pierre White Steakhouse, Bar & Grill Bristol]] In 2008, White opened his first steakhouse, the "MPW Steak & Alehouse"<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.londonsteakhousecompany.com/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150122132458/http://www.mpwsteakandalehouse.org/|title=Home|archive-date=22 January 2015|website=London Steakhouse Co}}</ref> with James Robertson in the [[City of London|Square Mile]] in London. As co-owners, since 2010 they also operated the Kings Road Steakhouse & Grill<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kingsroadsteakhouseandgrill.org/|title=Kings Road Steakhouse & Grill|website=kingsroadsteakhouseandgrill.org|access-date=19 August 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150122131327/http://www.kingsroadsteakhouseandgrill.org/|archive-date=22 January 2015}}</ref> in [[Chelsea, London|Chelsea]]. James Robertson had worked for White as a [[maître d'hôtel]], between 1999 and 2003. In May 2016 the two restaurants became the London Steakhouse Co.<ref>[http://www.londonsteakhousecompany.com/ London Steakhouse Co. website], londonsteakhousecompany.com; accessed 14 June 2016.</ref> White had a stake in the Yew Tree Inn, a 17th-century dining pub near [[Highclere]] in [[Hampshire]], although following an acrimonious falling out with his business partners the pub was sold. This was the setting for much of "Marco's Great British Feast", screened on [[ITV Network|ITV]] in the summer of 2008. In January 2009, it was reported that White was to charge £5 for a pint of [[real ale]] at the venue, making the Yew Tree "one of the most expensive places to drink British real ale in the country".<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/food_and_drink/real_food/article5598779.ece?openComment=true|author=Nick Wyke|title=The £5 pint has arrived|newspaper=The Times|location=London, UK|date=27 January 2009|access-date=8 February 2009}}</ref> White said: "Most pubs undercharge. You're not just paying for beer, you're paying for the place you drink it in and the people who serve it."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2009/01/28/marco-pierre-white-pulls-in-5-a-pint-115875-21076818|title=Marco Pierre White pulls in £5 a pint|newspaper=Daily Mirror|location=London, UK|date=28 January 2009|access-date=8 February 2009}}</ref> In 2010, White met businessman Nick Taplin, owner of a four-star hotel in North Somerset (UK) called Cadbury House and operator of other venues in the UK. Taplin was looking to improve the in-house restaurant offering across his hotel estate and in October 2010, following discussions with White, opened a Marco Pierre White Steakhouse Bar & Grill at Cadbury House as a franchisee. This was closely followed by restaurants at Hoole Hall in Chester and The Cube in Birmingham. As more hotel owners started making enquiries about a Marco Pierre White restaurant, in 2013, White developed a master franchise with Taplin, and together launched Black And White Hospitality. The business operates a franchise model allowing property owners or investors to open one of the eight Marco Pierre White branded restaurants within their property including Marco Pierre White Steakhouse Bar & Grill, Mr White's English Chophouse, Wheeler's of St James's Oyster Bar & Grill Room, Koffmann & Mr White's, Marco's New York Italian, Wheeler's Fish & Chips, Bardolino Pizzeria Bellini & Espresso Bar and Marconi Coffee & Juice Bar. White has published several books, including an influential cookbook ''[[White Heat (book)|White Heat]]'', an autobiography called ''White Slave'' (entitled ''The Devil in the Kitchen'' in North America and in the paperback version),<ref>{{cite book|isbn=978-0-7528-8161-4|title=The Devil in the Kitchen|author=Marco Pierre White|year=2007|publisher=Orion|location=London, UK}}</ref> and ''Wild Food from Land and Sea''. ==TV and film career== ===''Hell's Kitchen''=== In September 2007, White was the Head Chef in ITV's ''[[Hell's Kitchen (UK TV series)|Hell's Kitchen]]'' television series.<ref name="caterer"/><ref>[http://www.myparkmag.co.uk/articles/entertainment/television/Hells-Kitchen-is-back.jsp "Hell's Kitchen is back!"] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20070927223732/http://www.myparkmag.co.uk/articles/entertainment/television/Hells-Kitchen-is-back.jsp |date=27 September 2007 }}, My Park Magazine.</ref> At one point during the series, controversy ensued when White said, "I don't think it was a [[pikey|pikey's]] picnic tonight." The remark prompted criticism from the [[Commission for Racial Equality]]. However, the show was defended by an ITV spokesman, who indicated that warnings about its content were given before transmission, and that White's comment had been challenged by one of the contestants, [[Lee Ryan]].<ref>{{cite news | url = http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/realitytv/a75304/hells-kitchen-hit-by-racism-row.html |title = ''Hell's Kitchen'' hit by racism row just |work=Digital Spy | date = 8 September 2007 | author=Alex Fletcher }}</ref> The book accompanying the show, ''Marco Pierre White in Hell's Kitchen'', was published on 23 August 2007 by [[Ebury Press]]. White returned to [[ITV Network|ITV]]'s screens to present [[Hell's Kitchen (UK series 4)|the 4th series of ''Hell's Kitchen'']] in 2009. White presented ''[[Hell's Kitchen Australia]]'' for the [[Seven Network]] which aired in 2017.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/tv-and-radio/hells-kitchen-masterchefs-matt-preston-has-last-laugh-over-marco-pierre-white-20170814-gxvnku.html|title=Hell's Kitchen: MasterChef's Matt Preston has last laugh over Marco Pierre White|first=Michael|last=Lallo|publisher=smh.com.au|date=14 August 2017|access-date=6 July 2018}}</ref> White had previously been working with rival programme ''[[Masterchef Australia|Masterchef]]'', but quit in retaliation<ref name="auto1">{{cite web|url=http://www.kiis1011.com.au/entertainment/celebrity-gossip/marco-pierre-white-has-revealed-the-real-reason-as-to-why-he-quit-masterchef|title=MARCO PIERRE WHITE REVEALS REASON WHY HE QUIT MASTERCHEF|work=kiis1011.com.au|date=8 May 2017|access-date=14 May 2017|archive-date=8 May 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170508021247/http://www.kiis1011.com.au/entertainment/celebrity-gossip/marco-pierre-white-has-revealed-the-real-reason-as-to-why-he-quit-masterchef|url-status=dead}}</ref> after [[Matt Preston]], a judge on the Masterchef, alleged that White's son spent $500,000 of his father's money on drugs and prostitution.<ref name="auto">{{cite web|url=http://www.nowtolove.com.au/news/latest-news/marco-pierre-white-jr-foul-tirade-matt-preston-37304|title=Marco Pierre White Jr's foul-mouthed tirade against Matt Preston will shock you (to say the least!)|first=Lorna|last=Gray|work=www.nowtolove.com.au|date=9 May 2017|access-date=14 May 2017}}.</ref> ===Knorr=== White is seen in UK adverts for [[Knorr (brand)|Knorr]] stock cubes and stock pots, a [[Unilever]] brand. In answer to criticisms that he had "sold himself out as a chef" by acting as a brand ambassador for such products he said, "by working with companies like Knorr it allows me to stand onto a bigger stage and enrich people's lives... Michelin stars, they're my past."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bighospitality.co.uk/People/Marco-Pierre-White-I-ve-had-to-evolve|title=Marco Pierre White: I've had to evolve|publisher=BigHospitality.co.uk|access-date=6 July 2011}}</ref> In 2013, White apologised after being accused of [[cultural appropriation]] over an online video produced for Knorr in which he demonstrated how to cook [[rice and peas]].<ref>{{cite web |title=BBC Radio Nottingham - Reya El-Salahi, "Chef's Jamaican-style dish apology not good enough" - Nottingham |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p01l22k6 |website=BBC |access-date=2 June 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Okolosie |first1=Lola |title=Marco Pierre White, that was no Jamaican dish you made {{!}} Lola Okolosie |url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/oct/30/marco-pierre-white-jamaican-dish-knorr-advert |website=The Guardian |access-date=2 June 2022 |language=en |date=30 October 2013}}</ref> ===Other TV work=== On 18 March 2008, it was announced that White would be the host of [[The Chopping Block (U.S. TV series)|an American version]] of the [[Australia]]n cooking competition series ''[[The Chopping Block]]''.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.zap2it.com/tv/news/zap-nbcordersthechoppingblock,0,5789525.story |date=18 March 2008 |title=NBC Puts Chefs on ''Chopping Block'' |work=zap2it.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080321163333/http://www.zap2it.com/tv/news/zap-nbcordersthechoppingblock%2C0%2C5789525.story |archive-date=21 March 2008 }}</ref> The series, produced by [[Granada America]], the production company behind the American version of ''[[Hell's Kitchen (U.S. TV series)|Hell's Kitchen]]'', aired on [[NBC]] in March 2009 but was pulled after three episodes due to low ratings. After a three-month hiatus, ''Chopping Block'' returned to complete its season.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://tvseriesfinale.com/articles/the-chopping-block-canceled/ |title=The Chopping Block: NBC Cancels Reality TV Show After Three Episodes |work=TV Series Finale |date=27 March 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20090331103608/http://tvseriesfinale.com/articles/the-chopping-block-canceled/ |archive-date=31 March 2009 }}</ref> On 6 July 2011, White was a guest judge on ''[[Masterchef Australia]]'' mentoring the cooks in an elimination round. On 15 June 2014, White began a week-long appearance on ''Masterchef Australia'' presiding over a mystery box challenge, an invention test and a pressure test. On 17 May 2015, White began his second week-long appearance on ''Masterchef Australia'', in Week 3 of Series 7. On 12 July 2015, he returned for a second week on ''Masterchef Australia'' Series 7, entitled "Marco Returns Week". On 8 May 2016, White began his third year running, and fourth week-long appearance on ''Masterchef Australia'', this time Week 2 of Series 8. On 27 August 2011, White was a houseguest on the UK version of ''Celebrity Big Brother'' to set a cooking task.<ref>"[http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/s150/celebrity-big-brother/news/a337468/celebrity-big-brother-marco-pierre-white-sets-cooking-task.html Celebrity Big Brother Marco Pierre White sets cooking task]" Digital Spy 27 August 2011.</ref> In 2012, White fronted a new show for [[Channel 5 (UK)|Channel 5]] called ''Marco Pierre White's Kitchen Wars''. It saw the UK's best restaurant partnerships balance food with front of house service, fighting for a place in a specially designed studio restaurant, where the top couples are each given their own kitchen and set of diners to impress.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.channel5.com/shows/marco-pierre-whites-kitchen-wars |title=Marco Pierre White's Kitchen Wars |publisher=Channel 5 |access-date=17 November 2012}}</ref> It received positive reviews from critics in ''[[The Guardian]]'' and ''[[The Independent]]''.<ref>{{cite news|author=Sam Wollaston |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2012/jun/21/marco-pierre-whites-kitchen-wars |title=TV review: Marco Pierre White's Kitchen Wars; Dead Boss |work=The Guardian |date= 21 June 2012|access-date=17 November 2012 |location=London}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|author=Tom Sutcliffe |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/reviews/last-nights-viewing-marco-pierre-whites-kitchen-wars-channel-5the-men-who-made-us-fat-bbc2-7873532.html |title=Last Night's Viewing: Marco Pierre White's Kitchen Wars, Channel 5, The Men Who Made Us Fat |work=The Independent |date=22 July 2012 |access-date=17 November 2012 |location=London}}</ref> White was a principal judge in ''Masterchef Australia: The Professionals'', which started on 20 January 2013.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.masterchef.com.au/|title=MasterChef Australia|website=TenPlay – MasterChef Australia|access-date=19 August 2017|archive-date=22 September 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130922201123/http://www.masterchef.com.au/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tvtonight.com.au/2013/01/the-greatest-show-on-earth.html |title=The Greatest Show on Earth |work=TV Tonight |author=David Knox |date=15 January 2013 |access-date=21 January 2013}}</ref> White co-hosted the show with regular ''Masterchef Australia'' host [[Matt Preston]]. On 11 December 2014, White appeared on the South African version of ''Masterchef'' which aired on [[M-Net]]. He had a cook-along in the final challenge in the finals between Siphokazi and Roxi. On 6 September 2015, White appeared on the New Zealand version of ''MasterChef'' which aired on [[TV3 (New Zealand)]]. He was the Head Chef/Mentor of a team challenge consisting of the final 8. On 1st November 2023, White appeared on the Indian version of Master chef, named MasterChef India which aired on Sony LIV exclusively making it the first season to be so. He presented the home cooks with the challenge of restricted time usage on electricity, gas and a mystery box which had 250ml of water which was the only amount of water allowed to cook with. On tasting one of the home cook's dishes he said "this is why when I come to India, I don't miss home. White appeared on two episodes of the season which aired on 1st November and 2nd November 2023. ==Controversies== ===Treatment of customers and employees=== During his early career working in the kitchen at Harveys, White regularly ejected patrons from the restaurant if he took offence at their comments.<ref name="observer-ferguson">{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2001/apr/21/foodanddrink.features10 |last=Ferguson |first=Euan |title=Marco: Man and Boy |date=21 April 2001 |newspaper=[[The Observer]] |location=London, UK |access-date=29 March 2022}}</ref> When a customer asked if he could have chips with his lunch, White hand-cut and personally cooked the chips, but charged the customer £25 for his time.<ref name="observer-ferguson"/> During his time at Harveys, White would regularly act unpredictably, from throwing cheese plates onto the wall to assaulting his head chef who had recently broken his leg. He later said that he "used to go fucking insane".<ref name="heat-knopf">{{Cite book|author=Bill Buford|author-link=Bill Buford|title=Heat: An Amateur's Adventures as Kitchen Slave, Line Cook, Pasta-Maker, and Apprentice to a Dante-Quoting Butcher in Tuscany|year=2006|publisher=[[Alfred A. Knopf|Knopf]]|location=New York|page=[https://archive.org/details/heatamateursadve00bufo_0/page/95 95]|isbn=978-1-4000-4120-6|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/heatamateursadve00bufo_0/page/95}}</ref> A young chef at Harveys who once complained of heat in the kitchen had the back of his chef's jacket and trousers cut open by White with a sharp [[paring knife]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/gallery/2015/jan/18/marco-pierre-white-in-pictures|title=Marco Pierre White – in pictures|date=18 January 2015|work=The Guardian}}</ref> White also once made a young [[Gordon Ramsay]] cry while Ramsay worked for him, and later said, "I don't recall what he'd done wrong but I yelled at him and he lost it. Gordon crouched down in the corner of the kitchen, buried his head in his hands and started sobbing."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/yes-marco-made-me-cry-but-whos-laughing-now-says-gordon-ramsay-409900.html | title = Yes, Marco made me cry. (But who's laughing now, says Gordon Ramsay)| date = 29 July 2006 | newspaper =[[The Independent]]}}</ref> === Matt Preston === Following comments made by ''[[MasterChef Australia]]'' judge [[Matt Preston]] about White's son's spending $500,000 of his father's money on drugs and prostitution,<ref name="auto" /> White stopped making guest appearances on the show after the [[MasterChef Australia (series 8)|8th season]] and joined the rival programme ''[[Hell's Kitchen Australia]]'' in retaliation.<ref name="auto1" /> In 2016, whilst on ''[[The Kyle and Jackie O Show]]'', Preston was asked about [[Big Brother (British series 17)#Housemates|Marco Jr]].’s time on ''[[Big Brother&nbsp;(UK TV series)|Big Brother UK]]'', which included his alleged on-air sex and the above admission of purchasing illicit drugs and sex work. Preston said: "I think it is that terrible thing when you have kids that go off the rails... the drugs might be a little bit of a worry". White later said of Preston that "I will never forgive that man [Preston]... with my hand on my mother's grave I will get that man."<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/tv/reality-tv/celeb-chef-marco-pierre-whites-angry-feud-with-matt-preston-i-will-never-forgive-him/news-story/872a213c6f703c1570e6b59a64e0ebb2|title=Celeb chef Marco Pierre White's angry feud with Matt Preston: 'I will never forgive him'|work=news.com.au|date=8 May 2017|access-date=14 May 2017}}</ref> White eventually returned to the programme in [[MasterChef Australia (series 14)|season 14]], after Preston had left the show.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tvtonight.com.au/2022/05/masterchef-australia-may-29-june-9.html|title=MasterChef Australia: May 29 – June 9|work=TV Tonight|date=29 May 2022|access-date=2 June 2022}}</ref> === English wine and West Country food === In September 2017, White opened a new restaurant in [[Plymouth]]. At the opening, he was critical of the quality of English wine, describing it as "nonsense" and caused controversy{{clarify|date=April 2021}} by saying, "London is the No 1 food destination, full stop. It has the talent and (the people who can pay) the prices ... How many three-Michelin-star restaurants does [[Cornwall]] have? None."{{citation needed|date=April 2021}} He went on, however, to praise the efforts of a rival hotel in the city, the [[Duke of Cornwall Hotel|Duke of Cornwall]], describing it as "a lovely place". He also added that while he had not eaten food produced by [[Nathan Outlaw]], a Cornish Michelin star chef, he had read his books and seen his recipes and believed "he cooks very well".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/09/10/marco-pierre-white-says-numpty-would-buy-english-wine/|title=Marco Pierre-White says only a numpty would buy English wine|date=10 September 2017|website=The Telegraph|access-date=15 September 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thedrinksbusiness.com/2017/09/marco-pierre-white-lists-nonsense-english-wine-at-london-restaurant/|title=MARCO PIERRE WHITE LISTS 'NONSENSE' ENGLISH WINE AT LONDON RESTAURANT|date=12 September 2017|access-date=15 September 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Joel Cooper |url=http://www.devonlive.com/news/devon-news/celebrity-chef-opens-devon-restaurantthen-453879 |title=Celebrity chef opens Devon restaurant...then slams the Westcountry and our wine! |publisher=Devon Live |date=10 September 2017 |access-date=25 September 2017}}</ref> ==Personal life== White has been married three times. His first wife was Alex McArthur, whom he married at [[Chelsea Register Office]] on 8 June 1988.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/foodanddrink/3334103/The-only-woman-I-have-ever-truly-loved.html|title=The only woman I have ever truly loved|website=The Telegraph|date=31 July 2006}}</ref> They had a daughter, Letitia, before divorcing in 1990.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/lifestyle/london-life/celebrity-chefs-are-just-talentless-people-with-big-personalities-marco-pierre-white-on-three-10048507.html|title='Celebrity chefs are just talentless people with big personalities': Marco Pierre White on three marriages, parenting and his chickens |date=16 February 2015|website=Evening Standard|access-date=22 June 2016}}</ref> White met 21-year-old model [[Lisa Butcher]] at a London nightclub, and they were engaged within three weeks.<ref name="Telegraph1">{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/foodanddrink/3334070/Marco-Pierre-White-I-will-never-speak-to-Gordon-Ramsay-again.html|title=Marco Pierre White: I will never speak to Gordon Ramsay again|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|location=London, UK|date=29 July 2006|author=Mark Palmer}}</ref> Engaged for two months, Butcher sold the coverage of the wedding in a £20,000 deal with ''[[Hello! (magazine)|Hello!]]'' magazine. The wedding took place at the [[Brompton Oratory]] on 15 August 1992.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/foodanddrink/3334103/The-only-woman-I-have-ever-truly-loved.html|title=The only woman I have ever truly loved|first=Marco Pierre|last=White|website=telegraph.co.uk|access-date=19 August 2017}}</ref> In 1992, White began an affair with Matilde Conejero, the bar manager at The Canteen in [[Chelsea Harbour]],<ref name="Telegraph2">Marco Pierre White (30 July 2006). [https://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/main.jhtml?xml=/arts/2006/07/30/svwife30.xml "Mati: the wife I pushed over the edge"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081201020759/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/arts/main.jhtml?xml=%2Farts%2F2006%2F07%2F30%2Fsvwife30.xml |date=1 December 2008 }}. 30 July 2006, ''The Daily Telegraph'' (London).</ref> and divorced Butcher for her. The couple had two sons and a daughter, and were married at the Belvedere restaurant in [[Holland Park]] on 7 April 2000. After White became friends with city financier [[Robin Saunders]], Conejero suspected an affair between the two; they had a fight in January 2005, after which White spent 14 hours in the cells of [[Notting Hill]] police station.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/3654186/Mati-the-wife-I-pushed-over-the-edge.html|title=Mati: the wife I pushed over the edge|first=Marco Pierre|last=White|website=telegraph.co.uk|access-date=19 August 2017}}</ref> They separated some time later.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/law-and-order/9589784/Marco-Pierre-Whites-wife-scrawled-insults-in-blood-on-wall-of-chefs-home.html|title=Marco Pierre White's wife scrawled insults in blood on wall of chef's home|publisher=Telegraph|date=5 October 2012|access-date=17 November 2012|location=London, UK}}</ref> White has been a supporter of the [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative Party]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.politics.co.uk/news/political-advantages-to-celebrity-backing--$27788.htm|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120906215347/http://www.politics.co.uk/news/political-advantages-to-celebrity-backing--$27788.htm |archive-date=6 September 2012 |title=Political advantages to celebrity backing?|website= politics.co.uk|date= 26 May 2004|access-date=25 September 2010}}</ref> and the football team [[Manchester City F.C.|Manchester City FC]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/whats-on/film-and-tv/chef-marco-pierre-white-is-a-lifelong-855419 |date=18 January 2013|title=Chef Marco Pierre White is a lifelong City fan|work= Manchester Evening News| access-date= 14 June 2016}}</ref> ==See also== * [[Paul Liebrandt]] ==References== {{Reflist|28em}} ==External links== {{Wikiquote}} *[http://www.htalentmanagement.com/client/marco-pierre-white H Talent Management Marco Pierre White Client Biography] {{Marco Pierre White}} {{English cuisine}} {{Authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:White, Marco Pierre}} [[Category:1961 births]] [[Category:English people of Italian descent]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:British restaurateurs]] [[Category:English autobiographers]] [[Category:English chefs]] [[Category:English expatriates in Australia]] [[Category:English expatriates in New Zealand]] [[Category:English expatriates in South Africa]] [[Category:English expatriates in the United States]] [[Category:English restaurateurs]] [[Category:English food writers]] [[Category:People educated at Allerton High School]] [[Category:Head chefs of Michelin starred restaurants]] [[Category:Conservative Party (UK) people]] [[Category:Businesspeople from Leeds]] [[Category:British male chefs]] [[Category:People from Leeds]]'