Michelin starred chef Paul Kitching tragically dies aged 61

Michelin-starred chef Paul Kitching has tragically died aged 61, his companion Katie O’Brien declared. 

In a shifting assertion posted on his Edinburgh restaurant 21212’s social media platforms on Thursday, Katie wrote: ‘My appreciate has absent. But what a love x’.

Paul’s cause of death has however to be unveiled. 

In an email despatched out to buyers of their well-liked restaurant, Katie explained Paul’s demise as a ‘total shock’. 

She wrote: ‘Dear good friends, it is with major heart that I generate to let you know that I’ve misplaced my like – Paul – who regrettably passed absent yesterday. 

RIP: Paul Kitching, a Michelin-starred chef, has tragically died aged 61, his devastated spouse Katie O’Brien has introduced

Paul was very acclaimed in just the field and also identified for his pleasant, cheerful mother nature

‘The loss of life has come as a full shock to us at 21212 and we are hoping to appear to terms with the passing of a legend within our business.

‘Paul was an inspirational figure to absolutely everyone who at any time experienced the satisfaction of conference him or doing the job with him and we are all devastated.’ 

Raised in Gateshed, Paul’s culinary occupation began in a Latin American cafe in Newcastle, where he worked as a pot clean.

He afterwards moved moved to York, in which he found out his passion for cooking. 

He launched Juniper restaurant in Manchester and was awarded a Michelin star in 1997, which he retained for 11 decades. 

Reflecting on his initially Michelin cafe, he explained: ‘The food items was pure Marco Pierre White influenced, it experienced a minor bit of me in it but it was motivated by his type. 

‘By the time we shut it anything from when we opened, as in the Marco food stuff design, was absent. It had come to be a mirror graphic of who I assumed I was.’

In 2009 the gifted chef set up 21212 in Edinburgh with his partner Katie, which also went on to be awarded a Michelin star. 

As effectively as a Michelin star, the cafe obtained various awards which include ideal new restaurant in the British isles, 4 AA rosettes and has been named Catering in Scotland’s Cafe of the 12 months.

 

Devastating decline: In a heartbreaking assertion posted on his Edinburgh restaurant 21212’s social media platforms, Katie wrote: ‘My love has long gone. But what a really like x’

In a statement, the Michelin Manual described Paul as a ‘true maverick’.

‘Paul Kitching was sort, intelligent, vastly talented and infectiously enthusiastic. He was also a real maverick and his passion and creative imagination were obvious in just about every dish he developed. Our heartfelt sympathies go to Katie and all his family members.’ 

Paul was also awarded the Prince Philip medal for solutions to the catering market. 

He’d been in the provider sector for 35 several years, and prior to functioning in restaurants, he had short stints as a baker and a labourer.

In a 2020 job interview, Paul mentioned regardless of all of his good results, he used a good deal of time making an attempt to establish up self-assurance in himself and his possess talents.  

‘I was a pretty nervous chef,’ he stated. ‘It was prevail over by stepping again and believing in myself and the status I experienced attained.’

In the exact same interview, Paul disclosed he never preferred to cook at residence, but explained his restaurant’s style as: ‘Classic but interesting.’ 

Proficient: Paul created Juniper restaurant in Manchester and was awarded a Michelin star in 1997, which he retained for 11 a long time

Tributes have flooded in for the environment-class chef from the culinary community. 

Tom Kerridge commented a crying face emoji, while Elite Bistros restaurant team owner Gary Usher stated on Twitter: ‘This is awful news I am so so sorry. He was so variety to me when I essential an arm about me far more than ever.’

Chef Shane Osborn included: ‘Such tragic information to listen to the unexpected loss of life of the genius Paul Kitching. He was extremely type, generous and extremely talented.

‘The meal he cooked for me at Juniper some 20 decades in the past was a single of ideal eating experiences of my existence. His cooking and hospitality manufactured people today shine with pleasure.

‘Paul you will be missed by so a lot of, many thanks for all the fantastic reminiscences . My thoughts and deep condolences to Katie, his household and the group at 21212’s’.