Simon Hopkinson
Encyclopedia
Simon Charles Hopkinson (born 5 June 1954 in Bury
, Lancashire
) is a food writer, critic and former chef
. He is considered to be one of the best cookery writers working today.
, Lancashire
under the supervision of Yves Champeau. Following on from this in 1978 he became the youngest chef to acquire an Egon Ronay Guide star with his restaurant The Shed in Dinas
in Pembrokeshire
, South Wales
.
The next two and a half years he spent as an Egon Ronay inspector. He returned to London
and after a three year stint as a private chef, was installed at Hilaire which opened in Old Brompton Road in 1983. A friendship with the Conrans led to the establishment of Bibendum in 1987, where he worked as chef and joint proprietor with Sir Terence Conran
and the late Lord Paul Hamlyn
.
on Fulham Road which served as Michelin
's UK headquarters from 1911 to 1985. Inside the restaurant Hopkinson continued his philosophy of well-judged simple cooking which he garnered from his influences Richard Olney
, Jane Grigson
and Elizabeth David
.
He also began a cookery column in The Independent
newspaper and in 1994 his first book 'Roast Chicken and Other Stories' (co-authored with Lindsey Bareham) was published, it later won a Glenfiddich Food and Drink Award
. In 2005 it was voted 'Most Useful Cookbook of All Time' by Waitrose
Food Illustrated magazine.
Also in 1994 Hopkinson suffered what he termed a "mini-breakdown" during restaurant service one evening. He left Bibendum early in 1995 to devote his time to cookery writing. He was replaced as head chef by Matthew Harris.
With Lindsey Bareham:
With Terence Conran
and Simon Harris:
Bury
Bury is a town in Greater Manchester, England. It lies on the River Irwell, east of Bolton, west-southwest of Rochdale, and north-northwest of the city of Manchester...
, Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
) is a food writer, critic and former chef
Chef
A chef is a person who cooks professionally for other people. Although over time the term has come to describe any person who cooks for a living, traditionally it refers to a highly skilled professional who is proficient in all aspects of food preparation.-Etymology:The word "chef" is borrowed ...
. He is considered to be one of the best cookery writers working today.
Early career
Hopkinson started his career at the age of 17 in the kitchens of Le Normandie in BirtleBirtle, Greater Manchester
Birtle is a hamlet within the Metropolitan Borough of Rochdale, in Greater Manchester, England. It lies in the Cheesden Valley, set amongst the Pennines....
, Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
under the supervision of Yves Champeau. Following on from this in 1978 he became the youngest chef to acquire an Egon Ronay Guide star with his restaurant The Shed in Dinas
Dinas Cross
Dinas Cross is a village in Pembrokeshire, Wales. It is situated between Fishguard and Newport in the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park and is a popular holiday destination on the A487. The village has its own elected community council and gives its name to an electoral ward of Pembrokeshire...
in Pembrokeshire
Pembrokeshire
Pembrokeshire is a county in the south west of Wales. It borders Carmarthenshire to the east and Ceredigion to the north east. The county town is Haverfordwest where Pembrokeshire County Council is headquartered....
, South Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
.
The next two and a half years he spent as an Egon Ronay inspector. He returned to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and after a three year stint as a private chef, was installed at Hilaire which opened in Old Brompton Road in 1983. A friendship with the Conrans led to the establishment of Bibendum in 1987, where he worked as chef and joint proprietor with Sir Terence Conran
Terence Conran
Sir Terence Orby Conran, FCSD, is an English designer, restaurateur, retailer and writer.-Early life and education:Terence Conran was born in Kingston upon Thames, the son of Christina Mabel and South African-born Gerard Rupert Conran, a businessman who owned a rubber importation company in East...
and the late Lord Paul Hamlyn
Paul Hamlyn
Paul Hamlyn, Baron Hamlyn of Edgeworth, CBE , was a German-born British publisher and philanthropist.-Family:...
.
Bibendum
Bibendum was created out of the abandoned Michelin HouseMichelin House
Michelin House at 81 Fulham Road, Chelsea, London was constructed as the first permanent UK headquarters and tyre depot for the Michelin Tyre Company Ltd. The building opened for business on 20 January 1911.-Brief history:...
on Fulham Road which served as Michelin
Michelin
Michelin is a tyre manufacturer based in Clermont-Ferrand in the Auvergne région of France. It is one of the two largest tyre manufacturers in the world along with Bridgestone. In addition to the Michelin brand, it also owns the BFGoodrich, Kleber, Riken, Kormoran and Uniroyal tyre brands...
's UK headquarters from 1911 to 1985. Inside the restaurant Hopkinson continued his philosophy of well-judged simple cooking which he garnered from his influences Richard Olney
Richard Olney
Richard Olney was an American statesman. He served as both United States Attorney General and Secretary of State under President Grover Cleveland. As attorney general, Olney used injunctions against striking workers in the Pullman strike, setting a precedent, and advised the use of federal troops,...
, Jane Grigson
Jane Grigson
Jane Grigson was a notable English cookery writer.-Life and writings:...
and Elizabeth David
Elizabeth David
Elizabeth David CBE was a British cookery writer who, in the mid-20th century, strongly influenced the revitalisation of the art of home cookery with articles and books about European cuisines and traditional British dishes.Born to an upper-class family, David rebelled against social norms of the...
.
He also began a cookery column in The Independent
The Independent
The Independent is a British national morning newspaper published in London by Independent Print Limited, owned by Alexander Lebedev since 2010. It is nicknamed the Indy, while the Sunday edition, The Independent on Sunday, is the Sindy. Launched in 1986, it is one of the youngest UK national daily...
newspaper and in 1994 his first book 'Roast Chicken and Other Stories' (co-authored with Lindsey Bareham) was published, it later won a Glenfiddich Food and Drink Award
Glenfiddich Food and Drink Awards
The Glenfiddich Food and Drink Awards were intended to recognize achievements in writing, publishing and broadcasting on the subjects of food and drink...
. In 2005 it was voted 'Most Useful Cookbook of All Time' by Waitrose
Waitrose
Waitrose Limited is an upmarket chain of supermarkets in the United Kingdom and is the food division of the British retailer and worker co-operative the John Lewis Partnership. Its head office is in Bracknell, Berkshire, England...
Food Illustrated magazine.
Also in 1994 Hopkinson suffered what he termed a "mini-breakdown" during restaurant service one evening. He left Bibendum early in 1995 to devote his time to cookery writing. He was replaced as head chef by Matthew Harris.
Other works
Simon Hopkinson has written several other titles since leaving Bibendum, including:- Gammon and Spinach and Other Recipes
- Second Helpings of Roast Chicken
- The Vegetarian Option
- Week In Week Out
- Sweetbreads, Liver and Kidneys
With Lindsey Bareham:
- The Prawn Cocktail Years
With Terence Conran
Terence Conran
Sir Terence Orby Conran, FCSD, is an English designer, restaurateur, retailer and writer.-Early life and education:Terence Conran was born in Kingston upon Thames, the son of Christina Mabel and South African-born Gerard Rupert Conran, a businessman who owned a rubber importation company in East...
and Simon Harris:
- The Bibendum Cookbook
External links
- http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b012gg7q The Good Cook, programme 1
- http://www.bibendum.co.uk/people.html Biography from Bibendum's website
- http://www.telegraph.co.uk/foodanddrink/foodanddrinkbooks/3320959/This-man-is-the-best-cook-in-Britain.html 'This man is the best cook in Britain', Jan Moir 2005