Jamie Oliver was in a sombre mood on Thursday as the celebrity chef mourned the loss of chef Alastair Little, who had inspired Jamie with his own cooking.
In one, his wife Jools showed off the close bond that Jamie has with his youngest daughter, Petal, 13. The star's post was immediately flooded with messages of condolences, as one said: "Oh my I can't believe it. "A wonderful chef who inspired me greatly as a young chef, he was just brilliant!
CHEF Alastair Little was known as the "Godfather of British cooking" and a leading figure in modern cuisine.He died at the age of 72 on August 3, 2022.
His cooking was just incredible.” He opened one of the first eponymous restaurants in Britain on Soho's Frith Street in 1985. Little passed away in Australia on August 3, 2022, at the age of 72.
Nigella Lawson just shared a heartfelt tribute to the late British chef, Alastair Little.
Chef Dan Lepard said in a Twitter post, "Deeply saddened to learn that the great chef Alastair Little died last night," adding that he still incorporates the lessons he learned from Little in his cooking. "What a hugely influential and inspiring chef, and a wonderful man. On August 3, 2022, British chef Alastair Little passed away at the age of 72, per Eater. He was a celebrated restaurant owner, cookbook writer, and "grandfather" of British cuisine as it is known today.
Alastair Little, the self-taught chef and restaurateur who opened his eponymous Soho restaurant in 1985, has died at the age of 72.
The Michelin Guide UK also paid tribute: “Alastair Little was a self-taught, intelligent & articulate chef who was ahead of his time. Thank you@byAlastairL(from the unpublished first draft of his award-winning book ‘Keep it Simple’) pic.twitter.com/jMc7rm1xIw While he was working at Old Compton Wine Bar as a waiter, the chef quit leaving Little to don his apron and take control of the pass. One of the most influential chefs of his generation. Despite learning from, what are now considered, classic cookbooks, Little’s approach went against the grain of most restaurants at the time when it eventually came to opening his own eatery. The next day he was cooking for 70 covers, using David’s ‘French Provincial Cooking’ as his guide.
He eschewed the Michelin-star treadmill in favour of simple, seasonal and locally sourced ingredients.
With Kirsten Pedersen he had a son and a daughter. He eventually became assistant manager at Small’s before moving in 1974 to the Old Compton Wine Bar, where he took over as head chef when the previous one quit. He appeared on the cover of Elle magazine and on television in shows such as Ready Steady Cook and Masterchef. The self-taught Little would change his menu twice a day according to what he could find locally, an approach that was almost unheard of at the time. By the age of 12, I was obsessed with what we were having for dinner.” The top restaurants in London were Michelin-starred establishments such as Le Gavroche or La Tante Claire. English chefs at the time generally had a low status: as one food writer put it, cooking as a career was regarded as “a default option for those who couldn’t think of anything better to do”.
Alastair Little was an intelligent, articulate, and self-taught chef who helped shape generations, know his recipes and net worth.
After Alastair Little unexpectedly passed away, his admirers and the food industry showered him with love (via Eater London). His food was amazing and unmatched. Alastair Little was an intelligent, articulate, and self-taught chef who helped shape generations of chefs and restaurateurs. The title “the grandfather of modern British food” was bestowed upon him in recognition of his achievements as a chef, restaurant proprietor, and cookbook author. He recalled opening the refrigerator every morning to see what was inside before visiting the Soho butcher shops and little produce markets to do his shopping. So sad to hear the news one of the true godfathers of British food has passed away. His daily-changing menus, which used seasonal ingredients, affected contemporary British eateries and various Alastair Little recipes.