Lord Of Le Manoir

So why does Raymond Blanc sing ‘God Save The Queen’ at Christmas? 

On a visit to his Knutsford brasserie - Cheshire Life Restaurant of the Year 2017- the chef tells JANET REEDER all about his family’s festive celebrations

- Janet Reeder

RAYMOND Blanc is one of the most respected figures in the world of cuisine. He’s trained more than 38 Michelin-starred chefs, has written many books and works energetically to delight diners with food that they can truly adore, whether it’s a £10 set menu at his Brasserie Blanc in Knutsford, or blowing the budget at his famed Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons.

But when it comes to Christmas, he heads home to the South of France, where he’ll celebrate with his family and his mother, who was 95 last month.

Raymond is in Knutsford for another celebration, the first birthday of his Regent Street Brasserie Blanc. He welcomed a guest list of locals who had been invited to enjoy the pleasures of bubbly, live music, a cheese tasting and gin mixology, and, of course the presence of the charming man himself.

He was clearly delighted that the restaurant was selected as Cheshire Life’s Restaurant of the Year at our prestigious Food and Drink Awards back in July, tweeting messages of congratulation on the night...but he is clearly not resting on his laurels.

The 67-year-old is constantly on the alert, making notes, advising staff on how to present cocktails and generally working. To say that food is his life’s passion is an understatement, so little wonder that he adores Christmas where the feast is central to the celebrations.

Who will do the cooking in the Blanc household? After all it was maman, Anne-Marie Blanc, along with his father Maurice, who famously taught young Raymond how to respect food. Apparently at the age of 10 he was given a basket and told to go foraging and then his mother cooked a delicious dinner using his discoveries.

‘At Christmas she will not be cooking because I will tie her up,’ Raymond says with a mischievous twinkle in this eye.