Ainsley Harriott’s flamboyant "Dances with Saucepans" style has made people want to try his recipes ever since his first program in 1993. Ainsley makes cooking fun. "It’s a skill that takes you through life" he says and believes in using quality fresh ingredients and that simple dishes can be just as good as the fancy stuff.
Ainsley has his mother, Peppy, to thank for his lifelong passion for cooking. She encouraged him to help with the cooking for family and friends in what was always an open house in Balham, South London.
At 16, he started as trainee chef as Verrey’s restaurant in London’s West End where they got him cutting flour "to make it finer". He graduated to commis chef, then moved to the Strand Palace before taking a break to tour Europe as part of a musical duo (his show business talents being inherited from his musician/actor dad, Chester). Returning to England, he teamed up with partner Paul Boross to form The Calypso Twins, notching up several TV credits, a record release, and a prominent position on London’s New Comedy circuit.
Cooking, however, remained Ainsley’s first love, and he continued to pursue a career in top West End restaurants, gaining experience in all aspects of his craft and rising to Head Chef at Lord’s Cricket Ground, with his own catering company. “It was an exciting period,” says Ainsley. “One day I’d be creating posh nosh for Elton John; the next I’d be making steak-and-kidney pud with mash for Princess Margaret. I’ve been lucky to have worked at every level of the catering business, and I think that it’s an enormous advantage to know how to make delicious beans on toast as well as Lobster Thermidor.”
In 1993, during his spell as Head Chef of the Long Room at Lord’s, BBC Radio 5 asked him to present More Nosh Less Dosh. Ainsley’s exuberant personality was soon attracting attention. He was offered a spot on UK Daytime TV’s 'Good Morning with Anne and Nick', where as the resident chef he soon became a household name.
Ready Steady Cook and Can’t Cook Won’t Cook followed, and now Ainsley’s cheerful face is rarely off the television. His world tour of outdoor cooking 'Ainsley’s Barbecue Bible' was his first solo television series, followed by Ainsley’s Meals in Minutes.Year 2000 saw Ainsley exploring the Americas in Ainsley’s Big Cook Out.
Ainsley has also produced BBC Books to accompany his TV series. He has a monthly item Meals in Minutes in BBC Good Food Magazine, a weekly column in TV Quick, and appears regularly in the Young Telegraph.
When Ainsley isn’t making TV programmes or writing cookery books, he likes to spend all his spare time with his wife Clare and two children, Jimmy and Madeleine, who are already learning the ropes in the family kitchen.
For more information about Ainsley Harriott click here: http://www.ainsley-harriott.net/
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We desperately need Ainsley's recipes on this site!
I love you, Ainsley! Your Beef Bourginion is brilliant. I tried it after your show to my birthday's party and all my friends were delighted with that recipe. Thank you very much! ))))
I am currently watching Ainsley's Gourmet Express and the food looks amazing but I can't watch the whole thing as I'm getting a headache from the camera person. They are moving around too fast and not really concentrating on Ainsley's cooking!
I think that Ainsley is great and I love the food that he makes.
I would really like your recipe for pork chops with apples, creme fresh, mashed potatoes and beans
I try and watch your shows when they are on Foxtel. I'm coming to England late July and would love to be on your show Ready Steay Cook. You make cooking so much fum.
i just love Ainsely i watch ready steady cook everyday he makes cooking fun not just a job we have to do everyday. Keep cooking I love watching you cook.
Watched friends for dinner and Ainsely did Asian inspired menu with samosas,naan bread, lamb and rice then pistacio yoghurt.Would like all recipes pretty please!!!
you are a great cook! love ya peeps :)
We watch ready steady cook each night when we come in from work. We have no idea how old the shows are. we also have no idea what cee fax is and the webb page is too quick to catch.We love all the guest chefs and the fun they seem to have. Sometimes it would be a help if we knew what the equivilent ingredient was in Australia.
I love Ainsley, he's fun to watch and has easy receipes to make.
he is great to watch, unlike some of the other celebrity chefs, he is always he always keeps with me interested, with recipes and personality, Good Job.
Not only do I love his recipes but watching him cook. With his flamboyany and energetic cooking it makes cooking look like not only a necessity but an absolute pleasure. I wish all cooks/chefs showed as much enthusiasm.
I've found this charity auction website where you can bid for signed photos of Ainsley Harriot, money raised will benefit the charity The Rainbow Centre, take a look!
http://www.buyoncegivetwice.co.uk/lots/Ainsley%20Harriet
http://www.buyoncegivetwice.co.uk/lots/Ainsley-Harriet-Signed-Photo
If there is a show on this channel, can you please add the recipes to this website afterwards? I want to know Ainsley's BBQ Bible lamb burgers on the barbie!
My wife and I love his recipes but PLEASE change his cameraman. The camera keeps moving around the kitchen TOO FAST and it's chaotic. It makes us dizzy and motion sick! No joke. We stopped watshing his show.
did not catch ingredients in stuffed calamari recipe show sat 14th feb. could i please have recipe it looked great.
luv his recipes does he have a resteraunt
Brilliant Chef! He makes my mouth water with every recipe!!!!
omg i luv him, i have so many of his recipes floating around the house. i should really just buy 1 of his books. i love making his recipes too. very easy, and something the kids can help with.
He's a wonderful cook and entertainer, he makes cooking fun and he's a joy to watch
I was at the good food and wine festival with my daughter and grandson, we love'd it, we went to see Ainsley in the cooking show and had our photos taken with him. We thought it was great. I have had some problems accessing his other books out there in the community. Can you point me in the direction to obtain his books. Thanks, Maureen
Looking for his chickpea & sweet potato stew I saw today on Ainsley's meals in Minutes
fry chopped onion & crushed garlic clove in oil, add large copped sweet potato & mix, add 2 chopped tomatoes, tbsp of cumin seeds, tbsp of honey, mix well add drained can of chickpeas & pint of stock, bring to boil & simmer til thickened & potato cooked (around 30 mins but judge for yourself)
How can I get some of his recipes?
Could you add some recipes????????????
He is very cool!