Paul Rankin

About

Paul Rankin is a celebrity chef from Northern Island.

Paul and his wife worked alongside each other at Le Gavroche, the Roux brothers’ restaurant in London.

Michelin Star

When the couple returned to Belfast, they set up Roscoff. The restaurant won Northern Ireland its first Michelin star, which it retained for eight consecutive years.

More restaurants would follow when Roscoff closed. At its peak, the Rankin Group comprised nine restaurants in Northern Ireland. Paul has since had to close or sell most of the restaurants in his portfolio and devote his time to those remaining.

TV Chef

Paul Rankin’s first foray into television was in the series Gourmet Ireland, produced by Irish company Waddell Productions, and shown on both BBC and RTE. Both Paul and Jeanne starred in the show that was noted for the banter between the two.

He has been a regular chef on the BBC cookery programme Ready Steady Cook.

In 2006 Rankin competed in the Northern Ireland heat of the BBC’s Great British Menu, a competition to cook for the Queen on her 80th birthday.

Paul was the subject of an episode of a short programme named Proud Parents on Channel 4, also in 2006.

Rankin is also the recipient of the Outstanding Contribution to the Hospitality Industry Award.

He has written 5 books; Hot Food (1997), Gourmet Ireland (1997), Gourmet Ireland 2 (1998), Ideal Home Cooking (1998), and New Irish Cookery (2005).

The influence of Paul and Jeanne Rankin on Irish cuisine continues today, with many of the chefs in restaurants in Belfast and the rest of Northern Ireland having started their careers in the kitchen of Roscoff.

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