Martin Blunos
Martin Blunos | |
|---|---|
| Born | April 11, 1960 United Kingdom |
| Occupation(s) | Chef, television personality |
| Known for | Two Michelin stars at Lettonie; Iron Chef UK; Iron Chef Thailand |
Martin Lauris Blunos (born 11 April 1960) is a British culinary professional and television personality who achieved the distinction of two Michelin Guide stars at his establishment Lettonie, initially located in Bristol and subsequently relocated to Bath.
Early life and career
Blunos's family emigrated from Latvia to England following the conclusion of World War II. He was educated at Thornbury Castle School, where he demonstrated strong aptitude in Home Economics, and completed formal culinary training in Cheltenham and Cambridge. His gastronomic approach is influenced by his mother’s mixed Russian and Latvian heritage. Early in his career, he held positions at London's Strand Palace Hotel, spent a season working in Switzerland, and served aboard a Greek tycoon’s yacht before moving on to Lampwick's in Battersea, London.
In 1988, Blunos launched his first chef-owned restaurant, Lettonie, in Bristol, blending Franco-British cuisine with Eastern European flavors. The restaurant was established alongside Siân, his then-girlfriend and later wife. Lettonie earned its inaugural Michelin star in 1989 and secured a second star by 1991. The venue moved to larger premises in Blunos’s hometown of Bath in 1997, with chef James Tanner joining the team. Despite its acclaim, Blunos decided to close Lettonie in 2001 to dedicate more time to family after his daughter was born, feeling constrained by overseeing just one site. He subsequently opened Blinis, which maintained two Michelin stars until its closure by owners Sebastian and Philippa Hughes in 2002; this led Blunos to pursue legal action for unfair dismissal.
In 2002, Blunos had the honor of preparing meals for Queen Elizabeth II and the Duke of Edinburgh during their Golden Jubilee visit to Bath. Following Lettonie's closure, he shifted focus toward television projects and consultancy roles. In 2004, he assumed the role of head chef at the Lygon Arms in Broadway, Worcestershire, where he earned a Michelin star along with two AA Rosettes by 2005. His contract spanned two years and allowed flexibility for media engagements without requiring constant presence on-site. Later appointments included executive chef roles at Hurst House on the Marsh in Laugharne, West Wales, and at the Reservoir restaurant in Charlton Kings, Cheltenham.
By 2010, Blunos had become executive chef for Crown Hotels’ dining venues at Whitebrook and Celtic Manor. That year, he gained attention by crafting a £110.59 cheese sandwich combining cheddar with white truffles and edible gold dust as part of a promotional event at the Frome Cheese Show. Crown also operated The Parc hotel restaurant in Cardiff under Thistle Hotels; it earned two AA Rosettes before Crown ended its partnership in 2011. The collaboration between Crown and Blunos concluded in 2012 when Celtic Manor resumed internal catering services. Afterwards, Blunos took on the position of culinary director at the Hogarth Hotel in Dorridge, West Midlands—a project backed by a £4 million investment from owners Helena and Andy Hogarth. Additionally, he collaborated with Devon-based Mad About Pies to introduce Martin Blunos Gastro Pub Pies into Co-operative Food stores as part of an initiative aiming to produce 10,000 pies weekly.
In 2016, Blunos was appointed executive chef for Bespoke Hotels, beginning at The Talbot Inn in Ripley, Surrey. Since 2017 he has been operating out of Bangkok, where he runs two establishments: "Blunos" and from 2021 the rooftop venue "In The Pink". In 2022, his portfolio expanded to include involvement with "Tell Tale", a restaurant located at Crystal Palace, London.
Television career
Blunos has shifted his focus towards consultancy and television appearances. He frequently contributes as a chef on Food Poker and appears as a guest chef on Cooks. His television credits also include appearances on Great Food Live, Food Uncut, Saturday Kitchen, The Supersizers Eat..., and Iron Chef UK. Prior to participating in Iron Chef UK, he watched episodes of Iron Chef America but regarded the British chefs as equally talented. Blunos was the inaugural "Iron Chef" chosen for the UK edition, featuring in its debut episode. Additionally, he presented his own show, Tasting Times with Martin Blunos.
Beginning in February 2018, Blunos took part several times as a challenger on Iron Chef Thailand, recording two victories and two defeats. Owing to his impressive performance and valuable input to the series, he was elevated to the position of Iron Chef Thailand in October 2022.
Personal life
Blunos is easily recognized by his signature walrus moustache, which has become a notable aspect of his public image. He has joked that if he were to cut his hair short, he would shave off the moustache to avoid looking like a member of the Village People.
His son Max serves as the drummer for the band Out Like A Lion and was previously part of the progressive rock group Zilch. Out Like A Lion performed at Glastonbury 2010 under BBC Introducing and has supported artists such as Florence and the Machine, The Temper Trap, and Example.
To relieve stress from his culinary work, Blunos enjoys clay pigeon shooting. He is also an avid fan of Bristol City F.C..