Paul Rankin
Paul Rankin | |
|---|---|
| Born | October 1, 1959 Glasgow, Scotland |
| Occupation(s) | Chef, restaurateur, television personality, author |
| Known for | First Northern Irish chef to receive a Michelin Star; founder of Roscoff restaurant |
Paul Rankin (born 1 October 1959 in Glasgow, Scotland) is a renowned chef hailing from Ballywalter, County Down, Northern Ireland. Shortly after his birth, his family relocated back to Ballywalter.
Career
Rankin launched Roscoff in 1989, marking it as the first establishment in Northern Ireland to be awarded a Michelin Star. The restaurant swiftly became a favored destination among Belfast's business and arts circles, drawing patrons from Dublin who sought exceptional dining experiences. Financial difficulties compelled Rankin to sell Roscoff in 2005; the premises are currently occupied by CoCo.
Roscoff was instrumental in training several prominent chefs, such as Dylan McGrath, Michael Deane, and Robbie Millar.
By 2009, Rankin had divested most of the Rankin Group to manage outstanding debts, retaining only the flagship restaurant Cayenne, which was also undergoing an IVA. The IVA was successful, preventing bankruptcy. Nevertheless, Cayenne ceased operations on 24 March 2013, with Rankin attributing the closure to economic pressures and city protests.
The late Robbie Millar rose to prominence during his tenure at Roscoff.
Television appearances
Rankin's television career began with Gourmet Ireland, a series produced by Waddell Productions and broadcast on BBC and RTE, featuring both Paul and his wife Jeanne—herself an accomplished pastry chef and co-owner of their enterprise. Jeanne regularly appeared on the BBC's Ready Steady Cook. In 1999, Rankin became the first chef from Northern Ireland to earn a Michelin Star. He authored five cookbooks and led The Rankin Group, which included Belfast restaurants Cayenne and Roscoff.
In 2006, Rankin took part in the Northern Ireland round of BBC's Great British Menu, competing for a chance to prepare a dish for the Queen’s 80th birthday celebration. That year also saw him participate in The X Factor: Battle of the Stars alongside chefs Jean-Christophe Novelli, Aldo Zilli, and Ross Burden. Subsequently, he appeared on Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is.
Food products
In 2002, Irwin's Bakery introduced the Rankin Selection line of Irish breads in collaboration with Paul Rankin. Initially available at Waitrose, the range later expanded throughout supermarkets across the UK and Ireland. By 2015, it featured products such as soda bread, potato farls, and barmbrack. In 2021, this line was rebranded as Irwin's Together, removing Rankin’s name from the packaging.
The Rankin Selection brand also extended to pork sausages manufactured by Northern Ireland’s Finnebrogue. Rankin publicly endorsed efforts to maintain operations at Finnebrogue’s venison processing plant, describing it as "world class" and a source of regional pride.
Awards
- Outstanding Contribution to the Hospitality Industry Award
Personal life
Paul and Jeanne Rankin were married for over twenty-five years before their amicable separation in 2011. Their relationship began in the 1980s while both worked at London's prestigious Le Gavroche—Paul started as a dishwasher while Jeanne was employed as a waitress before both transitioned into kitchen roles.
Jeanne’s career as a pastry chef ended following a riding accident that resulted in chronic pain and subsequent morphine dependency; she underwent rehabilitation for this condition in 2005.
In 2012, Paul Rankin revealed that his father was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, sharing the profound effect this had on his family life.
Books
- Hot Food (1997)
- Gourmet Ireland (1997)
- Gourmet Ireland 2 (1998)
- Ideal Home Cooking (1998)
- New Irish Cookery (2005)
- Steps 2 work programme