Sat Bains
Sat Bains | |
|---|---|
| Born | February 28, 1971 Derby, England |
| Occupation(s) | Chef, restaurateur |
| Known for | Owner of Restaurant Sat Bains with Rooms, two Michelin stars; winner of the Roux Scholarship 1999; winner on Great British Menu 2007 |
Satwant Singh "Sat" Bains (born 28 February 1971) is a distinguished English chef and owner of the acclaimed two-Michelin star establishment, Restaurant Sat Bains with Rooms, located in Nottingham, England. After securing the Roux Scholarship in 1999, he honed his culinary skills in France before inaugurating his own dining venue. Bains further gained prominence by winning on the BBC series Great British Menu in 2007.
Early life
Originating from Derby, England, Bains was raised by Sikh immigrant parents from India. His early culinary experiences were modest, largely influenced by his mother’s vegetarian cooking. As a child, his initial employment was delivering newspapers.
Career
At age 18, Bains pursued a catering program at Derby College, achieving a City & Guilds certification. He began his professional journey under chef Mick Murphy, who played a pivotal role in igniting his culinary enthusiasm. Inspired by Marco Pierre White’s White Heat, Bains sought positions at esteemed restaurants, including Raymond Blanc’s Le Petit Blanc in Oxford and a brief tenure at London’s L'Escargot.
In 1999, after the closure of his previous workplace left him unemployed, Bains won the esteemed Roux Scholarship, which afforded him the opportunity to train at the three Michelin-starred Le Jardin des Sens in France alongside future culinary innovator René Redzepi. He also expanded his knowledge by visiting Spain’s El Bulli.
Upon returning to Nottingham, Bains assumed the head chef role at the Hotel des Clos, which was rebranded as Restaurant Sat Bains with Rooms in 2002. The restaurant achieved its inaugural Michelin star in 2003—the first ever awarded in Nottingham—and was elevated to two stars by 2011. It also boasts five AA rosettes. Demonstrating commitment to nurturing talent, Bains has sent sous chefs abroad, including placements assisting Redzepi at Noma.
In 2012, he led the kitchen at The Cube popup atop London’s Southbank Centre alongside notable chefs such as Tom Kitchin and Daniel Clifford. His professional recognition peaked with receiving the Chef Award at the 2015 The Catey Awards.
Television work
Initially hesitant, Bains eventually participated in the 2007 Great British Menu, where fourteen chefs competed for the honor of preparing a banquet hosted by the British ambassador to France. He triumphed in the Midlands and East heat, overcoming the previous champion, Galton Blackiston. In the final round, his starter featuring egg, ham, and peas received three perfect scores of 10 from judges and was incorporated into his menu at Restaurant Sat Bains. He acknowledged that appearing on the show significantly increased reservations and boosted sales for nearly ten months. Additionally, Bains has appeared on BBC's Saturday Kitchen and UKTV's Market Kitchen.
In 2015, he served as a guest judge on MasterChef Australia Season 7 during week 2, where contestants were tasked with replicating his beef and mushrooms dish within two and a half hours.
Awards
In 2009, Restaurant honored him as Chef's Chef of the Year. He was also recognized as Chef of the Year by Which? Good Food Guide in 2011. The University of Derby conferred upon him an honorary Doctor of Professional Practice degree in April 2011, followed by an honorary Master of Arts from the University of Nottingham in 2012.
Personal life
Bains has amassed a library of approximately 700 to 800 cookbooks and released his debut publication, Too Many Chiefs Only One Indian, in September 2012. Among his preferred dining establishments are Heston Blumenthal's The Fat Duck and Spain's renowned El Bulli. He is married to Amanda, whom he met during his teenage years. At the age of 50, Bains experienced a heart attack that necessitated triple bypass surgery, which motivated him to create a cookbook focused on heart-healthy recipes.