Jamie Oliver is a famous celebrity chef known for his passion for food from a young age. He left school at 16 to attend catering college and gained experience working in Italian restaurants in London. Oliver first gained widespread recognition through an unscripted appearance on a BBC documentary about the River Cafe restaurant where he worked. Since then, he has authored many best-selling cookbooks, launched successful television shows, and advocated for improved school meals in the UK and US through campaigns like Feed Me Better and Jamie's Food Revolution. Despite being dyslexic, Oliver's passion and work ethic have made him one of the most successful chefs in the world.

1. “Sorry if I offend, but food is my passion.”
- Jamie Oliver
“My biggest passion has been,and remains, food education.”

2. Jamie Oliver is one of those people who followed his passion at a very young age!
Although his net worth is estimated over £150 million, his endless energy comes from a genuine
passion and serious work ethics.

3. Here's everything you need to know about the very famous,
Jamie Oliver,
who is infectiously passionate about food!

4. He was born on May 27th, 1975 and brought up in Clavering, Essex, where his parents, Trevor and
Sally, ran a pub called 'The Cricketers'.
It was there that the young Jamie began to cut his teeth as a chef and practiced daily in the kitchen. By
the time he was 11, Jamie could cut vegetables as well as any of the kitchen staff.

5. He left school at the age of 16 to join The Westminster Catering College. He later obtained a "City and
Guilds National Vocational Qualification" (NVQ) in Home Economics.
His first foray into the Industry was as a Pastry Chef at Antonio Carluccio's Neal's Yard Restaurant.
Jamie first gained experience in preparing Italian Cuisine and went on to develop a relationship with
his 'mentor', Gennaro Contaldo.

6. After The Neal , Jamie worked three and half years at the famous River Cafe in London, a position that
would change his life forever...
It was here, Jamie says, where he learned "all about the time and effort that goes into creating the
freshest, most honest, totally delicious food."

7. He was noticed by the BBC
in 1997 after making an
unscripted appearance in a
documentary about the
restaurant, "Christmas at
the River Cafe".
He was quickly contacted by
Optomen Television to host
his very first series ‘The
Naked Chef’, and his
cookbook became The
Number One Best Seller in
The UK.

8. In 2002, he established The Fifteen Foundation, a London-based program that gave underprivileged
youth the opportunity to experience careers in the Industry at The Oliver’s Fifteen Restaurant.
The success of the project chronicled in the Television Series ‘Jamie’s Kitchen’, spurred Jamie’s plans to
expand the program throughout The UK and Overseas.
In 2003, Jamie Oliver was even voted the 'Most Inspiring Political Figure' in Britain!

9. The show helped Jamie launch his overwhelmingly successful “Feed Me Better” Campaign to improve
the quality of meals served in British Schools.
Largely through his efforts, the British Government agreed to increase the amount spent on each
school meal.

10. In 2007, Jamie began hosting
‘Jamie at Home’, a show that
focused on Urban Gardening and
The Preparation of Homegrown
Produce.
Three years later, Jamie Oliver’s
Food Revolution aired in the
United States. The six-episode
program, which chronicled his
efforts to improve the eating
habits of people in Huntington,
West Virginia won An Emmy
Award for Outstanding Reality
Program.

11. Did you know?
Jamie Oliver is Dyslexic. He read his first novel ‘Catching Fire’ in 2013 at the age of 38; This condition
necessitated 5 years in Special Needs Education when Jamie was growing up
Jamie didn’t let his Dyslexia slow down his career, and now he’s recognized as a World Famous
Celebrity Chef!

12. Over the years, Jamie’s had his fingers in a lot of pies–
campaigning to improve school dinners, placing disadvantaged young people, preparing lunch for
the then Prime Minister Tony Blair, Founding The Jamie Oliver Food Foundation Charity and
creating The Jamie’s Ministry of Food – a network of centres which aim to teach people about Food
& Nutrition.

13. Some of Jamie’s most famous
quotes
“What I've enjoyed most, is
meeting people who have a real
interest in food and sharing ideas
with them."
"Good food is a global thing and I
find that there is always
something new and amazing to
learn - I love it!”
“I love roasting because you can
give it love, get it in the oven and
go and play with the kids, and
then hours later you've got a
lovely dinner.”
There’s something genuine about
Jamie’s passion and down-to-
earth attitude, which has made
him one of the most successful
chefs in the world!

14. Are You Passionate About Food? Learn more
on how to start your career in Food and visit
us at www.iccadubai.ae