Blanc fills in the blanks on career as chef

TOP chef Raymond Blanc has given Scots teenagers a taste of what it's like to work in hospitality at a careers fair run by The King's Foundation.

- By Sarah Ward

The Frenchman, who became an ambassador for the foundation in March, spoke to 250 pupils from 16 schools during the event at Dumfries House, Ayrshire.

The 75-year-old, whose Oxfordshire restaurant Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons has two Michelin stars, told how he worked his way up in kitchens after starting as a dishwasher.

He went on to mentor notable chefs including Heston Blumenthal and Marco Pierre White, and worked with aspiring cooks on BBC's The Restaurant between 2007 and 2009 where couples competed to open an eaterie with his support.