The chef Rick Stein has revealed his top restaurant choice globally, and it is located outside his native Cornwall.
The 79-year-old television personality, who was born in the village of Churchill near Chipping Norton, has maintained a prominent presence on British screens for several decades.
His broadcasting career has included the Long Weekend series, which explored culinary destinations throughout Europe, as well as documented expeditions focusing on Indian cuisine.
Beyond his television work, Stein has established commercial ventures across multiple locations, including Padstow, Marlborough, Newquay, Winchester, the Australian operation, and the Sandbanks establishment in Dorset.
Through a post published on his official social media account, Stein announced that his preferred dining establishment is situated neither in Cornwall nor anywhere within the United Kingdom.
The selected venue is La Colombe d’Or, positioned in the commune of Saint-Paul-de-Vence near the city of Nice on the French Riviera.
During the announcement, Stein noted that he was currently reading restaurateur Jeremy King’s autobiographical work Without Reservation.
The publication includes King’s assertion that elaborate gastronomic establishments hold no particular appeal for him, a sentiment Stein indicated he and his wife Sarah share.
He expressed particular enthusiasm for straightforward preparations.
His educational background includes studies at New College, Oxford, where he pursued an English literature programme, completing his undergraduate degree in 1971.
Prior to commencing his university studies, Stein had spent time travelling through Australia and New Zealand.
Stein has referenced his academic achievements with characteristic self-deprecation, describing his degree classification as a gentlemen’s third.
He has acknowledged that his time at Oxford, particularly his role editing the student publication Cherwell, played a significant part in directing him toward the hospitality industry as a career path.