Profile

CHRIS TANNER was a protégé of the Roux Brothers, and began at Le Gavroche as Commis Chef in 1989 and then spent five years working for them throughout the world before opening Tanners restaurant in Plymouth in July 1999 with his brother James. 

 Chris's television career began in 2001 when he and James made their first TV appearance on Carlton TV's Food Network Daily. Chris and James filmed their own 15 part TV series The Tanner Brothers, broadcast on the Carlton South West region during December 2003, and repeated on UKTV Food in 2004 and now to be seen as far afield as Australia and New Zealand. Chris has also guested on This Morning (ITV1).

Biography

Chris Tanner was born and brought up in Kent, the eldest of four brothers. He began his career in food at the tender age of twelve, by working in the kitchen of a local restaurant. After leaving school he studied for his City and Guilds in catering at West Kent College, where he won the Outstanding Student Award.

He worked at the Brands Hatch hotel in Kent for a year before a chance introduction to the Roux Brothers brought him to Le Gavroche as Commis Chef in 1989. He spent five years working for the Roux in various establishments throughout the world, including The Point resort on Lake Saranac, New York, Hotel Diva in France, finally becaming Sous Chef at Le Poulbot in London.

Chris was invited to become Head Chef at Greenhills Hotel in Jersey, and in 1995 he was given the chance to open from scratch the Kitley Hotel in Yealmpton, Devon, where he achieved 3 AA Rosettes.

Chris and his brother James had always wanted to open their own restaurant, and they scoured the country for an appropriate site. In July 1999 they opened Tanners restaurant in Plymouth, which is located within Prysten House, the oldest building in the city. Their aim is to offer food from local ingredients, a relaxed atmosphere and value for money. It was an instant hit from the day the doors first opened. The menu is mainly modern British with overtones of Continental and North American influences and they make everything from bread to petit fours fresh each day.

Chris' television career began in 2001 when he and James made their first TV appearance on Carlton TV's Food Network Daily. Then in October 2002, they entered UK Food's Chef Star competition, coming second. He has since appeared on Good Food Live broadcast on the UKTV Food Channel. Chris and James recently filmed their own 15 part TV series The Tanner Brothers, broadcast on the Carlton South West region during December 2003, and repeated on Good Food Live in January 2004.

In late 2005 Chris went to Montreux in Switzerland as the UK judge in the Apprentice of Europe Competition.    This annually internationally recognised competition is organised by the Maitres Cuisiniers De France.   This organisation is extremely pro-active all over Europe in the promotion of standards and respect in the restaurant industry.

In 2005 Chris and his brother James were invited to attend The Tri-Service Culinary Event at Sandown. This important annual military event brings together the best young – and old – chefs in the three services, the Royal Navy, the Army and the Royal Air Force, to compete against each other in a variety of demanding cooking associated tasks and the Tanner Brothers were the competition judges.

In Spring 2006 the Tanner Brothers opened a second restaurant in Plymouth. The Barbican Kitchen is a brasserie sited within the Plymouth Gin Distillery, a 500 year old building in the heart of Plymouth's oldest area.

The Tanners published their first book, For Chocolate Lovers, in September (Jacqui Small, 2006). Chris and James have just finished writing their follow up book due for publication in Spring 2008.

The Tanners Restaurant in Plymouth won Best Restaurant of the Year for 2007/8 in the AA Awards, awarded on Monday 17th September 2007.