Profile

Ed Baines is the chef and co-owner of Randall & Aubin, the happening champagne and oyster bar in Soho. The tall, dark and handsome restaurateur is one of the hottest chefs in town.

Ed Baines in one of the judges on ITV 1’s hugely successful Britain’s Best Dish, now filming it’s fourth series, and regularly drawing in viewing figures in excess of 2 million. The show, which is on screens five times a week, focuses on the cooking talent of Britain and travels around the country to find the best dish in the land. There is a special celebrity edition to be broadcast each year, also on ITV 1. Ed has also appeared on ITV 1’s Taste the Nation.  In addition to his judging duties on Britain’s Best Dish, Ed continues to be a favourite of Daily Cooks Challenge (ITV 1) and is now a regular on GMTV.

Biography

Ed previous shows have included his first TV series Lunch With Ed Baines, which aired on Carlton Food Network, had him cooking for and then lunching with his famous friends, at Randall & Aubin. Unsurprisingly, on the show he cooked for a string of glamorous women, including Darcey Bussell, Tara Palmer-Tomkinson, Mariella Frostup and Meg Mathews.

In 1999 he completed the six part series Ed Baines Entertains, filmed at Randall & Aubin, broadcast on the ITV Carlton region. He recorded two further series, which were broadcast during 2000 and 2001. He has also appeared as one of the chefs for the BBC daytime lifestyle show Housecall.

Ed filmed Cupid's Dinners for broadcast on UKTV Food and was one of the resident chefs on Great Food Live. He has regularly appeared on programmes for Granada Livetime, Central Television and Carlton Food Network and has featured on Superchefs. In December 2002 he was seen every weekday on Channel 5 from December 2nd - 20th presenting Countdown To Christmas. He had his own series, Chefs at Sea for UKTV Food and appeared on the Terry & Gabi (C5) show. In 2005 he has also appeared on Ready Steady Cook (BBC 2) and Taste on the Sky network. (ITV 1). 2006 saw Ed co present ITV 1’s Sunday Feast.

Ed Baines fell into catering. After a two year apprenticeship with Anton Mosimann at The Dorchester he spent a few years cooking on one of the world's exclusive yachts and at hotels in Juan-les-Pins and Queensland, then back home at Bibendum and the River Café. At this point he was 'headhunted'. He became the official Armani chef. He entered a happy time of dressing entirely in Armani and 'having a few girlfriends who knew I could get them a discount.' He also dabbled in modelling. At 25 years of age Ed was contracted by Mogens Tholstrup to open the very successful Daphne's in South Kensington, where he remained as Head Chef for three years.

His first book Entertain was published by Kyle Cathie in 2001. His second book, Best of British, was published (Feb 2009) again by Kyle Cathie.

Ed is an excellent speaker on food topics and business issues within the catering and service industries, motivational work and life management.

Updated 27/07/2010