A chef that needs little introduction, Paul Ainsworth is one of the UK’s most familiar, enduring chefs, just as familiar as chef patron and founder of Michelin-starred Paul Ainsworth at No. 6 as he is as one of TV’s most recognisable food personalities. No. 6 has held a Michelin star for over a decade now and it is universally acclaimed as one of the best restaurants in the country, sitting as the jewel in the crown of an Ainsworth restaurant empire that includes Caffe Rojano and The Mariners pub in Rock, Cornwall.
Ainsworth’s career has seen him work with a who’s who of iconic chefs. As a college student he began working for Gary Rhodes at Rhodes in the Square, and Paul would later work with Gordon Ramsay at Restaurant Gordon Ramsay as well as with Marcus Wareing at Petrus.
Since then Paul has become a familiar face on TV too, appearing as a contestant and then regularly as a judge on the BBC’s Great British Menu, as well as on the likes of Saturday Kitchen, James Martin’s Saturday Morning, MasterChef, and Next Level Chef.
In 2024, Ainsworth added another feather to his impressive cap as he published his very first cookbook - ‘For the Love of Food’ - which includes 100 easy, comforting recipes, designed to be cooked by anyone. ‘I wanted to make sure that the recipes all work at home,’ he explains. ‘We want people to pick this book up and cook from it, even if you think you aren’t a good cook.’
The recipes include a mixture of recipes Paul cooks at home for his family, dishes from his Cornwall pub The Mariners, as well as other delicious dishes he’s picked up over the last few decades. ‘Some of the recipes in there, like squid and scraps, it’s so simple but it’s the sort of dish we would serve at The Mariners,’ he says.
Who better to ask for restaurant recommendations than one of the UK’s very best chefs? We had the pleasure of a natter with Paul as he shared six of his favourite restaurants right now.
Jordnaer, Copenhagen
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Paul says: ‘Last year we were doing a night at a restaurant in Copenhagen, and I’d wanted to go here for so long. It’s run by Eric, the chef, and his wife Tina runs the front of house. As you get older you have fewer of those moments where you think you’ve eaten the best meal of your life. Before that it was probably Frantzen Lindeberg in Stockholm, before it moved site. Jordnaer is firmly number one now, it’s everything I love about food. Some of the dishes were so complex - I think we often have this idea that less is more and cooking should be simple, but that can also be an excuse for lazy cooking. When you’re going somewhere like Jordnaer, it’s amazing to have that experience where you’re asking, ‘how did they do that?’ Everything worked and every element harmonised. As you can probably tell I thought it was just insane, and I could talk about it forever!’
Where: Gentoftegade 29, 2820 Gentofte, Denmark
Da Terra, London
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Paul says: ‘We went last year - it was somewhere I’ve been wanting to go for a long time. I thought the whole experience was extraordinary. In particular there’s a traditional Brazilian seafood stew where Rafael (Cagali, chef patron of Da Terra) comes to the table and finishes it in the pan, it’s really rustic but absolutely amazing. I thought the whole experience was phenomenal.’
Where: 8 Patriot Square, E2 9NF
Book now: Da Terra
Kitchen Table, London
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Paul says: ‘I’m a big fan of James Knappett’s cooking at Kitchen Table. I’ve eaten there a few times, once quite recently, and I think you can see how far James has evolved. I was actually alone the most recent time and solo dining can be a bit nervous, but it was lovely to sit there as a chef and watch a team at the top of its game. That’s quite therapeutic for me! Incredible restaurant.’
Where: 70 Charlotte Street, W1T 4QG
Book now: Kitchen Table
Kerridge’s Bar and Grill, London
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Paul says: ‘The head chef at Kerridge’s Bar and Grill now, Tom Childs, used to work at No. 6. He’s been with Tom and Beth for five years now and he’s earned his promotion over there. I ate there recently purely by chance - they’ve really gone for a whole different style there now, it’s very laid back, I had a lovely Barnsley lamb chop with sauce Reform. For dessert I had Gary Rhodes bread and butter pudding - I worked with Gary for a long time and that dish is still amazing. The menu is very classic but full of beautiful cooking.’
Where: 10 Northumberland Avenue, WC2N 5AE
Book now: Kerridge’s Bar and Grill
The Cornish Arms, Devon
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Paul says: ‘I’m a huge fan. I just love the way that John (Hooker, chef at The Cornish Arms) has always stuck to having a blend of proper pub food like Scotch eggs and a Ploughmans, but if you want something a bit more gastronomic, he might have a lovely piece of john dory with lobster bisque, or prawn tempura. The setting is great, and the execution is brilliant, he cooks with so much flavour. I can’t wait to try his new pub in Lamerton - The Blacksmiths Arms.’
Where: 15 West Street, Tavistock, PL19 8AN
Book now: The Cornish Arms
Lucky Cat, London
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Paul says: ‘This is my daughter Cici’s favourite restaurant and we always have such a good time here. It doesn’t claim to be pure Japanese and Cici tries everything, raw fish, sushi, sashimi, small plates. There’s always a DJ playing and it’s always packed with a great atmosphere. It’s delicious food - but I also just love how much my daughter enjoys it.’
Where: 10 Grosvenor Square, W1K 6JP
Book now: Lucky Cat
Read more of our recent interviews with the UK's top chefs. We sat down with Helene Darroze to discuss her latest international project, and find out where chefs like Vivek Singh, Nuno Mendes and Jack Stein like to eat.