Fuelling Around podcast: Paul Ainsworth on working with Gordon Ramsay and competing with Rick Stein

Michelin star chef Paul Ainsworth joins hosts Jason Plato and Dave Vitty on the award-winning podcast Fuelling Around to discuss his career, working with Gordon Ramsay and presenting television shows.

Ainsworth is one of the UK’s most famous chefs, having got his big break working for Gary Rhodes soon after he left college, as well as working for Gordon Ramsay and Marcus Wareing.

The 44-year-old has been on UK television screens for over a decade having first competed on Great British Menu. He has gone on to be a regular on Saturday Kitchen and teamed up with Ramsay again for Next Level Chef which aired on ITV earlier this year.

Paul Ainsworth on competing with Rick Stein’s restaurants in Cornwall

During the episode, Ainsworth discusses what it was like to open his first restaurant in Cornwall near fellow chef superstar Rick Stein and whether there is a rivalry between them.

“When I moved to Padstow I knew how to cook, but I didn’t have a clue how to run a business,” he said.

“I met an incredible chap called Derek and he showed me how to run a business. It’s all very well being a good chef and that’s one thing, but you’ve got to know how to run a business. You’ve got to know how to turn a profit.

“One of the best pieces of advice he gave me, because he knew Padstow really well, he said: ‘Rick’s a really big deal down there and everybody wants to go and eat at Rick Stein’s places, it’s like the Harrods effect. People will go there, any one of his places, because they just want the Rick Stein bag, but people are not going to want to eat there every night for their holiday.

“‘They’re gonna want an alternative, don’t go down there and compete. Go down there and compliment.’ And a few years went by and nobody had a clue who we were. And it was when I did Great British Menu and did quite well on Great British Menu, that Oliver Peyton said one night ‘you’ve got to get down to Padstow, there’s a new kid on the block.’

“And it went berserk, absolutely berserk. I actually know Rick’s ex-wife Jill more, and I can honestly say it’s always been amicable and nice and I know his son Jack really well. There’s always been a bit of a feeling that there’s enough room for everybody, but also now I think there is definitely a common ground that we compliment each other.”

Plenty more episodes of Fuelling Around to enjoy

Series seven is heading into the pitstop for a mid-series break, but if you haven’t listened to Fuelling Around before, you’ll be glad to know there’s a wealth of previous episodes from six series, and the current seventh, for you to listen to.

A host of celebrity guests have littered the award-winning podcast that has so far produced a string of excellent shows to listen to.

You can also tune into Fuelling Around on Spotify, Apple, YouTube or various other platforms if you want to see what all the fuss is about.