Restaurateur, author and Saturday Kitchen chef dies

Tributes have been paid to restaurateur, chef and author Russell Norman following his death at the age of 57.

Pic: Rex/Can Nguyen/Shutterstock

Mr Norman’s fame grew over the past decade, as he featured in a TV series advising new restaurant hopefuls, and he had several cookbooks published.

He also appeared on the hit weekend cooking show Saturday Kitchen.

Mr Norman was the founder of the award-winning Italian restaurant Brutto in London and co-founder of Polpo and Spuntino.

Richard Beatty, who set up Polpo with Mr Norman, said his “best friend” died after a “short battle in hospital”.

“He died surrounded by family and friends,” he said, as reported by Restaurant Online.

Mr Norman’s first book, called Polpo: A Venetian Cookbook (of Sorts), was named Waterstones’ book of the year for 2012.

He followed it up with Spuntino – Comfort Food (New York Style), which won the 2016 Guild of Food Writers Awards for best food and travel book.

His fourth book, called Brutto: A (Simple) Florentine Cookbook, was published at the start of this month.

Mr Norman became a regular feature on TV, starring in The Restaurant Man on the BBC, which was a six-part series following wannabe restaurant owners seeking guidance and advice from the chef.

‘A true creative force’

Ebury Publishing, the company behind the Brutto book, paid tribute to a “true creative force”.

“We are all devastated to hear about the death of Russell Norman, our brilliant and much-loved author and restauranteur,” the group said in a statement.

“A true creative force, food genius and trailblazer.”

Tom Parker Bowles, the Queen’s son, who is a published food writer and critic, described Mr Norman as a “great writer, enthusiast, eater and restaurateur”.

“A wonderful and generous friend to so many of us,” he added.

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‘Gifted restaurateur’

Jay Rayner, a prominent food writer, said Mr Norman was “one of the most gifted of restaurateurs, a terrific writer and an awful lot of fun to be around”.

The book shop chain Waterstones wrote on X: “We are deeply saddened to hear of the death of Russell Norman, creator of Polpo and Brutto, and winner of the very first Waterstones #BookOfTheYear in 2012.

“Not only an incredibly gifted restaurateur, but also a brilliant writer.”

Mark Lewis, the chief executive of Hospitality Action – a support group for those in the industry – said Mr Norman was a “huge talent” and a “huge loss”.

“Such sad and shocking news about Russell Norman, RIP,” he said, adding he “bumped into him” enjoying a glass of wine “only a week or two ago”.

Mr Norman is survived by his wife and three children.