Celebrity chef Heston Blumenthal is the man who turned the world of cuisine on its head and became a national hero with an OBE and three Michelin stars. Here, for the first time, is the full inspirational story of this enthusiastic, self-taught genius. Heston is a gastronomic alchemist who sees the kitchen as a laboratory where he loves to experiment for new ways to tantalise the taste-buds of diners at his Fat Duck restuarant. This biography traces his journey from a life-changing childhood holiday in France, through to his brief apprenticeship in Raymond Blanc's restaurant where he stood up to a kitchen bully. It then follows him as - constantly pushing the boundaries of his work - he reached the top of his profession and received an OBE from the Queen.