Tributes pour in for chef Russell Norman, 57, after death announced (2024)

25th Nov 2023, 11:30By Henry Moore

Russell published four cookbooks – one before his death

In his life as a chef, Russell Norman released four cookbooks, one of which was published weeks before his death.

These cookbooks include:

• Brutto: A (simple) Florentine cookbook
• POLPO: A Venetian Cookbook (Of Sorts)
• Venice: Four Seasons of Home Cooking
• SPUNTINO: Comfort Food (New York Style)

25th Nov 2023, 11:00By Henry Moore

What restaurants did Russell Norman open?

Russell is best known for starting the Polpo chain ofrestaurants.

He also is responsible for their spin-offs Spuntinoand Polpetto.

Russell made waves in theLondonrestaurant scene by inventing the concept of small plates, as well as re-popularising the classic Negroni.

Brutto, his current restaurant, will remain open under the custodianship of his son Ollie, along with Jules.

25th Nov 2023, 10:42By Henry Moore

Who is chef Russell Norman's wife Jules?

Jules McNally is known for being the wife of Russell Norman, and is also mother to his children.

Not much else is known about her, but she previously opened up about their relationship.

Speaking toThe Independentin 2012, she said: "Unsurprisingly, food has always played an important part in our relationship."

25th Nov 2023, 07:00By Henry Moore

Did Russel have children?

Russell welcomed three children during his life.

He had his son Ollie during a previous relationship.

Together withhis wife Jules, he had two daughters – Martha and Mabel.

25th Nov 2023, 06:30By Jennifer Korn

'A huge talent, and a huge loss'

Mark Lewis, chief executive of charity Hospitality Action, paid tribute to Russell Norman on X, formerly known as Twitter.

Lewis recalled enjoying a drink with the late chef just a week or two before his death.

25th Nov 2023, 05:30By Amanda Castro

More fans mourn on socials

Fans of Russell Norman have taken to social media to mourn the author.

One fan wrote: "Really sad to hear about Russell Norman. A warm, kind, generous man who shared his enthusiasm in his wonderful restaurants. Thinking of his family."

Another person tweeted: "What a shock. So sad to read this news. Russell was a great restaurateur and loved by us all. RIP dear friend."

25th Nov 2023, 04:30By Jennifer Korn

Russell previously spoke about his younger years

"I spent my formative years [in Hounslow], only leaving to go to Sunderland Polytechnic," he told the Food and Travel magazine in 2021.

"I studied there for three years and worked in the North East for a year, as a community arts officer in East Durham.

"It didn’t suit me at all and I came back to London, looking for work."

25th Nov 2023, 03:30By Amanda Castro

Tragic final post

In his final post on Instagram, Russell shared a photo of a friend modelling merchandise for his restaurant Trattoria BRUTTO.

Beneath the post, fans of the chef paid tribute following his death.

One person wrote: "Absolutely heartbreaking, I am so sorry to all his friend, family and colleagues for your loss."

Another commented: "So sorry to hear of the loss of Russell Norman. My condolences to his family and all his friends at Brutto and beyond."

25th Nov 2023, 02:30By Jennifer Korn

Jay Rayner pays tribute

The restaurant critic paid tribute to Russell, saying: "So sorry to hear of the death, far too young, of Russell Norman.

"He was one of the most gifted of restaurateurs, a terrific writer and an awful lot of fun to be around.

Jay continued: "He very much lived life his own way. My thoughts are with his family and friends."

25th Nov 2023, 01:30By Jennifer Korn

Fans mourn Russell Norman

Fans of the late chef have taken to social media to grieve the star.

25th Nov 2023, 00:30By Amanda Castro

Russell’s cookbooks: Brutto

His most recent book, BRUTTO: A Simple Florentine Cookbook, details the development of the popular trattoria of the same name in London.

It has received two Michelin Bib Gourmand awards.

It also has 130 delicious and genuine Tuscan and Florence dishes.

24th Nov 2023, 23:30By Amanda Castro

Russell’s cookbooks: Venice

Russell returned to the city that inspired his first book for his third book, VENICE: Four Seasons of Home Cooking, in order to fully immerse himself in the culinary traditions of actual Venetians.

Throughout four seasons, Russell lived in a modest apartment in the Castello neighborhood for 14 months, where he went shopping, cooked, and wrote.

"I exiled myself in the world's most beautiful city for over a year in order to learn to cook like a 90-year-old Venetian granny," he said of the experience, per his bio.

24th Nov 2023, 22:30By Amanda Castro

Russell’s cookbooks:SPUNTINO

Published in September 2015, his second book SPUNTINO: Comfort Food, New York Style took home the Guild of Food Writers Award for Food and Travel.

Spuntino celebrates "the energy, dynamism, and extraordinary cuisine of our great melting pot."

24th Nov 2023, 21:30By Amanda Castro

Russell's cookbooks: POLPO

In 2012, Russell Norman's debut book, POLPO: A Venetian Cookbook (of Sorts), was awarded the first-ever Waterstones Book of the Year award.

This cookbook is filled with little-known Venetian dishes from one of the trendiest restaurants in London with many photographs.

24th Nov 2023, 21:00By Jennifer Korn

'We share a love of unfussy food'

Jules continued to tell The Independentin her 2012 interview: "We'd talk about how great it'd be to eat and drink like that back home.

"Our date nights are precious and when we eat out in others people's restaurants I've learned to make sure Russell sits facing the wall to prevent him doing his restaurant analysis over my shoulder," she added.

"We share a love of unfussy food and are guilty of terrible inverse snobbery about effortfulcooking– anything presented as a tower or with a foam."

24th Nov 2023, 20:30By Jennifer Korn

Jules was 'too intimidated to cook for him'

Russell's wife Jules toldThe Independentin 2012: "Unsurprisingly, food has always played an important part in our relationship.

"Russell wooed me with lovingly made dishes such as pea and mint risotto and I, then, was too intimidated to cook for him for two years."

She continued: "Beforemarriageandbabies, on our frequent trips to Venice, we'd drift around the bacari scoffing baccala mantecato (which still tastes of romance to me) and getting rather smiley on prosecco and negroni."

24th Nov 2023, 20:00By Jennifer Korn

Russell's wife stayed out of the spotlight

Jules McNally is Russell Norman's wife.

She is also the mother of two of his children.

Not much else is known about her.

LOVE OF HIS LIFE A look at the life of the late chef Russell Norman's wife Jules

24th Nov 2023, 19:30By Amanda Castro

'Stanley Tucci sandwich'

Two weeks prior to his death, Russell took to Instagram to jokingly lament the fact that his most recent cookbook, Brutto, was knocked out of the No. 1 bestseller and brought down to the second spot.

Stanley Tucci's book, Taste: My Life Through Food, took the top and third spot on the list.

He captioned the screenshot of the top-three bestsellers on Amazon: "Although the Brutto cookbook has been knocked off the Amazon top spot, we are happy to be in a @stanleytucci sandwich."

24th Nov 2023, 19:00By Jennifer Korn

Restaurant to remain open

Brutto, Russell's current restaurant, will remain open under the custodianship of his son Ollie, along with his wife Jules.

The award-winning chef started the Polpo chain ofrestaurants.

He also launched spin-offs Spuntinoand Polpetto.

24th Nov 2023, 18:30By Amanda Castro

About Russell Norman

Russell Norman was best known to be a broadcaster, restaurateur, and author.

In addition to being a co-founder of the POLPO restaurant company and the SPUNTINO restaurant and bar, he is one of the founders of the renowned restaurant BRUTTO in London.

24th Nov 2023, 18:00By Amanda Castro

Russell published four cookbooks - one before his death

In his life as a chef, Russell Norman released four cookbooks, one of which was published weeks before his death.

These cookbooks include:

• Brutto: A (simple) Florentine cookbook
• POLPO: A Venetian Cookbook (Of Sorts)
• Venice: Four Seasons of Home Cooking
• SPUNTINO: Comfort Food (New York Style)

24th Nov 2023, 17:30By Jennifer Korn

Chef invented small plates concept

During his life, Russell made waves in theLondonrestaurant scene.

He is well-known for inventing the concept of small plates.

He also re-popularised the classic Negroni.

24th Nov 2023, 17:00By Jennifer Korn

Russell had three children

Russell welcomed three children during his life.

He welcomed his son Ollie during a previous relationship.

Together with his wife Jules, he had two daughters - Martha and Mabel.

24th Nov 2023, 16:30By Amanda Castro

Big on family cooking

Russell said in 2018 that baking potatoes was one of his favorite foods to prepare with his family.

"We’ll have tinned tuna, sweetcorn and mayonnaise on one half and baked beans on the other. If I’m feeling adventurous, I’ll make a fancy coleslaw," he told the Guardian.

He also said that "the 95-year-old Italian granny" was a big inspiration behind some of his dishes.

24th Nov 2023, 15:58By Jennifer Korn

Cause of death not disclosed

It is not yet known exactly how the famous chef died.

He passed away in hospital surrounded by family.

He is said to have battled a brief illness.

CHEF TRAGEDY BBC star & award-winning restaurant owner dies at 57 after short health battle