Southampton-born Paul Ainsworth got his break courtesy of Gary Rhodes. After spending three years at Rhodes in the Square, Ainsworth moved to Gordon Ramsay's organisation, working first at his flagship Royal Hospital Road restaurant and then with Marcus Wareing at Petrus.
In 2006, the opportunity to open a restaurant with two friends brought Ainsworth to the West Country. Here they opened Number 6, set in a Georgian town house in the Cornish fishing village of Padstow.
After three years emulating his culinary mentors, Ainsworth put his name above the door and re-thought his approach. Now Paul Ainsworth at Number 6 restaurant serves simpler, more affordable food – appealing to both tourists and locals, and achieving two AA rosettes.
Ainsworth applies the technical skill picked up during his training in Michelin-starred kitchens to tease maximum flavour from humble ingredients. He has been known to make playful nods to British nostalgia, serving up such delights as bite-sized doughnuts dusted with cinnamon sugar, coffee-flavoured crème brulée and salted Angel Delight. Some of his most popular recipes on the Great British Chefs website include his wonderful tiramisu recipe and this mussel recipe; a delicious mussel broth with ginger, lime leaves and chilli.
Paul Ainsworth is a frequent competitor on Great British Menu, wowing the judges with his taste of the fairground dessert in 2011 and competing once again for the South West region in 2012 against Nathan Outlaw and Simon Hulstone.
Paul contributed a series of recipes to second Feastive Great British Chefs app including a stand out Bread 'n' Butter pudding.
Awards
The Michelin Guide
One Michelin Star
Restaurants
Paul Ainsworth at Number 6
With Padstow becoming another one of the UK’s most-visited destinations for food lovers, Number 6 has carved out a niche as a friendly place which makes full use of the wealth of great local ingredients and which aims to be inclusive to all (the a la carte menu is priced competitively, and there’s a children’s menu available for family dining).
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Rojano’s in the Square
Having put another pin in the culinary map of Padstow with his celebrated restaurant Number 6, Paul Ainsworth continues to bring different flavours to the already well-catered for Cornwall resort.
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