Celebrity chef Raymond Blanc has paid tribute to staff at the John Radcliffe Hospital where he spent a month fighting coronavirus.
The award-winning chef, who runs Le Manoir aux Quat’ Saisons restaurant in Great Milton, admitted he was scared after he was taken to the hospital in December with a high fever.
In an interview with The Times' Weekend section, the 71-year-old said his immune system had been ‘really low’ because he had been working 11-13 hours a day and he now vowed to delegate more and spend more time with his family.
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He added: “Of course I was scared - especially when I saw the scan of my lungs - and I realised that I was seriously ill. But I also knew that I was in the best hands.”
Raymond Blanc with Le Manoir staff in 2020 Picture: Tim Hughes
The chef, who lives with his partner Natalia, suffers asthma and was warned at one stage of his stay that he might have to go into intensive care but managed to avoid it.
Raymond Blanc checks dishes at Le Manoir Picture: Tim Hughes
He added: “They said I might have to go to ICU, which filled me with fear because I knew that I might be put on ventilator and I would have no control over what happened to me. I begged them to let me fight it.”
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The chef praised the professionalism of hospital staff, including the catering team, who served ‘excellent desserts’.
He added that the food was ‘always hot and on time’, and said: “One day I was looking forward to a grilled pork chop. The thing arrived and it was compressed minced pork, very sweet and also beige, and I wanted to cry.”
Raymond Blanc at Le Manoir in 2020 Picture: Tim Hughes
The Frenchman added that his first walk around the gardens of Le Manoir hotel when he returned home was 'very emotional' and following his experience the air he breathed was 'like gourmet food'.
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He is now planning a 'huge thank-you party' at Le Manoir and Brasserie Blanc for all the staff at the hospital who helped him to recover.
He added: "I can't wait to work with my team again and to welcome our guests once lockdown is over."
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