Heston Blumenthal Closes Dinner by Heston, Bipolar Diagnosis Impacts Fat Duck

0:00On March 9th, celebrity chef Heston Blumenthal is closing his two Michelin star London restaurant, dinner by Heston for good next January. That's 16 years after it first opened in 2011. He points to soaring food prices and his recent bipolar diagnosis as the main reasons behind the tough call. The spot earned its first Michelin star within a year and grabbed the second the year after that. It became famous for dishes like a chicken liver parfait disguised as a mandarin orange, which drew huge crowds and tons of attention online back in. The day, financial pressures are hitting hard across his restaurant group. The parent company faced a winding up petition from tax authorities after posting losses of more than 2 million pounds last year, up from about 1. .4 million the year before. That puts even his flagship three star fat duck at risk, with possible job cuts for around 130 staff. Blumenthal opened up about his bipolar diagnosis from late 2023, which led to a hospital stay and heavy medication at first.

1:04Now on a much lower dose, he says it slowed his mind, but sparked a creative comeback. He also mentioned family ties to the condition, including his late sister. With the tendency at the mandarin oriental hotel wrapping up, he's planning to split time between the fat duck and his home in France over the coming months, looking ahead with a mix of reflection and fresh energy.