- Tish worked with Wareing in the mid nineties at Michelin-starred L'Oranger
- Read more:Marcus Wareing Simply Provence review: How to avoid childhood obesity? Serve lobster in the school canteen, writes CHRISTOPHER STEVENS
By Jo Tweedy For Mailonline
Published: | Updated:
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38 View commentsA top chef has claimed that Marcus Wareing 'bullied' him when they worked together as young chefs, saying the MasterChef star left him so sick of the job that he quit.
Ben Tish, who's written several cook books and has worked at multiple Michelin-starred restaurants, told the Go-To food podcastthat it was the only time he'd ever left a job.
The pair worked at L'Oranger in the mid Nineties, with head chef Wareing's career already soaring - he won the eatery a Michelin star when he was just 25.
Tish, 49, who grew up in Skegness, said it got hot in the kitchen though, saying he felt forced to endure an atmosphere of 'one-upmanship' while working for Wareing, 53, who closed the doors to his one-Michelin restaurant Marcus in December last year.
Top chef Ben Tish lifted the lid on a disastrous working relationship with Marcus Wareing, claiming the MasterChef star was a 'bully' when the pair worked together at London's L'Oranger restaurant
He said the bad relationship eventually reached a crescendo, saying: 'I worked for him for seven or eight months and I ended up walking out, it's the only place I've ever walked out of.'
Describing what happened, Tish told podcast hostsBen Benton and Freddy Clode: 'It was a build-up and then there was a blow-out.'
Working in close contact with Wareing was uncomfortable, Tish said, explaining: 'He was there every day, cooking and on the pass.
'It was really one-upmanship and kind of bullying. I'd say a little bit of physical pushing'.
He said it reached a head when he decided to quit, saying: 'I was meant to be in one day and then just didn't go in. I was just so over it.
Skegness chef Tish, who's just published a new book, Mediterra, told The Go-To podcast host Freddy Clode that Wareing was all about 'one-upmanship' in the kitchen
Wareing was head chef at L'Oranger, with Angela Hartnett as sous chef, in the mid nineties - he was just 25 when he earned his first Michelin star there. Right:Wareing pictured at Wimbledon last week
Tish revealed how the working partnership came to end, when Wareing, he claims, told him: 'Well, if you can't make it at my level then you might as well just hang up your apron and bugger off back to Skegness'.
Marcus has found huge success both in the kitchen and on TV as a judge on BBC's Masterchef, pictured with co-host Gregg Wallace
'I'd said to him [Marcus], "I'm going to leave" and he said: "Well, if you can't make it at my level then you might as well just hang up your apron and bugger off back to Skegness".
Tish said Angela Hartnett was on one of the sections at the restaurant as sous chef and the pair got on well, adding: 'Angela was lovely, I used to have a coffee with her in the afternoon'.
MailOnline has contacted Marcus Wareing for comment.
The chef told MailOnline in 2015 that his reputation as 'Mr Nasty' wasn't justified, saying: 'If someone cuts a corner in my kitchen I turn into Mr Shouty, but I'm always fair. I can be very relaxed.'
Wareing famously fell out with his mentor Gordon Ramsay - and said it was'the best thing that ever happened to them.'
Another spat: Marcus Wareing has admitted he believes his feud with Gordon Ramsay was 'the best thing that ever happened to them' (the pair are pictured in 2001)
The chef clashed with the legendary cook when they both worked at Gordon's swanky London restaurant Aubergine.
Now, Marcus has admitted that his row with Gordon proved to be the making of them both, telling The Daily Mail's Richard Eden it pushed him to find 'another ambition'.
Both have certainly gone onto have huge success, with Marcus now a judge on BBC's Masterchef: The Professionals, as well as the owner of his self-titled restaurant in Knightsbridge.
Meanwhile Gordon has a total of seven Michelin stars across his franchise of restaurants, and has become one of the nation's most beloved TV chefs through his shows' including Hell's Kitchen and Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares.
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