TV chef James Martin has announced the death of Bill Poon, a pioneering Chinese chef and restaurateur, at the age of 81. Poon was best known for his Michelin-starred restaurant Poon's of Covent Garden, one of the first Chinese establishments in London to receive the accolade.
James Martin's emotional tribute
Posting to Instagram, the Saturday Kitchen star shared a heartfelt message reflecting on their friendship. Martin wrote: 'RIP a legend on the UK food scene, Bill Poon. I met him when I was a young commis working in London and he said "love food, work hard and things will happen". Thank you Bill for your advice, I will never forget it.'
Martin's post attracted tributes from his 766,000 followers. One commented: 'What great advice! My parents were huge fans and we ate his food regularly. Just rather annoying that I thought all Chinese food would taste that way. Set a very high bar which very few have come close to.' Another added: 'What an insightful person RIP,' while a third wrote: 'I am sorry for your loss.'
Bill Poon's culinary legacy
Family friend and restaurateur Jon Spiteri said: 'When Poon's opened in the early seventies Bill and Cecilia forever changed the way Chinese cuisine was perceived in England. Bill created dishes that were light, fresh and stunningly cooked. It was an absolute treat to go to Poon's and savour his cuisine. Bill Poon was and is a giant in the British culinary world and has left a void.'
Spiteri added: 'He has thankfully left us Amy, who is carrying on the family tradition at her own restaurant, Poon's at Somerset House on Waterloo Bridge. I loved Bill and he will be hugely missed.'
Poon's of Covent Garden and celebrity patrons
Poon is best known for Poon's of Covent Garden, which opened in 1976 and was among the earliest Chinese restaurants in London to receive a Michelin star. Notable patrons included Mick Jagger, Barbra Streisand and Frank Sinatra, who frequently had Poon's dishes delivered to his suite at the neighbouring Savoy hotel.
Together with his wife Cecilia, Poon and his extended family ran a collection of Poon's restaurants throughout London for three decades. At the height of the group's success in the 1980s, there were no fewer than seven Poon's branded establishments.
Cantonese cuisine and community work
Serving impeccably crafted Cantonese cuisine, Poon's helped pave the way for a new wave of chefs looking to present a more sophisticated and forward-thinking approach to Chinese food. The couple stepped away from the restaurant trade in the early 2000s.
Poon was a highly regarded and active figure within London's Chinese community and restaurant scene, feeding those without homes beneath Waterloo Bridge and tirelessly raising funds for causes dear to him.
