Born in London and raised in Buckinghamshire,\[2\] Heston Blumenthal attended the Latymer Upper School\[3\] in London for one year\[4\] before transferring to Lacey Green Church of England School until 12.\[citation needed\] Blumenthal completed his studies at age 18\[citation needed\] at John Hampden Grammar School, High Wycombe.\[5\] Blumenthal is entirely self-taught. His first paid job as a chef was when he opened his own restaurant, The Fat Duck. Prior to this, his only experience in a professional kitchen was a one week long work experience at Marco Pierre White's restaurant and 10 days' unpaid experience in Raymond Blanc's kitchen.\[6\] According to an interview with The Observer in 2004, he has been cooking "seriously" since the mid-1990s.\[full citation needed\] In 1992, three years before opening The Fat Duck, he created his first ever dish, the now famous and often imitated, triple cooked chips. In 2002 he invested in the Riverside Brasserie with former Arsenal FC footballer Lee Dixon and Alfie Hitchcock, but two years later he sold his shares in the business to his former head chef, Garrey Dawson.\[citation needed\] In 2004, The Fat Duck was awarded its third Michelin star. Blumenthal is one of only four British chefs to receive 3 Michelin stars. via [Heston Blumenthal - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heston_Blumenthal).