Yotam Ottolenghi to announce shock retirement?

Sad news for Ottolenghi fans. Speculation had been rife that founder of the Ottolenghi deli chain in London will announce his retirement from all public activities, at age 57, with immediate effect.

UPDATE 20/03/2026 : This story seems to be false. (read more)

Being a chef isn't fun anymore

“As we get older, there are phases of life that we enter into, and being a chef-author just isn't fun anymore,” he might have said, says a source who remained anonymous. Other reports hinted that he may branch out into other creative fields he is better at (and more interested in), though they didn't provide any details.

#ThankYouYotam

For a little while on Thursday evening, #ThankYouYotam was a trending hashtag on Twitter. As many fans reminisce and look back on all the unforgettable memories, some may wonder what about now made him make the decision.

“You’ve accomplished everything I ever dreamed of #ThankYouYotam.”
— @DesireePlum, 19 Mar 2026

“Ottolenghi wasn't retired?”
— @borisB0, 19 Mar 2026

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