After trying jobs as a nurse and a factory worker, Raymond decided at age 21 that he would love to enter the restaurant world. He worked his way up the ranks, first washing dishes in a restaurant in France, then as a waiter at The Rose Revived near Oxford. After a year there, he was promoted to chef.

At the age of 28, Raymond opened his own restaurant, the highly acclaimed and awarded Les Quat' Saisons in Oxford. In 1984 he relocated to a country house in Great Milton to create Le Manoir aux Quat' Saisons, a hotel and restaurant. There is also a cookery school at the hotel. Raymond has also opened four branches of Le Petit Blanc brassieres.
Raymond Blanc is the author of several books, including Cooking for Friends and Foolproof French Cookery.

Books
Raymond Blanc: Le Manoir, Little Brown, 1990
Simple French Cookery, BBC Books, 2005