Alexei Zimin

In this name that follows Eastern Slavic naming customs, the patronymic is Alexandrovich and the family name is Zimin.

Alexei Alexandrovich Zimin (Russian: Алексе́й Алекса́ндрович Зими́н; 13 December 1971 – 12 November 2024) was a Russian writer and chef who was based in the United Kingdom. He was found dead in Belgrade in November 2024. Zimin was a critic of the Russian annexation of Crimea in 2024.[1]

Life and career

Zimin was born in Dubna near Moscow, Moscow Oblast, Russia on 13 December 1971.[2][3]

Zimin was deputy editor-in-chief of Afisha magazine,[4] founded Afisha.Food, worked as editor-in-chief of Afisha World, Gourmet, and GQ Russia editor in chief before training at Le Cordon Bleu London. He went on to open Moscow's first chef's table restaurant, Ragout, as well as a food magazine, Afisha Eda,[5][6][7] and a Moscow fast food chain.[8]

He had a cookery show on NTV which was cancelled after he made critical comments on social media (a video on Instagram singing the Bulat Okudzhava Russian anti-war song "Grab Your Coat and Let’s Go Home"[3]) against the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Zimin co-owned ZIMA,[9][10] an eponymous restaurant on Frith Street in the Soho district of London with Katerina Ternovskaya.[11] The restaurant had been the subject of abuse and threats of arson following the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

His book Anglomania was published in 2024. Zimin was promoting the book in Serbia at the time of his death. He was found dead by the owner of his rented apartment in Belgrade on 12 November 2024. Serbian authorities said there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding his death. An autopsy and toxicology reports are being undertaken.[12]

Personal life

Zimin was married to Tatiana Dolmatovskaya, costume designer for theatre and film. They had three children - Varvara Zimina (b. 2006), Nikolai Zimin (b. 2009) and Paul Zimin (b. 2011).

Autopsy report

According to autopsy report, Zimin died from liver cirrhosis and aortic rupture.[13] Zimin was cremated on 23 November 2024 at the Belgrade's Lešće cemetery.[14][15] Buried at Highgate Cemetery on December 13, 2024.

References

1. BBC in Serbian "Alexei Zimin death". BBC Serbia
2. "Famed Russian chef, a Putin critic who owned a restaurant in London, found dead in Belgrade". CBS News. 14 November 2024. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
3. "Alexei Zimin obituary: Russia's Jamie Oliver with Soho restaurant". The Times. 14 November 2024. Archived from the original on 14 November 2024. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
4. "Famed Russian chef, a Putin critic who owned a restaurant in London, found dead in Belgrade". cbsnews.com — CBS News. 14 November 2024. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
5. ""Еда"". Еда.ру (eda.ru). (in Russian). Retrieved 14 November 2024. – рецепты, видеоуроки и кулинарные блоги
6. "Alexei Zimin, Editor-in-Chief of Russia's Eda Magazine". Eater. 30 July 2010. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
7. "Alumni Alexei Zimin Success Story". cordonbleu.edu — Le Cordon Bleu London. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
8. Quinn, Ben; Sauer, Pjotr (14 November 2024). "London-based Russian TV chef Alexei Zimin found dead in Belgrade". The Guardian. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
9. "Zima Soho London". Alamy. Retrieved 14 November 2024.
10. "Restaurant Review: Zima, Soho in London". Luxury Lifestyle Magazine. 9 June 2016. Retrieved 14 November 2024. Zima is a new venture from Russian chef Alexei Zimin that combines Russian street food and drink in a kitsch speakeasy-style atmosphere.
11. "Zima Russian Restaurant". Time Out. 10 May 2016. Retrieved 15 November 2024.
12. BBC in Serbian Alexei Zimin. BBC Serbia
13. "Alexei Zimin autopsy report". b92.com, 13.11.2024.
14. /"Belgrade's funerals and cremations".
15. "Dan u Beogradu, sahrane i kremacije". 23.11.2024.