1. fresh regulars
food for thought
stepped into the stage Would you ever open a separates him from all the
where I’m doing TV, so I’ve cookery school? other chefs out there.
never regarded myself as a No. I don’t see the point of
celeb chef. it. If I opened a school I’d What’s the greatest
have to be there every day, influence in your life – in
What do you think of celeb otherwise it’s just a cookery cooking and in general?
chefs today – have you got school with my name on Mother Nature answers all
any favourites? the door. All people need to our questions – she never lets
I don’t understand a lot of the know about cooking is that us down, we let her down.
messages that they’re trying to once you’ve dissolved your
deliver. Do they inspire me? fears in the stove and gained So are you into eco issues?
Not really. The person who is confidence, it’ll come easily. Driving round in a Range
the most inspirational on TV is Cooking is easy. Rover? Yeah, right. I do love
Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall. a compost heap though;
He inspires people to buy But you yourself were they fascinate me.
good produce and to cook. taught by some of the best?
I was shown by the best. No Is there anything that you’ve
What’s your opinion of one can teach you to cook, said in the past that you
Delia’s cheat recipes? you teach yourself to cook, now regret?
All I can say about Delia it’s something that comes Sometimes we say things
is that she’s done more for from within you. We’re because we’re frustrated, or
getting people to cook at shown the techniques but whatever. Sometimes things
The Ladies & the Tramp home than anyone in this it’s something that comes just come out incorrectly or
Ladies Day attendees at this year’s Royal Ascot country. I haven’t seen her from within, otherwise there we express ourselves badly.
have an additional incentive to show off their programme and I just can’t would be lots of great cooks. You can’t regret saying
ostentatious headwear: Marco Pierre White is pass comment on it because As I’ve always said: great things but you do have
there backing a new menu for the day! Nikki I don’t know. But look at all cooks have three things in to rectify them. I believe
Haynes asks about the odds . . . the good things Delia’s done. common; the first is that they in the world of rectification
I try not to get involved in accept that Mother Nature not justification. I never like
You’ve designed a special be there on the day, he’ll go the politics of my is the true artist; the second justification. People who
menu for Ladies Day at and see the punters and I’ll industry; I may pass thing is that everything they justify don’t accept their
Royal Ascot this year – what do the food, which is going comment and share my do is an extension of them as wrongdoing. Acceptance is
made you want to get to be very English – I think views but that’s all, and I a person; and thirdly, having a very special quality in a
involved with this? that’s really important. It’s never mention names. a sense of the world that they person, accept what life has
My fascination with an English event and one of came from, the world that given you and get on with it.
racing was born out of my the most important sporting There are many stories about inspires them.
childhood; my father was events in the calendar, your hot-headed temper in What’s your opinion on the
obsessed with it so I was and Ladies Day is without the kitchen, is there any truth Are there any chefs out battery chicken debate?
dragged round the tracks all a doubt one of the most behind them? there that you admire? I would recommend people
over the north of England. glamorous events of the year I can’t answer that question. You have to admire who can’t afford free-range
I was always surrounded – in my opinion anyway. You’d probably be able to Gordon Ramsay for or organic chickens buy the
by horses. There was also answer that better than me his achievements, Jean drumsticks and thighs. But
a TV show which was Are you a gambling man; because it’s your world that Christophe Novelli, Antony there are also people on
filmed close to where I will you be making some created the stories. Worrall Thompson, Heston benefits that can’t even afford
lived called Folly Foot Farm. bets on the day? Blumenthal, Raymond Blanc. that. Sometimes in life you
It was about horses who Nope. I just like the whole What’s the most outrageous Raymond is the finest of just have to close your eyes
had been sent to the farm visual side of it, it’s like rumour you’ve heard about them all, the finest chef in − if you question battery
after being mistreated, Q stepping back in time yourself? Britain. Even the person who chicken then you have to
from James Bond ran it and and reminds me of my Remember: I never listen to runs a great café or a great question every aspect of
Arthur English was Slugger, childhood. gossip, and most people are chip shop, all these people farming. So let’s not have
so that was my love affair too weak to mention it to me. contribute to that wonderful a cheap shot to sell some
with horses. I also used to Do you still like riding? jigsaw, and what makes column inches, to try and be
work part time at a stud No. I’m too scared now, if I So you’re proud of all your the industry so special is all a bit controversial, to make
just outside Leeds called fell off I’d really hurt myself. achievements? the individual pieces. But TV interesting and to be a
Mount Pleasant Stud in I would never say that I was Raymond has great integrity do-gooder. Let’s live in the
return for riding lessons. So You have been dubbed the proud of my achievements, and intelligence. He was real world.
when you’re asked to do first celebrity chef – do you I don’t think of them like born with a natural intellect,
something like Ascot, it’s a like this tag? that. I did what I did and a natural understanding of For more information
natural thing to do. Myself One, I’m not seen in public moved on, I did my bit for food and Mother Nature, on Royal Ascot please visit
and Frankie [Dettori] will and two, I’ve only just the industry. but it is his intelligence that www.ascot.co.uk
146 fresh www.fresh-magazine.co.uk
146 celeb col.indd 146 16/4/08 10:03:09