Owner, North Chocolates
Let’s start at the beginning, what do you eat for breakfast?
I wake up really hungry, so breakfast is essential, and I have to share it with our cat Moses. My hubby Simon makes fabulous bread, so Moses and I share two slices of toast – one with Bovril and one with honey.
And your go-to guilty pleasure?
Chinese curry sauce with rice and chips, and prawn crackers of course.
What would be your last meal on earth?
I’ve eaten in some fabulous restaurants but I’d have to have a proper roast chicken dinner with all the trimmings and plenty of bread sauce.
What can I find in your home fridge right now?
Working from home, I cook lunch and tea every day so we’re really well stocked. There are loads of condiments in there, loads of salads and veg, plus some falafels, salmon, Thai chicken noodle soup… there’s all sorts in there.
Which ingredient would you grab if you could only choose one?
President unsalted butter – there’s a reason chefs use loads of the stuff; it makes everything taste good.
You must have plenty of essential kit in the kitchen. Which is the most important?
A Thermapen. They come in loads of colours, they’re fast and accurate, and they’re a brilliant bit of kit for all kinds of cooking. For my chocolate, I’ve got a fridge which has humidity control – and loads of other things on it – to keep the chocolate just right.
And your favourite cook book?
I’ve got loads of them, but my best-thumbed ones are Jamie at Home, Anna Jones’ Modern books and Sarah Raven’s Garden Cookbook.
What’s your favourite dish to make at home?
I really love goat and you can combine it with some Moroccan flavours, shove it in the oven for six hours and have the most amazing dinner party dish that really doesn’t take a lot of time or effort.
What’s your most important bit of advice in the kitchen?
Taste everything! You’ve got to taste it to know how to season it. You also need to enjoy cooking; it’s free time to listen to a podcast or some music and just relax.
What would you be doing if you weren’t running your business?
Being a full-time pantomime dame would be perfect. I’d also love to be a comedy writer, like Aisling Bea or Sharon Horgan, and make people properly belly laugh.
If you only had £10 to spend on food, what would you buy?
Noodles, loads of veggies and chillies, and I’d make as much stir fry as I could.
Who is the greatest cook ever?
He gets a lot of flack, but I think Jamie Oliver is a brilliant cook with excellent recipes for home cooks which have loads of flavour. He’s also done a lot of really good work in the industry over the years.
