Owner, Spurreli
What do you have for breakfast?
Most days, I’ll just have a banana and a bowl of muesli. If I want to spend some more time, I’ll have a full cooked breakfast or maybe some kippers.
What’s your go-to guilty pleasure?
I have a sweet tooth and love chocolate – especially chocolate chunk skillet cookies. But, if I had only one choice, it would have to be a homemade cheeseburger.
What would be your last meal on earth?
I love travelling to South East Asia and go every year with my wife Katie, so I’d have a Thai meal including a miang kham starter with shrimp and coconut, tom yum goong soup with prawns, and som tam papaya salad.
What’s in your home fridge/freezer?
We’re always very well stocked, including vegetables from Katie’s garden. There’s also always some Sauvignon blanc, Veuve Clicquot and Moretti; and plenty of sauces and pickles. In the freezer, there’s always ice cream and my go-tos at the moment are pistachio and salted caramel, and our new popcorn flavour.
What’s your most important piece of kitchen kit?
Good knives are essential, and accurate scales make everything you do in the kitchen consistent and repeatable.
What’s your favourite food book?
We have a vast collection and have had to slow down buying new ones. A strong favourite is The Tucci Table by Felicity Blunt and Stanley Tucci. His TV shows are really inspiring, and the book is an extension of his enthusiasm for food and cooking. Nigel Slater’s The Kitchen Diaries is also a favourite.
What’s your most important piece of advice in the food business?
You’re never too old to learn, and every day is a school day. Ask for help, hold your hands up when you make a mistake, and learn from all your experiences.
What would you be doing if you weren’t working in food?
My other business, Amble Boat Company, has long been a passion of mine so I’d probably spend all my time next door in the yard building and repairing boats.
If you only had £10 to spend on food, what would you buy?
I think you can still make a really tasty stir fry for £10. You can quickly get a lot of flavour in a healthy, economical dish with chicken, vegetables and a simple sauce.
Who is your favourite chef?
Right now I’d say Saturday Kitchen’s Matt Tebbutt – his upbeat style of hosting delivers a great show every week and he’s superb at what he does.
Spurreli, The Old Chandlery, 14 Coquet Street, Amble, NE65 0DJ, tel 01665 710 890, www.spurreli.com
