Tom Kerridge on why slow-cooked lamb shoulder is his favourite meal, the most annoying thing about being a restaurateur, and the time his chef overdosed on durian fruit
Who are you and what do you do?
I’m a bloke from Gloucester having a go at cooking with lots of other bits on the side. I run the two Michelin-starred Hand & Flowers, the one Michelin-starred The Coach, a butchers called The Butcher’s Tap, and the brand new Kerridge’s Bar & Grill at the Corinthia Hotel in the centre of London. In my spare time, I do a bit of TV, write books, run an outside catering business called Lush Hospitality and curate and run a nationwide food festival called Pub in the Park. I’m also a dad and a husband, and an occasional dog walker.
What’s new?
Everything! Kerridge’s Bar & Grill is all brand new: the furniture, the tables, the menu, the drinks, the staff and the ideas.
What’s your earliest food memory?
Corned beef in a crusty bread roll with lots of English mustard whilst watching the Pink Panther on a Saturday evening. Standard six-year-old stuff.
What’s the best thing about eating in London?
It’s an eclectic mix of brilliant cuisines, and you can eat fantastic food at all levels, whether it is simple sandwiches, dirty burgers and street food, all the way up to some of the finest two and three Michelin- starred restaurants in the world – all cuisines are catered for. This city is made for food lovers.
And the worst thing?
The slightly annoying culture of no-show diners, who aren’t polite enough to ring up and say they aren’t coming. It’s not the fact that they don’t turn up that I mind, it’s that they don’t call to tell you!
What’s your favourite food-related anecdote?
There are so many as my life has revolved around food. I have to say it was in Singapore, when one of my chefs ate three portions of durian fruit, out of politeness to our host, whereas I politely turned it down, knowing full well that it tastes rotten and smells so bad. Twenty minutes later, the chef was in a whole world of pain – he was dry heaving while the rest of us laughed at him.
What’s the best meal you’ve ever had?
I’ve been very lucky that I’ve eaten so many fantastic meals and been to all sorts of places. The stand out meal was in a back alley in Singapore, eating an aubergine dish while sitting on plastic seats.
What’s your favourite dish?
I have to be honest, I’m a big fan of slow cooked lamb shoulder: easy to do, perfect family food, tastes delicious and makes the house smell lovely.