What is your life ambition?
As far as restaurants are concerned my life ambition is to make The New Angel an exceptional eating venue.
You’ve just opened The New Angel in Notting Hill – how does it differ from other west London restaurants?
As a chef I have my own identifiable style and approach to food, so I am sure there is room for something different in west London.
You spent much of your childhood travelling – do you believe a variety of cuisines influence your palate?
Yes, absolutely. I love to throw in the occasional Asian-inspired dish.
You have two Michelin Stars under your belt – how did it feel to be awarded such a prestigious honour?
It was absolutely brilliant to receive two Michelin stars; it is something I will never forget.
What is your favourite way to relax?
I love horse riding and fishing.
On I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here you ate such delicacies as crocodile tongue, fish eyes and dried crocodile penis. What were the best and worst things about the experience?
The best experience was eating a live witchetty grub; the worst was crunching on live silverfish beetles – they had no flavour at all.
You live in Devon – will you now be spending a lot of time in Notting Hill?
I spend three quarters of my life in Notting Hill and do not see that changing.
What is your favourite restaurant in west London – feeling any stiff competition?
The Ledbury. I am not actually feeling any competition as we offer very different things.
You opened The New Angel, a restaurant of the same name in Devon – how did it come about?
It was a little place that I opened when I came back from France, which I wanted to use to show all that I’d learned while living there.
What has been the most enjoyable moment in your career?
I still enjoy most of my job and that hasn’t changed since I started.
You’ve written several recipe and cookery books – how do you find the time to squeeze everything in?
Obviously it is difficult when you are committed to a restaurant to find time for anything. However, we use several recipes every day so it is quite easy to identify the ones you want to use in the book and it is simple to isolate some time for photography.
Where is your favourite place in the world?
I have several favourite places in the world: I love Barbados in the Caribbean, Singapore and Malaysia, Vaucluse in the south of France and I love where I am living in south Devon.
What is your all-time favourite dish to prepare?
My favourite dish depends on my mood. Being brought up in the Far East I love Asian food. I also love French food, and as I am cooking all day every day it is nice when someone else cooks something for me.
What is your favourite dish to eat?
Depends on my mood: fish, shellfish and I am a chocaholic.
