Tell us about the reaction to your book: The Aphrodisiac Encyclopedia
Quite a few raised eyebrows but fortunately quite a bit of laughter too. The book is very much tongue-in-cheek with some pretty dry humour.
How often do you enjoy a bloody mary and when is bloody mary o’clock in your home?
Extremely often! Midday on weekends, bank holidays, holidays… also Fridays and the occasional Thursday.
What do you hate about west London?
I hate that it takes absolutely ages to get across town to east London – can’t wait for cross-rail.
Tell us a secret about west London…
Lots Road Auction House. It’s a very exciting way to buy furniture.
Where would we find you having a chilled tipple with friends?
My local. Its in the heart of Notting Hill but impervious to change!
Do you dance? If so where?
Yes, however not quite so energetically as I once did. These days I am more like an oil tanker and it takes quite a bit to get me moving (but once started I find it almost impossible to stop). I was last seen dancing whilst DJ-ing at the Bloodshot Halloween Brunch at the Brompton Bar & Grill.
How would you describe your career to date?
A white knuckle ride!
What motivates you to get out of bed?
My alarm clock – which I have strategically placed in the kitchen to ensure it gets me out of bed. That and a desire to make things happen…
What’s your Bloodshot dream?
To turn the world on to Bloodshot Bloody Marys – this classic cocktail is still relatively unknown, even in west London. I regularly mix people their first Bloody Mary.
Describe your perfect weekend..
Bound out of bed at 9am and head to Portobello Market to scoop up flowers, fruit, the papers, coffees and croissants. Whizz back home and return to bed to laze away with my girlfriend (the shoe designer, Atalanta Weller). Head out by bike to Hyde Park, checking out what’s on at The Serpentine Gallery. Late lunch with friends at Assaggi until the restaurant politely kicks us out. Pub for a few hours then re-group back at the flat to drink wine and listen to music into the wee hours.
Sunday kicks off with a swim, sauna and steam, followed by a massive Bloodshot Mary and the mother of all fry-ups. After eating we zip down to the river for a long walk along the embankment before a blissful late afternoon massage at the Mandarin Oriental Spa, followed by movies and sushi at home.
What makes you laugh?
Larry David.
What makes you cry?
I get very emotional watching films on planes, which I blame on the altitude. The story of Sea Biscuit, the horse that wouldn’t accept its destiny, had me in floods.
