My West London Life

Valentine Warner

Valentine Warner

May
3

Chef Valentine Warner on scrambled eggs and Primal Scream

Where do you live?

I left Chesterton Road because I couldn’t afford to stay in Notting Hill. I’ve moved to a big house on a rough street in Shepherd’s Bush [laughs] – there’s plenty of noise at night from party animals and sirens.

What are you up to at the moment?

I’ve just finished a 200-recipe book, The Good Table. I made the classic mistake of not backing it up and the original copy got stolen, so I had to start all over again. I’m teaching more and filming.

Where do you get your love of food from?

Both of my parents are amazing cooks. My dad is operatic whereas my mum is understated. She can cobble something fantastic from the contents of the fridge. Travelling as a child taught me to appreciate food, from humble to the not-so-humble. I was also surrounded by foods growing up in the countryside and my understanding of everything around me was through taste from an early age – I’d pick things up and put them in my mouth.

What’s been your most memorable meal?

One of the most memorable meals was sitting on a rock in Greece with an amazing loaf of bread, tomatoes and olive oil, plus a basket of sea urchins we’d collected. I was on holiday so completely relaxed.

And your worst?

A cataclysmic meal in a pub in Scotland while filming. I’ve blotted the details from my memory; it’s best to only remember the good ones.

Where do you shop for food in the area?

I still go to Portobello market for my vegetables at weekends. I head to Macken Brothers for my meat and I try to buy fish off a boat at the weekends. Otherwise I go to Kensington Place although it’s fiercely expensive.

What was the last gig you saw?

Primal Scream at Olympia just before Christmas. They performed stuff from the ‘90s when I was at art college.

What’s your bar/pub and tipple of choice?

I’m very fond of The Cow and The Cock & Bottle [17 Needham Street, W11] in Notting Hill. I drink cider. My favourite is Dunkertons, although they don’t sell it in either pubs.

How would you spend an ideal Sunday?

Wake up; read the papers; have a breakfast of buttery soft scrambled eggs and spend the rest of the day trout fishing. An alternative would be a long walk round Hyde Park before checking out the Serpentine Gallery and the The Natural History Museum.

What’s your favourite view of London?

The Natural History Museum is my favourite building and place in London. My other favourite view is my naked wife.

What would be your last supper?

Boiled ham and parsley sauce with poached veg.

Who would be your dream dinner guests?

David Attenborough, Paul Merton and David Mitchell, Angelica Huston and Terry Thomas.

What’s your motto?

Onwards, and approach things with love.

What’s next?

Lunch.

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5

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Having grown up between Islington and Scotland, I’ve lived in Parson’s Green most of my adult life. I love village atmosphere, the mix of ‘country’ pubs, young families, and its proximity to the King’s Road.

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