Celebrity chef of the month
Brian Turner is a familiar face to viewers of Ready Steady Cook, Saturday Kitchen and Saturday Cooks -- and runs three successful restaurants in London, Birmingham and Slough. But he still found time to talk to us about his passion for food, the highs and lows of his career and - of course - his favourite chocolate recipe.
What makes you passionate about food?
British produce! We have the best meat in the world. You can find such magnificent cuts, and the taste is unbeatable. And with our great coastline, we're also lucky to be able to benefit from fresh fish. For me, the joy of food is being able to prepare it by hand - and then see the joy it brings people. You can't beat the look on someone's face when they've really enjoyed a meal.
Which celebrity chef do you most admire - and why?
It has to be Rick Stein. He's a close personal friend, and he really knows his stuff. Just listening to him talk about food is wonderful - he's so passionate. And he doesn't need to put other people down to make himself look good!
Which professional achievement are you most proud of?
My proudest moment was being awarded my CBE for services to the industry. It's great to be recognised for the effort you put in - and loving my job makes it even better.
Do you have any career regrets?
I don't believe in regrets: when things go wrong, I try to see the positive side. That said, I didn't start my own business until I was in my 40s: if I had my time again, I'd have done it at a much earlier age.
How can busy women ensure they follow a healthy, balanced diet?
Firstly, you can't go wrong with oily fish! Secondly, I'd get a nutritional analysis, such as nutriprofile (www.nutriprofile.org). It's the UK's first free nutritional profiling system: it only takes 20 minutes, and gives you an easy-to-understand breakdown of your nutrition. I found out I was deficient in a couple of areas, so I now take a daily supplement to combat this.
What's your food heaven and hell?
My favourite is a traditional English roast dinner - it always takes me back to my childhood. And my least favourite is tripe. Need I say more?
What's your favourite chocolate recipe?
I love white chocolate and raspberry trifle: the recipe's in my book, Brian Turner's Favourite British Recipes (Headline, £16.99).
