Five minutes with Tom Kerridge

Fiona Logan

Former digital editor Fiona (aka Fee). She’s a qualified patisserie chef and loves to bake for others in her spare time.

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The Michelin star-winning chef Tom Kerridge tells us about his favourite food memories, the recipe he simply couldn’t live without (lemon posset!) and who he’d invite to a one-off dinner.

Tom also talks about the issues his Pub In The Park festivals have experienced due to the Covid-19 outbreak and how you can still get involved, whilst social distancing.

What’s the first recipe you properly learned to cook?

My mum’s spaghetti bolognese!

What’s the one recipe that you can’t live without?
It would have to be a really simple lemon posset recipe. It is such a good dish and if you get it right, it is just the perfect dessert

Lemon possets — If, like Tom, you love a classic lemon posset, then give our lemon and lavender posset recipe a go.

Which food do you absolutely hate?
There aren’t really any foods that I actually hate. If I had to say one thing though it would probably be Offal. If it was given to me I would still eat it, but it is one that I would have to say that I generally avoid.

What’s the one ingredient that you’d take to a desert island with you?
It would have to be pork, it is so good and so versatile. I wouldn’t be able to not have bacon. Imagine a world without bacon!!

What’s the meal you’d miss the most whilst there?
Hands down, it would have to be fish and chips. It is a classic and so good.

You can have a one-off dinner party on your desert island… who would you invite and why?
I would choose my wife, always my wife.

Which cookbook would you take with you to the island?
There are so many great cook books out there that I can recommend, but you really really can’t ever go wrong with anything written by Delia Smith, so it would have to be one of hers.

How have your plans for 2020 been affected by Covid-19?
Having to postpone most of my Pub In The Park events was really tough but I’m so looking forward to returning to a full tour in 2021! It has been horrible not being able to get out and do stuff at the restaurants and the events, and not being able to see all the things we have had planned actually happen. I’ve focused on the positives instead, working on launching my Drive-in Garden Party and Pub in the Park’s Drive in Theatre.

What did you binge-watch on TV during lockdown?
I’ve been watching The Last Dance, the basketball documentary on Netflix which is so so good. And Ozark. I’ve done all three seasons and I can’t wait to watch season four when it comes out

Where’s the first place you ate once restaurants re-opened? (or are planning to head to?)
I’ve been so busy getting my restaurant ready to open and making sure that they all run smoothly and safely, that I haven’t actually eaten out yet myself. But I do have a table booked at The Sportsman Pub in Whitstable and I can’t wait to go there.

Tell us some more about the Pub In The Park Garden Party?
For people who have been to our Pub in the Park festivals before, Drive-In Garden party is going to have a really similar vibe to that. Expect really great food, brilliant music acts and at Garden Party you get to drive into your own private area so you can hang out in the garden, have a dance, and eat some incredible food – all whilst socially distancing.

Tickets for Tom’s Pub In The Park Garden Party are on sale now, with prices starting from £45.