I picked up a store magazine today and in the back is a regular feature ‘My cup of tea’ where well-known people answer a series of questions about what they like to eat, drink and cook… and I got to thinking about what I would answer if I ever became famous enough to be asked.
- Do you eat breakfast? Usually – and usually a fried egg on toast. I grind my spice mix over it, which includes fenugreek, coriander, pepper, dried chilli, cumin etc
- Do you enjoy cooking? I love cooking; whatever it is, making cakes and scones, cooking meals for the family, making a salad for myself, helping friends get ready for a dinner party… I love it!
- Whose recipes do you like most? Claudia Roden, the late Arto Der Haroutunian, Steven Wheeler and Meera Taneja
- What’s your top tipple? Beer, whisky/whiskey, wine… Otter beer, Highland Park/Bushmills whisky, and mostly red wine but sometimes white
- Do you enjoy fine dining? I’ve never fine-dined but I am sure I would!
- What’s the weirdest thing you’ve ever eaten? jelly-fish… I thought it was pickled cabbage
- Starter or pudding? Definitely starter – mezze or tapas or a sharing platter of yummy things
- What’s your favourite cuisine? Anything spicy… Kerela, Vietnamese, north Chinese, Korean… oh and Mexico…
- What’s your guilty pleasure? Those cheap and nasty hot dogs from a street vendor… I actually very rarely have one, but it would certainly be a guilty pleasure with yellow mustard and loads of fried onions
- What’s your perfect TV supper? I don’t really do TV suppers… mezze and tapa sagain I guess
- How do you take your tea? Strong, dark and full of flavour – breakfast tea with plenty of Darjeeling in the mix
Lois Elsden 