Culinary goddess Nigella Lawson reveals the inspiration behind her latest series, Nigella: At My Table, which starts tonight on BBC2 at 8.30pm
As kitchen goddess Nigella Lawson returns to our screens with a brand new series, Nigella: At My Table, she reveals what's in store and admits that despite being a big fan of fellow chefs Giorgio Locatelli and Nigel Slater it was her mum who was her biggest culinary inspiration..
Nigella Lawson's TV Times interview
What makes Nigella: At My Table different to your previous shows?
Nigella Lawson: "It’s always essential to me to share the food I love, show how it's cooked, say what it means to me, and just speak from the heart. But I do feel that in this series I’ve really been able to chat about where these recipes come from, as well as show how simple and joyous they are to cook."
Do you watch many other cookery show?
NL: "No, because I don't want to be influenced by others nor do I want to be noticing elements that might have rubbed off from my shows. Still, I get the impression that home cooking is now viewed much more positively and restaurant chefs don’t dominate in quite the way they did when I started out."
Who was your cooking inspiration growing up?
NL "My mother. But in terms of TV, the real treat was to be allowed to watch The Galloping Gourmet, Graham Kerr! I can’t say he was an influence, but I remember loving the show. As a young adult, I also watched every one of Claudia Roden’s programmes and I’m thrilled Giorgio Locatelli is on television more now. And I love Nigel Slater – who doesn’t?"
Would you ever like to be a judge on a TV cookery competition?
NL: "A couple of years ago, I was a guest judge on MasterChef Australia, and I have to say I found it inspiring. It’s a strange thing, as even though I don’t see cooking as a competitive sport at all, I’ve found it fascinating being a judge. It’s important the basic premise of the programme is to encourage."
What’s the best home cooked meal you’ve been served?
"It was at a Korean friend’s house for her birthday and her mother cooked the most spectacular feast I think I’ve ever eaten. There was simply too much food for me to be able to list it all, but there were the most wonderful mooli-radish kimchi plus fabulous ribs and barbecued meats cooked on burners at the table."
Nigella: At My Table begins Monday October 30 BBC2 at 8.30pm
