I do think it is the responsibility of parents to feed their children properly.

I think that allowing the nation to become so ignorant about food has been such a backward step - and to be honest I don't think there should be a School Food Trust. It shouldn't be necessary.

Children aren't being taught to cook or encouraged to try things or told why food is important.

I think women write more fully and honestly than men about heart and home.

It was hugely helpful to me, being South African. I have never felt uncomfortable in posh society because I don't see what it is that I'm meant to be bowing the knee about.

I used to always employ South Africans and Aussies and Kiwis - I can't admit this, well I can now, but I couldn't admit it at the time - but I didn't want wet English lads who didn't want to work in the catering trade anyway.

I was an intellectual groupie. Still am.

I fall for all those lists of 100 books you must read, and go out and buy most of them.

With contemporary writers, I often buy books and then realise I've bought them before.

For me the best food in the world is New British. It's quite classical cooking with really simple but good-quality ingredients. I also like top-end restaurants and pub grub done well.