How much of your life do you spend on a plane?
I worked out the other day I'd been to Australia from the UK nearly 100 times plus my travels for my TV work, far too much, but actually I rather like flying.
You’ve been all over the world so many times. What’s left on the “I’d love to go there one day” list?
I haven't been to South America yet, longing to go there and a really big tour of China.
Pizza – with a knife and fork, or your fingers?
Always fingers, same as a Cornish pasty
Biggest issue facing food today?
Overfishing
You said in an interview a few years back that you “always need something to worry about”. What’s occupying your mind these days?
Have we now got too many restaurants (12)? Should I get another dog? Do I need a new car? Why do my fitness trackers always break - they are supposed to be waterproof but they never seem to be…. is it because I swim in the sea?
What makes Rick Stein swear?
Swear, me?!
Your tip for food’s next big thing?
I haven't a clue but something from a Grumpy Old Man here's a few wishes: Quieter restaurants. I don't think noise goes well with being able to taste food properly. A reaction to too much sous vide food i.e. people wanting their food cooked to order not 36 hours earlier. A world-wide sense of the ridiculousness of 27 things happening on a plate, but answering the question properly, Street Food restaurants, eclectic informal places doing fast food with flavours taken from all over the world.
Long weekend eating: get the recipe for Green rice with garlic, parsley, clams & prawns from Rick's new book.
Source: BBC Books
Your new book, Long Weekends, has just been released. It's a lovely combination of travel and weekend - what was the best thing you ate while researching that? And what location should we all be putting on our must-visit list?
Whilst doing the series, Wiener schnitzel at the Imperial Hotel in Vienna, clams and prawns sautéed with olive oil, garlic and coriander at Ramiro's in Lisbon and Pasta alla Norma at Biso in Palermo.
And the must visit list, it's got to be Cadiz and Bologna.
Most underrated fish in Australia?
I can't believe how cheap leatherjacket is, it's so good! twenty years ago I would probably be saying the same about flat head but not any longer. Also, red mullet, ray and gurnard (latchet).
What are you reading/listening to?
Sicily by John Julius Norwich. A Chinese Street Food Odyssey by Helen and Lisa Tse, which I've just received. Imagine me Gone by Adam Haslett - the best novel I've read about the effect parental suicide has on children. I've just finished Towards the End of the Morning by Michael Frayn, hilarious novel about hopeless journalists in the '60s.
What was the last thing you ate?
This might sound extraordinary but I had slow cooked salted belly pork with sauerkraut for breakfast this morning, it was left over from filming in my cottage.
You're going to be taking part in the Margaret River Gourmet Escape in November - what are you most looking forward to ?
Apart from the glories of Margaret River, the scenery, the seafood and the wine, I'll also be looking forward to meeting up with so many interesting chefs from all over the world and spending some time with Nigella.
What will you be doing at this year’s festival?
We’ve got quite an action-packed weekend. Brunch with the Best at Voyager Estate which is a panel-inspired event with discussions and debates on all sorts of topics within the world of food and wine; a collaboration lunch and two dinners with my son Jack, where we’ll highlight some of the regions incredible seafood (Steins in the Vines at Evans and Tate and the iconic Audi Gourmet Beach BBQ). During my travels I’m really excited to work with WA pock lobsters and dhufish, two great species from the Indian Ocean. Last but certainly not least, the Gourmet Village, the hub and heart of Margaret River Gourmet Escape presented by Audi, and a must for this year’s festival goers.
Rick Stein returns to SBS at 6pm, Thursday December 1, in Rick Stein's Far Eastern Odyssey. The Margaret River Gourmet Escape, featuring 50 culinary superstars from around the world, runs November 18-20.
There's nothing quite so exciting as the prospect of flying off somewhere for the weekend. You can forget the bills, the schools, the illness of friends, and just go. ...
I think weekends are a time for memories. So this is my weekend book. I brought back about ten recipe from each of ten cities, and have worked them into a series of chapters based on how I like to cook at the weekend. What I do on a Friday night after a long week is quick and easy, what I like to do on Saturday breakfast is quite substantial and more inclined to brunch and so on... Included, too, are some recipes that require serious attention... things like making sauerkraut and sourdough bread, or an extraordinary vegan uncooked lasagne. Recipes you might well do at the weekend when you've got more time.
- Rick Stein
This what you might call Spain on a plate, a sum-up dish of everything we love about Spanish cooking: serrano ham, chorizo, pimentón, tomatoes, garlic and onion. To these basic ingredients I have added green beans and peas; you could also add sliced, cooked new potatoes or chickpeas.
Flamenco eggs (huevos a la flamenco) Source: BBC Books / James Murphy
This is my take on a dish I had in Cádiz at a restaurant called La Merea (the Tide), which specialises in seafood and rice. It is one for garlic lovers, particularly as I – untypically for Spain – like to serve it with alioli as well.
Source: BBC Books / James Murphy
This is a very Icelandic combination; they love liquorice and chocolate.
Recipes and images from Rick Stein’s Long Weekends by Rick Stein (BBC Books, hb, $55). Photography by James Murphy.
Source: BBC Books / James Murphy
