What does a life well lived mean to you?
A life well lived for me unsurprisingly centres around food. Of course I cook for work so I’m surrounded by food all the time, but I find happiness in the pockets of time between big developing jobs, when I can get back to cooking for pleasure- soulfully and instinctively, rather than precisely (when I’m developing recipes, I have to think ahead, to time and weigh everything, and that can take the joy out of it).
What is comfort food to you?
Comfort food has to have some sort of nostalgia attached to it. For me there is no food more comforting than chicken soup, lasagne and tacos.
What are some of your rituals when cooking for pleasure?
I wouldn’t say this is a ritual but when I’m cooking for pleasure, I love the idea of adventuring into the unknown. I prefer to set out with a very loose idea of what I want to achieve, because my favourite part about cooking for pleasure is being able to add anything without thinking, without timing, without weighing, which means that a dish could go in any of a thousand directions.
“Yotam is one of the kindest, most patient people I have ever met. He is always generous with his knowledge and selfless in his desire for others to succeed around him. I love that about him and share that belief that you should always try to bring others up around you and with you.”