I’ve worked in the food world in Bristol and beyond for 25 years, with and for various restaurants including Rocinantes, Quartier Vert, Ocean, Flinty Red, Arnolfini Cafe Bar and Bell’s Diner & Bar Rooms, as well as in event management and occasional food and travel writing.
How do you think Bristol’s food scene has changed over the years?
In the time that I’ve been involved in the food scene here, I’ve seen it change enormously. Eating out has become much less formal, more democratic and with far more choice and better quality at all levels, from swanky restaurants to street food and supper clubs to sandwich shops. There has also been a huge revival of interest in local food, which is reflected in the success of so many food markets and shops in the past decade or so as well as on the menus of cafés, bars and restaurants across the city. More people really care about where their food is coming from, and there are now countless fantastic producers in the region making food and drink that really shine. We should all be proud that Bristol has developed a national reputation for being one of the best cities for food in the UK - talking to other people from different parts of the country, I think sometimes we don’t realise how lucky we are.
What do you love about Bristol?
I love its independent and slightly maverick character which seems to attract independent, maverick people with a swashbuckling energy and can-do spirit of enterprise. The past few years have seen some really brilliant food businesses blossom, led by people who have a vision and really go for it. It’s big enough to have a lot going on but small enough to feel friendly. Oh, and I love the Suspension Bridge - it’s surely the best bridge in the world.
If you could change one thing about the way people think about food and eat what would it be?
I’d like to see more people, especially children, being taught that cooking for friends and family is one of life’s greatest joys, and it needn’t be difficult, time-consiuming or expensive.
What do you think Food Connections is going to bring to the city?
There are some amazing projects and events being planned that will engage so many people and which have an emphasis on education that I think is really important. Hopefully it will bring together Bristol’s many communities to explore and celebrate the richness of our food cultures in a way that’s not been seen before at other food festivals, and will focus the eyes of the rest of the country onto Bristol as a really valuable and important food hub.
What is your favourite Bristol restaurant and why?
Hah! Impossible to choose just one. Flinty Red for its dazzling food and brilliant wine list; Wallfish Bistro for simple but clever treatment of excellent local produce and its killer negronis; The Ox for its gorgeous room and hardcore meat and Bravas for its buzz and service.
What is your failsafe midweek meal to cook?
Garlic and chilli gently cooked in olive oil then stirred into pasta with chopped parsley, parmesan, salt and pepper.