What's your favourite restaurant? The Galley fish & seafood restaurant in Topsham, Exeter, Devon. Fresh, innovative, spiritually balanced and quirky. Did I tell you I'm the joint owner?

Do you prefer healthy food or junk food? Both. I listen to my body & it decides for me.

What would you rescue from your house if it was burning down? My spice box, and the missus, who goes everywhere with me.

What's your fantasy car and what do you actually drive? You can't go wrong with the Range Rover Vogue - but I drive a Skoda.

What's the most embarrassing moment of your professional life? I'd taken up the position of executive chef for the Glaxowelcome R&D site in Ware, Hertfordshire. I cancelled a long-standing order of flavoured milkshakes, thinking these 3,500 on site medical and lab technicians needed to grow up. At a staff meeting that morning I was interrupted by the chief technician wanting the milk shakes for the marmoset monkeys.

What are your pet hates? Miserable people.

What's the best holiday you've ever had? Two weeks cooking holiday in Thailand.

If you weren't talking to us, what would you be doing? Processing the orders of organic therapeutic chocolate & seaweed sauces.

What's your motto for life? Smile, you'll get much further and a lot more done.