The one lesson I’ve learned from life Chef Gino d’Acampo
Gino D’AcAmpo, 45, grew up in naples, before moving to the UK and opening his first restaurant aged 21. in addition to his TV road trips with Gordon Ramsay and Fred sirieux, he
has made 15 italian cookery series and presents Family Fortunes. married to Jessica, with three children, aged 19, 16, and nine, he lives in Hertfordshire and sardinia.
BANK MEMORIES, NOT MONEY
My life used to be constant activity. ‘let’s open more restaurants. let’s do another cookbook. let’s try to film three shows in one day.’
This changed eight years ago, when i was in Sardinia and i met an old guy of about 91. He was sitting with a glass of red wine and a cigar. i said: ‘What can you tell me so i can learn something new?’ And he replied: ‘Well, i can see you run here, you run there. The danger is that by running everywhere, you’re missing out on the many beautiful things the world has to offer. My suggestion is to stop running, stop working and enjoy what you’ve built up.’
i thought: ‘Oh God, he’s right. i’ve been travelling from city to city for work and i never explore.’
So i stopped running and did everything at a very slow pace, taking time over every decision and enjoying the places i visited. it was a shock for all the people around me. Suddenly i didn’t want to open five restaurants a year. i only wanted to open two. And i only wanted to write one cookbook a year. But it was the best thing i’ve done.
Now i work for six months running my restaurants, then we spend half the year at our vineyard in Sardinia. i don’t do one day more of work than i do of holiday. Otherwise, i see myself as a failure as a father and a husband, because i don’t give enough time to the people around me. i’d rather bank memories than money.
There’s a saying: ‘you can buy the most expensive watch in the world. But that doesn’t mean that you’re buying time.’ Time is something only you can give to yourself. it costs nothing.
Gino’s italian Family Adventure: Easy Recipes The Whole Family Will Love (£22, Bloomsbury) is out now. Gino’s italian Family Adventure is available on the iTV Hub.