‘I’ve shrunk in size during lockdown!’
Restaurateur and TV chef Tom Kerridge talks heroes, home life and finding his happy weight
Tom Kerridge is a man with a finger in many pies. And we’re not just talking about the steak and ale variety. As well as having two Michelin-star pub restaurants in his home town Marlow, he’s one of our favourite TV chefs with his chirpy chat and skills in the kitchen.
His new Tom Kerridge Barbecues series kicked off recently, but he’s also king of foodie events running Pub In The Park and drive-in movie nights.
And during lockdown he still found time to launch Meals From Marlow – 75,000 free tasty meals on wheels for our NHS Heroes. ‘It’s been amazing. People have been so generous we want to make it a permanent charity,’ he says. Tom admits he’s a workaholic. ‘I submerge myself in my work and don’t find time for much else,’ he says.
Although after the global pandemic we’ve all experienced, the 47-year-old chef says he’s planning on making a few life changes. We catch up on a Zoom call to find out more…
Hi Tom. How’s lockdown been?
It’s been scary, hasn’t it? But thankfully, I’ve been able to borrow a huge amount of money and keep my business going without making anyone redundant. We’ve been lucky the phone’s not stopped ringing for reservations. I think everyone is done with making sourdough and banana bread aren’t they? People are desperate to go out and have a meal cooked for them – and cleared away!
Where have you booked for your first meal out?
Malik’s, the curry house in Cookham, Bucks, not far from us. It’s amazing. I’ll be going with my wife, Beth.
That sounds pretty low-key…
I guess my values have changed a bit in lockdown. Life now is all about getting home in time to see my little man, Acey, who’s four, before he goes to bed. For most people that’s normal life, however it doesn’t happen very often in my world. I’ve also seen Acey learn to ride a bike in lockdown. I would have missed that if I’d been at work. I’ve had a lot of cherished moments. I usually struggle to find time to do things, but it’s been a different story these past few months. It’s made me think more about our future as a family, and what we can do to add more value.
What’s you favourite TV show at the moment?
Match Of The Day. I’m a massive football fan – and supporter of Manchester United. I get emotionally immersed in football. It used to affect my mood if my team lost but as I’ve got older I’ve realised it doesn’t matter how much you shout at the telly, you’re not going to control the game. I watch all competitive sport. During the
Olympics, I can be glued to the telly until 3am watching weight-lifting. I love that people push themselves to be the best they can at something.
Did you ever imagine you’d be working with your heroes one day? [Tom is a resident chef in the VIP hospitality suite at Old Trafford]
I would never have believed that one day I’d be working with my favourite football team. In 1999 when Man United won the treble, Beth and I got on a train to Manchester to see their bus parade with their three trophies. Fast forward 20 years and we’re in business with Ryan
Giggs and Gary Neville.
It’s amazing.
What was your first meeting like? Were you nervous?
I’m very comfortable in my own skin, so
I don’t really get nervous, even meeting my heroes. I am inspired by them rather than overawed by their greatness or presence. That said, I’m a huge Formula 1 fan and to me, Lewis Hamilton is a modern day superhero. Motor sport is generally for rich men from privileged backgrounds who can afford to race – not a young kid from Stevenage. He broke through that world to be the best.
Have you met him?
I met him a couple of times last year and he genuinely is one of the most incredible people I’ve ever met. He has a phenomenal aura. He’s not really a big bloke but his aura is so charismatic and incredible. It was the same when I met Usain Bolt, he’s the fastest man in the world, one of a kind. How can you not be impressed?
Do you play any sport yourself?
I used to play rugby as a kid. Then as a project a few years back I got fitter by going to the gym and lost weight [Tom has lost
12 stone in the past three years]. I’ve been running 20-25km a week during lockdown. I don’t enjoy it but I like how it makes me feel afterwards. I was into lifting heavy weights before lockdown, I put on about
3 stone in muscle. I’ve shrunk back down now. No doubt I’ll put weight on again – and then I’ll think I need to lose it. I wish I could have a happy balance but it’s just not me.
‘Lockdown hasmademe think about our future as a family’
How hard was it to resist the burgers while filming your new TV series? I’m very conscious of what I eat all the time, however when you’re filming 36 recipes in nine days for a barbecue series, you’re just eating everything! So I have a couple of good weeks afterwards. We’d all like to eat burgers off a barbecue every day, but we all know where that goes…
Tom Kerridge Barbecues, Thursday, 9pm, Food Network. It’s also available on dplay