Good times with... Monica Galetti

Chef Monica Galetti lives in London with her husband, David, and their teenage daughter, Anais.

Forrest Gump is full of great one-liners!

 The last great film you saw…

Joker. The darkness that Joaquin Phoenix brings to the character is incredible to watch.

 The film you could watch over and over… Forrest Gump. It’s full of great one-liners that I use almost every week!

 The performance that made you cry… Tina – The Tina Turner Musical. I’d watched the film, but to see her life story portrayed in the theatre with all the songs was very emotional. You can’t help but be touched by it and how she survived the abuse she endured.  The last boxset you binged

on… The Serpent was amazing. Everything from the wardrobe to the way they filmed it was just brilliant.

 Top of your must-watch list…

I’ve heard great things about Clarkson’s Farm, so I’m dying to see that. My daughter and I also discovered Gogglebox during lockdown, which really kept our spirits up. I’d love more of that.  The album you loved… The

soundtracks to A Star Is Born and The Greatest Showman – both are fantastic and always get me singing along.

 The one you want to hear…

I always look forward to new music from Beyoncé. I’ve been a big fan for many years and now I’ve got Anais into her music, too.  The book that stayed with you… Captain Corelli’s Mandolin by Louis de Bernières… but then the film ruined it. I loved Memoirs Of A Geisha by Arthur Golden, too. Fortunately, the film didn’t ruin that one!

 The best recommendation you received… The book Uncle Tom’s Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe. I was given a copy of it back in 1997 and I’ve kept it ever since. It’s full of lessons that are fundamental to the way life is now.  The ticket you’d love to get your hands on… I’d love to see The Rolling Stones in concert.

 At Home: My Favourite Recipes For Family And Friends (Aster) by Monica Galetti is out 30 September. See some recipes from Monica’s book on page 164