The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)
Gino’s escape
Caird Hall, Dundee, May 5
Italy’s loss was the UK’s gain when a talented young chef by the name of Gino D’Acampo left his native country and came to London.
That was 21 years ago and since then the Neapolitan charmer has become one of the UK’s most popular celebrity chefs, regularly appearing on This Morning as well as presenting Gino’s Italian Escape.
He’s also released several best-selling books including Fantastico!, The Italian Diet and A Taste of the Sun and recently released his latest title Hidden Italy: How To Cook Like An Italian.
And now Gino is bringing his passion and flair for the culinary arts to Dundee. Appearing at the Caird Hall tonight as part of his national tour, the live stage show promises signature recipes from all corners of his beloved Italy.
He’ll be demonstrating how to cook some of his favourite dishes and will invite members of the audience to join him on stage.
Eager to share his passion for cooking, he says: “I am so excited and can’t wait to share some fantastic food and cooking tips from my home country. It’s going to be Gino – live and unleashed!”
He’s especially looking forward to coming back to Dundee.
“I love the people there and can’t wait to meet them all,” he says. “Being on tour is the only time I get to really interact with people – when I’m in the TV studio I don’t really get that chance.
“It will be great to look into their eyes and share my love of food and cooking. What you see is what you get with Gino!”
First though, he wants to let us into a secret – he’s planning to open four new restaurants this year and is keeping his fingers crossed one of them will be in Dundee.
While Italian cuisine is his first love, he’s also a fan of traditional British cooking and loves to feast on classics like steak and kidney pie, fish and chips, or a Sunday roast. But there are two foods that he won’t touch – coriander and cucumber. “I can’t explain it,” he shrugs. “I just can’t stand them”
Get him started on pasta – his favourite ingredient – though and there’s no stopping him.
“It’s one of my favourite things ever as far as Italian cooking goes,” he says. “It’s quick to prepare, cheap, filling, versatile and you don’t need many ingredients to go with it.”
Being described as a celebrity chef is a mantle he wears with pride.
“I hate people who complain about being recognised in the street,” he says, not mincing his words.
“It was my choice to take this path and I love every moment of it.
“It’s like actors who say they hate being recognised – it’s an idiotic thing to say.”