Grape vine
MARCUS Wareing is a serious chef. Whether you’ve watched him at work on MasterChef, Great British Menu, or in one of his three restaurants, it’s a word you’d definitely use to describe him. And he wouldn’t disagree. “I am se serious,” sa says the 46 46-year-old. “I “I’m serious b because I need to take my jo job seriously, and because there is a lot a at stake. I take e everything I d do seriously, b but I also now enjoy a lot more and am a little more open-minded.”
It’s perhaps this new, (slightly) more relaxed persona that has brought about his latest book, Marcus At Home, which is fit to burst with recipes inspired by family cooking.
“I love watching my family enjoy food that we’ve made together and my wife makes a brilliant lasagne,” says the father-of-three, who’s married to Jane, 45. “I think now, because the children are more aware of food and are trying more, we as a family are starting to diverge into bigger flavours, spicier food, and just a lot more variety.
“It’s really challenged me to do something I’ve never done before, which is focus on food at home.”
“When I think Marcus Wareing of ‘home’, it’s all about the kitchen, the family, laughing and arguing,” says the chef, who hails from Southport, but now resides in Wimbledon.
And now the kids are growing up, cooking together is something that’s happening more often.
“It can be hell at times, but it is mostly fun,” he says, eyes twinkling and a smile spreading across his face.
“Archie will get involved in cookery with his mum and he makes a mean salad sandwich. But Jake is all about fry-ups, and he hates cleaning up.”
Fancy some relaxed, homely family food created by one of the best in the business?
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Sam Wylie-Harris pops the cork on the best bubbles for festive entertaining
SAINSBURY’S Cremant de Loire, Taste the Difference, France (£11, buy 6 and save 25% until December 4, Sainsbury’s), is a French sparkle made in the Champagne style.
The grapes may be different (depending on the region) and this polished sparkler from Saumur is made predominantly from chenin blanc with a top up of chardonnay, offering crisp apple freshness and a good measure of fruitiness to get the party off to a flying start. THE name alone evokes heavenly thoughts and Montes Sparkling Angel Brut NV, Chile (£15.50, Oddbins) tastes as good as it looks. The first sparkle from Vina Montes, who describe it as ‘an angel born from bubbles’, it’s made from 70% pinot noir and 30% chardonnay, the same grape varieties as champagne. Bready aromas mingle with notes of lemon curd and the ripe fruit flavours are balanced with good acidity, ending with a flourish. IF you have a passion for prosecco but don’t want to make the mistake of buying bland bubbles, look for DOCG on the label and superior vineyards of Conegliano Valdobbiadene where the glera grape displays a more vibrant character.
Finest Prosecco Valdobbiadene DOCG, Italy (currently £9, down from £10, Tesco) is a drier brut style which offers more fresh, citrusy notes than the sweeter pear flavours you’ll find in an extra dry prosecco. With apples, white flowers and a hint of honeysuckle, it’s lively and right on point. THE classic party fizz that’s back in favour, cracking open a bottle of cava is a smart move if you’re planning to serve appetisers that need a refreshing, dry sparkler with crisp acidity to act as a foil to all those salty snacks.
Cava Prestige Brut, Spain (£10, Marks & Spencer) is made with two traditional cava grapes – macabeo and parellada – and the apple blossom, pear and green herb flavours combine to offer a refreshing and aromatic wine. TO celebrate the British athletes’ success in this year’s Olympics, Aldi has launched a celebratory bottle of its award-winning Champagne Veuve Monsigny Brut Limited Edition, France (£9.99, Aldi) – available from December 1 – which has been dressed in a Union Jack. The official supermarket partner of Team GB, Aldi has extended this commitment to the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, and we can only hope they continue to fly the flag and lead the best bargain bubbles team with this famous bestseller.