THE BEST BOUTIQUE IN PARIS SELLS PASTRIES
TV chef Zola Nene shares her most magical travel experiences
HOW OFTEN DO YOU TRAVEL? Not nearly enough! Ideally I’d love to go somewhere twice a year. Realistically, I travel whenever the opportunity arises.
YOUR EARLIEST MEMORY OF TRAVELLING ABROAD? My first trip abroad was when I was at university. I went to Norway to spend Christmas with my family who’d moved there.
WHAT DO YOU NEED FOR A PERFECT HOLIDAY? A clean, comfortable place to sleep. Where I sleep can make or break a holiday for me. I’m happy to rough it during the day and on excursions, but the hotel I make my home base has to be up to scratch.
BEST HOLIDAY EVER? It was a trip to Thailand. I went with my sister, Zamo, and we had the most amazing time. We took cooking classes, did island tours and spent most of the holiday in stitches laughing with (actually, mostly at) each other.
WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE CITY AND WHAT SHOULD A FIRST-TIME VISITOR DO THERE? Paris is up there. I recommend a visit to one of Pierre Hermé boutiques, which sells pastries, macaroons and chocolates. Hermé is the king of French patisserie and his shops and pastries and confections are truly exquisite. No foodie can go to Paris and not experience that!
WHAT SHOULD THEY NOT BOTHER WITH? Climbing the Eiffel Tower — the selfies with the tower are better from ground level anyway and the queues to get to the top are just not worth it. Rather spend your time exploring the city.
WHAT IS THE BEST THING YOU HAVE BEEN GIVEN ON HOLIDAY? A cookbook. On my recent trip to Paris, I was given one of Christine Ferber’s amazing cookbooks. I was also lucky enough to get a baking masterclass from her and have her sign the book for me.
MOST ADVENTUROUS TRAVEL EXPERIENCE? Jumping off the front of a boat in Thailand and riding an elephant in India.
HAVE YOU HAD ANY EMBARRASSING MOMENTS AS A TRAVELLER? Yes, definitely. I have quite a prominent gag reflex so sometimes when tasting or even smelling unusual foods, I heave uncontrollably, which can be rather embarrassing. I also break out in hives, usually on my neck and face, when I’m in a place that feels unclean, so that also sometimes leaves me in an awkward position.
BEST PIECE OF TRAVEL ADVICE? Probiotics are your best friend — never leave home without them, especially if you plan on sampling unusual foods on your travels.
ONE PLACE YOU DREAM OF SEEING? There are so many but the one place I want to visit before I die has got to be Italy, for obvious reasons (the food). — Interview by Vernice Shaw