Yotam Ottolenghi My Saturday

The chef, 54, on his Saturday snacks, being approached by fans, and his ‘very silly’ bedtime ritual

6.30am I naturally wake up early, as do my husband Karl and our boys Max and Flynn [nine and six]. I wish I could sleep in, but I’ve never had that talent. We’re a crazy family… Sometimes you’ll find us constructing Lego at this time in the morning.

9am Often we eat breakfast at the Ottolenghi deli on Upper Street [in Islington, London]. The kids always get scrambled eggs with focaccia and then they each have a big chocolate cookie.

I try to choose something different from the menu every time, but it’s always savoury – I’m not a sweet person in the morning. Then I go down to the kitchen and chat to the chefs. Especially in my own restaurants, people normally come over and talk to me. It never bothers me; it’s part of what I do.

11am We like to hang out on the green behind St Mary’s Church nearby, where the kids run around while we chat or read the papers. Then we come home and the kids do their homework or have a playdate.

12pm If we didn’t have breakfast in the restaurant, we might go to Chinatown for dim sum at Imperial China. Or we host brunch for friends at our home in Camden. We love having people over. There will always be an egg dish – we love to cook a big frittata, braised eggs or shakshuka, and a big salad. We serve everything in my Ottolenghi tableware [a collaboration with design label Serax, ottolenghi.co.uk] – it’s all so colourful and happy. I often go back to my recipe books to refresh my memory, but other times I make things I’ve never cooked before.

5pm Our friends stay until late afternoon. I bring out cake, a sponge I’ve baked or a bunch I’ve bought – it’s quite handy having your own deli!

7pm We have a movie night in our basement with the kids. I make popcorn and sometimes we order takeaway – the kids love ramen. I like to order from a local restaurant called Master Wei in Bloomsbury. I love watching old films through their eyes, like Shawshank Redemption. If there’s something inappropriate, I fast-forward. I don’t want to traumatise them!

9pm I catch up on some work, then drink a glass of red wine and play a very silly Tetris game on my phone. Chocolate is my guilty pleasure, too, and I’m quite protective of my chocolate collection – I only share it with my kids if I’m feeling very generous. Sometimes

I read a book; I love Elizabeth Strout and I’ve read most of her novels. I’m in a deep sleep by 11pm.