5 minutes with JO THOMAS
The author of “Chasing The Italian Dream” shares her love of travel, cookery and friendship which spills over into her wonderful books.
You’ve set summer reads in France, Italy, Spain, Greece and even Ireland! Which is your favourite destination?
That’s a hard one! I love France and spent so many holidays there as a child, and worked there as a young adult as a waitress. So I have many family memories of France, especially the south, and it feels very much a part of who I am. But I also feel like Sicily has found a special place in my heart. Right now, I’m writing about Spain again and am desperate for tapas and paella!
What would be your favourite staycation destination?
Pembrokeshire, Wales. I used to holiday here as a child and once again have wonderful memories of summers in the sea and grilled mackerel with bread and a squeeze of lemon. Oh, and the smell of frying bacon over a waking campsite! I loved it so much, I brought my children back here and am now making the move full time to the area!
Who would be your ideal travelling companion?
I go on a lot of my research trips with friend and fellow writer Katie Fforde.
Our first trip together was to go husky racing in Aviemore. I have never laughed so much out of fear, exhaustion and shared humour. After that, we returned to Scotland to go oyster farming.
We’ve been to Andalusia, France, Germany and, my favourite trip of all time, Swedish Lapland, where we travelled on the ice road, on a sled pulled by a snow mobile, fed reindeer, went on a safari photo shoot and to the ice hotel, ate around the fire in a Sámi tent and by a frozen river – and all the time the snow fell like glitter.
Do you prefer a lazy or active summer holiday?
For me it’s all about getting into the markets and discovering the produce for sale and cooking. I love to go on cookery courses when I’m away.
I just feel that once you discover the food of an area, it takes you by the hand and introduces you to the place, the people, the community and the way of life. They’re the best kind of travel guide.
I cannot wait to go to more kitchens, learn more, share a table and make new friends around it when lockdown is over.
Your books all feature delicious recipes. Do you try them out at home?
Oh, yes! In the new book “Chasing The Italian Dream”, the recipes are all based on meals I cook at home: a good tomato sauce, home-made pizzas and pasta dishes. I’m much more a cook than a baker.
The recipes at the end of the book are always a team effort for those of us who have worked on the book, and we all put in ideas for recipes and things we’d like to try.
Look out for my editor Francesca’s family recipe in “Chasing The Italian Dream”.