Q: Where did your love of food come from?
A: It wasn’t until I was working as a kitchen hand in a restaurant, seeing the chefs in action that I thought -That’s what I want to do!’
Q: How do you intend to pass it along to your daughters?
A: They are already helping us in the kitchen and in the vege garden. My wife Belinda is a chef too so we literally argue about who is going to cook each night if we are both home. Regardless of who wins, the girls are perched on stools helping to stir, measure and peel things – it’s generally chaos.
Q: What inspired you to join Kiwi Living!
A: It was about doing something different. I’m a chef who has been on television, now I am learning how to be a host of a show alongside the very capable and professional Miriama Kamo. I also liked the concept of Kiwi Living – who doesn’t want to learn something new or have a project to try over the weekend?
Q: What would be your ideal weekend?
A: Great mountain bike ride up at Woodhill [Forest, west Auckland], then a barbecue at home with family and friends!
Q: What’s your favourite way to exercise?
A: Mountain biking, although I am getting to enjoy the training sessions with Lee-Anne Wann.They’re tough but I’m noticing the results.
Q: What do you cook for your family?
A: Anything and everything – we’ve always given the kids spicy food so now we can both cook curries, stir fries, meats with spicy rubs on them and the girls eat it all up. Fingers crossed it will continue!
Q: What do you like to cook for yourself? A: My all-time favourite is chicken on the Weber [barbecue]: simple to prepare, easy to cook and it’s delicious. Q: What’s the biggest misconception about healthy food?
A: That it’s expensive – it isn’t. It’s about making things from scratch with healthy ingredients.
Q: How do you maintain a healthy work/life balance?
A: Sorry, what’s that? Right now it’s very busy filming for Kiwi Living, but I try to get out on my bike as much as possible. It helps me gather my energy, think about what needs to be done and it calms me.
Q: What other chefs – both from NZ and abroad – inspire your work?
A: I’m a real fan of Nigel Slater. I admire his knowledge; it is immense and yet he comes across as warm and relaxed.
Q: How has your idea of wellness changed as you’ve grown older?
A: As you get older you’re more conscious of what you eat as your body is slower at metabolising food! I’ll try to eat smaller and smaller portions; it seems to help keep my waistline down. Also try to sleep more, and spend time with my family.
Q: What do you need to function at your best?
A: Calmness and a long black in the morning goes a long way!
Q: What’s something you think men need to concentrate more on?
A: Get to a doctor once a year for a check-up. We treat our cars better than ourselves. An annual check-up is like a vehicle WOF; you get to find out early on what needs attention before it adds up to one heck of a bill! What price can you put on your health? And if you won’t do it for yourself, do it for your partner or your kids.