Desert island dishes
Sebastian Price
Executive chef, Grazing
Meat Fruit at Dinner by Heston Blumenthal
My partner and I went to Dinner to celebrate my 31st birthday and, of course, had the famous meat fruit. It’s simply an outstanding taste and look – a chicken liver and foie gras parfait, covered in mandarin jelly and made to look just like a mandarin orange, served alongside a slice of grilled sourdough. What an experience!
Spaghetti bolognese
This has to be cooked by my mum, she makes the best one I’ve ever tasted. It’s a classic recipe that she brought home from her time as a nanny in Italy, no frills but so delicious. Home cooking at its best.
Caramel shortbread
This was the first traybake I learned from my mum as a child. I loved baking sweet treats with her as a kid and this is my absolute favourite. There are a lot of happy memories around this recipe that all come back to me when I make – and eat! – them.
Aubergine, parsley and chickpea salad
This is my favourite healthy meal, full of protein and iron, which I originally found in The Observer Food Monthly. When I’m feeling like I’ve overindulged and am in need of some nutrients, this is the recipe I turn to, served with a simple lemon oil dressing using fresh Sicilian lemons and a top quality, early season olive oil.
Roast chicken with all the trimmings
It’s a classic, but I have so many wonderful memories of sitting round the table with my family for Sunday dinner, sharing a roast chicken with all the trimmings – including roasted cauliflower cheese, of course. So many arguments over who got the last roast potato, but also so much fun and laughter. I was always the last to finish because even if I wasn’t hungry, it was just so delicious, I kept going back for more because I didn’t want it to end.
Mum’s pavlova
As far as I’m concerned, no one can do a better pavlova than my mum, served with fresh berries and Chantilly cream. I love how it is so fluffy and chewy but also crispy on top – the perfect dessert to round off Sunday dinner.
Ribeye steak, béarnaise sauce and fat chips
Back in 2015, I was executive head chef at Restaurant West Thirty Six in London, which had a great selection of dry-aged meats to work with. Ribeye was my favourite cut and we served it with beef dripping chips – what a fabulous pairing.
Scrambled eggs and beans on toast
This is my go-to lazy meal when I’m at home and can’t be bothered to cook anything. It was pretty much all I ate when I was working as a junior chef at Soho House and needed something filling after a long shift but that fitted my budget.
Braised short rib of beef
Served up with sprout slaw and green sweet chilli jam, this is a really popular and tasty dish on the Grazing menu that I developed. Delivered-in office catering doesn’t have to be boring sandwiches; we’ve been able to develop a real variety of delicious and fresh dishes that travel really well.
What book would you take with you?
Gomorrah by Roberto Saviano. What an insight into the mafia underworld in Naples. A good friend of mine grew up in the area and I visit whenever I can. Every time I go, I re-read it while I’m there. It’s so fascinating to understand the murky underworld of such a beautiful city. Sadly, the TV show wasn’t great and didn’t live up to the book.
And what luxury item?
A private gym so I can keep fit while I’m there. Exercise was what got me through the toughest part of my life, when the lockdowns hit and I felt like everything was lost. It started with running and basic training and has become a consistent part of my life that supports me physically and emotionally.
And what one dish, if you could only take one?
Spaghetti bolognese, hands down. I went to Italy for three weeks once and just ate it for every single lunch and dinner. It was the only meal that I could make myself at the time and was so much better made by a professional, so why order anything else? I regret nothing!
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