What songs would you put on a dinner party playlist for the starter, main course and dessert?
Gustav Holst, Venus the Bringer of Peace as my starter – it’s a great piece to unwind to. I’d pick the balcony scene from Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo & Juliet by Craig Armstrong for my main; it’s enchanting. Then Eric Whitacre’s Lux Aurumque to wrap up a great meal.
Complete the sentence: ‘Music and food are the perfect match because ...’
They’re two things I’ve been passionate about since a young age. It doesn’t mean I can play or cook well, but I really appreciate those who can.
What music do you listen to when cooking?
I really enjoy the slow movements of big symphonies, and the simple Nocturnes from Chopin. When serving, maybe Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture or Handel’s Zadok The Priest as the feast is unveiled!
Which restaurant plays the greatest music?
Ronnie Scott’s. Enjoying a great meal and live music by the world’s best performers is a real luxury.
What kind of home cook are you?
I’m a hope-for-the-best cook … optimistic. Usually great ingredients help you work some magic.
What piece of music reminds you of a particularly amazing meal?
I flew to New York to see Andrea Bocelli live in Central Park. It rained throughout, and at the very end, it stopped and the moon was so bright. It was an incredible night. The next morning, we had a huge American breakfast of pancakes, maple syrup, hot coffee and fresh juice. I’ll never forget it.
What’s your signature dish?
I do a mean breakfast. I go all out on pastries, full English breakfasts and pancakes. My godchildren love visiting because it’s a feast. As a child, breakfast was always a celebration and I love that.
What would be your desert island meal?
Christmas lunch. I love every ingredient, even the sprouts. Half of my family is Danish, and we serve a special rice pudding called risalamande – it reminds me of being a kid. It’s made with chopped almonds, and there’s always one whole almond in there; whoever gets it is given an extra present.
If your favourite song was a meal, what would that be?
Elgar’s Pomp and Circumstance reminds me of a great Sunday roast. The best of British.
You’re making Beautifully Simple Italian-style beef & mushroom casserole on the Classic FM podcast. Is this recipe something you’d cook normally?
Definitely, it’d be great to throw into a slow cooker. Working shifts, slow cookers are a dream – fresh produce plus time equals great flavour.
When would you serve it?
When entertaining, definitely. It’s great, warming comfort food to share, and there’s not much that can go wrong. I really enjoy hearty beef dishes. I was vegetarian in my teens, but now I’m back to eating meat.
What do you like about the ingredients?
I adore the power and potency of fresh herbs like thyme – they’re the final few notes that really bring everything together. As a kid, we had a fabulous garden and I’d grow vegetables and herbs.
Italian-style beef and mushroom casserole
Serves 2
Prepare 20 minutes
Cook 2¼ hours
Ingredients
400g lean diced British beef braising steak
½ tbsp plain flour
1 tbsp Cooks’ Ingredients porcini mushroom paste
350ml Cooks’ Ingredients beef stock
½ tbsp Balsamic vinegar of Modena
½ x 150g pack mixed exotic mushrooms, large ones halved
¼ x 15g pack Cooks’ Ingredients thyme
200g pack cavolo nero
450g pack mashed potato
Method:
Preheat the oven to 190C/374F/gas mark 5. Fry the steak until browned on all sides. Stir in the flour and porcini paste, cook for 30 seconds, then gradually blend in the stock and vinegar. Bring to the boil, then transfer to a small ovenproof casserole dish. Cover and bake in the oven for 2 hours.
Stir in the mushrooms and add half the thyme sprigs, re-cover and cook for a further 15 minutes.
Cook the cavolo nero and mashed potato according to pack instructions, then drain. Remove the sprigs of thyme and scatter the leaves from the remaining thyme over the casserole.Serve with cavolo nero and mash.
Per serving: 2748 kJ/654 kcals/21g fat/11g saturated fat/44g carbohydrate/7.9g sugars/9g fibre/68g protein/1.6g salt
Waitrose & Partners know that music and food are the perfect pairing. Feeling inspired to cook your own masterpiece tonight? You’ll find lots of brilliant recipes and fresh ingredients in the Beautifully Simple chiller. In store and online at Waitrose & Partners
