Satish Desigar
1. What was you first job?
Food and beverage trainee at the five-star Ashoka Hotel in Delhi. I worked a six-day week and was paid £5 a month
2. What was your first job connected with food?
Commis chef at Park Hotel, Frankfurt
3. What is your favourite restaurant?
Le Soufflé at Hotel Inter-Continental, London
4. What is your favourite hotel?
Grand Hotel Europe in St Petersburg, Russia - a beautiful hotel and a wonderful experience
5. What is your favourite food or cuisine?
My mother's vegetarian food - she cooks a variety of food imaginatively
6. Are there any foods or ingredients you refuse to eat or cook with? If so, why?
A black liquid known as "black jack" made from caramelised sugar and used for colouring - it has no place in modern times
7. What is your favourite drink?
Indian tea, any time
8. What flavour combinations do you detest?
Curry and chips
9. Describe an eating-out experience that turned into a nightmare
Ever tried a hamburger outside an LA drive-in? Nightmare! I had to throw away the lot after the first bite
10. Where is your favourite holiday destination?
Hong Kong - you can eat, eat and eat in restaurants and foodcourts that never close
11. What is the best film you have seen?
Kramer vs Kramer
12. What is your favourite book?
Any book on cricket history
13. What sort of music do you like?
Eric Clapton, Simply Red, Sade
14. Who is your favourite supplier of the moment, and why?
Valimex in NW10 (0181-961 2477) - they supply the best fruit, veg and French produce, and are always there whenever I am in trouble
15. Who would be in your ultimate "fantasy brigade"?
Head chef - Peter Kromberg, sous chef - Jean Claude, pastry chef - Michael Nadell
16. Which person do you aspire to be?
Sir Terence Conran
17. If you had more time, what would you do?
Travel around the world to acquire more knowledge of food and culture
