Chef revelations – Adam Stokes, head chef, Glenapp Castle, Ballantrae, Ayrshire

What was your best subject at school?
Maths (I got a D in food technology!)

What was your first job in catering?
Commis chef at Hambleton Hall

What do you normally have for breakfast?
Diet Coke

What do you do to relax? Mow the lawn and try to play golf

What's your favourite restaurant? Restaurant Sat Bains

What's your favourite hotel?
Nam Hai, Vietnam

What's your favourite cuisine?
Beautiful fresh seafood, simply cooked

If you hadn't gone into catering, where do you think you'd be now? A fuel truck driver and probably unfulfilled

Which ingredient do you hate the most?

What flavour combinations do you detest? Strawberries with savoury dishes

Which person in catering have you most admired?
Tom Kitchin

Which person gave you the greatest inspiration? Jason Atherton

What daily newspaper/website do you read?
Twitter is my newspaper

What's your favourite film?
Ocean's Eleven

What was your first job?
Paper round

If not yourself, who would you rather have been?
Jeremy Clarkson

Tell us a secret…
I have 11 points on my driving licence

What irritates you most about the industry? Unprofessionalism

What's your favourite book?
Modernist Cuisine by Nathan Myhrvold

What is your favourite prepared product? Heinz tomato ketchup

Who would be in your fantasy brigade? Larder - Daniel Humm, Eleven Madison Park; meat - Sat Bains, Restaurant Sat Bains; veg - Michel Bras, Bras; fish - Nathan Outlaw, Restaurant Nathan Outlaw; pastry - Peter Gilmore, Quay; pass - me