Chef Revelations – Simon Hulstone
What was your best subject at school?
School for me was quite boring as I was a child genius and it didn't stimulate me
What was your first job?
I was a paper boy, and also a dog walker for a fully grown Newfoundland dog. I used to strap the newspaper bag on the dog's back until I found out it was addicted to water and would run off and roll in customers' ponds which didn't go down too well with the newsagent or the goldfish
What was your first job in catering?
I made the Melba toast at the Imperial hotel - I was a master of the toaster
What is your favourite restaurant?
I love Burger & Lobster in London
What is your favourite hotel?
The ones that have really dark curtains and decent air conditioning
What is your favourite drink?
Cider, the real stuff
What is your favourite cuisine?
I love a good curry
Are there any foods/ingredients that you refuse to cook with?
We don't tend to use fish that's not from our shores. I'm in a fishing area so we support our local economy.
What is your favourite prepared product?
Ambrosia Devon Custard -love it
Who in catering have you most admired?
My father, David Everitt-Matthias, Peter Griffiths and Brian Cotterill
If not yourself, who would you rather have been?
Tommy Lee from Mötley Crüe
Which person gave you the greatest inspiration?
My business partner Peter Morgan - he has allowed me to do what I want in the best possible surroundings I could have asked for and allowed me to have a life outside the kitchen
Which ingredient do you hate the most?
I can't stand olives
If you had not gone into catering, where do you think you'd be now?
The Forces - I have the utmost respect for anyone defending our country
Tell us a secret…
I faked my college certificates to get a work visa in New Zealand
What irritates you most about the industry?
It used to be the lack of interaction between chefs of different calibres but I believe that social media has made 90% of us more accessible
What's your favourite film?
300 - it's a bit homoerotic but I love the battle scenes
What's your favourite book?
The Dirt by Mötley Crüe
Who would be in your fantasy brigade?
Pass - Axl Rose (Guns N' Roses); sauce - Tony Soprano; veg - Ade Edmondson; larder - Suggs; pastry - Courtney Love; waiting staff - the Desperate Housewives
Simon Hulstone, chef-proprietor, the Elephant, Torquay