Rick Stein interview
What was the inspiration for the book?
I’ve been interested in the Far East for some time and I’ve gone there quite a lot, as I live in Australia for about three months a year. Also, Debbie (Major, Rick’s food stylist) and I have got a café (in Padstow) and a seafood restaurant, where we cook a lot of South East Asian food, which is very popular
Did you have a favourite spot?
Food-wise, Hanoi in North Vietnam, Bangkok and Sri Lanka, which has fantastic vegetable curries. And I really like Balinese food – they cook a whole pig, roasted over coffee wood. This is the sort of thing you’d cross continents to eat. We’ve tried to replicate it and not done a bad job using belly pork.
How long did it take to film the series?
We filmed over three separate months, one in February 2008, one in November 2008 and another in February 2009. We went during winter as much as we could, so it would be cooler. Bali in November was getting a bit close to the Monsoon season, but it was fine.
So are you in Padstow for the high season?
I’m there this summer quite a lot. We’re filming a programme about Italian opera – it’s just a one off about Verdi, Puccini and Rossini. David Pritchard (Rick’s director) discovered that, certainly Rossini, was more interested in cooking than writing opera. And then it turned out that Verdi and Puccini were too. I’ll be talking about an art, in an off-centre way, so I think it’ll make a nice little film.
Has the recession hit your businesses and restaurant in Padstow?
No, touch wood! It’s the reverse really because people aren’t taking holidays abroad. We’re busy at the moment and we are doing a cheaper set menu - it’s £35, but it’s got lobster, sea bass, turbot and dover sole on it, so it’s good value.
And your next plans?
The BBC is keen for us to do a Christmas special next year, Rick Stein’s Cornish Christmas, which we’re going to film this Christmas and put out in December 2010.
We’re all desperate to know if you’ll get another dog!
I spend some of my time in England, some of my time in Australia and I think it would be a bit forced. Chalky was part of my family and life, and David and I both feel TV’s got to be natural. There are plenty of people doing unnatural TV, so it’s more our area to just let things happen.
SPECIAL OFFER Buy Rick Stein’s Far Eastern Odyssey for £23, including p&p, (normally £25). To order, please call 01206-255800 and quote ref “Woman and Home".
Catch up with Rick's far-eastern travels on Thursday evenings at 8pm on BBC2.
