Shaun Rankin, Grilled!

Yorkshire-born chef Shaun learned the trade at the Mayfair Hotel in London, he’s been living in one of my favourite places in the world for the past sixteen years – Jersey. I spent my summer holidays there as a child and teenager and have such fond memories. I hope to go there one day with Ade and share them with him.

Back to Shaun, he is currently head chef at Bohemia restaurant in Jersey and has represented the south-west in BBC Two’s Great British Menu. Plus his first recipe book ‘Shaun Rankin’s Seasoned Islands’ featuring over 75 of his recipes and stunning imagery of all the Channel Islands is out now.

If money was no object, where would you open a restaurant and what would it be like?
It would be a floating restaurant onboard a luxury yacht. You’d be able to stay overnight if you wanted to and the boat would travel between all the Channel Islands and Concale in France serving fresh seasonal dishes and heavily influenced by the sea.

If you had to eat the same meal every day for the rest of your life, what would it be?
A club Sandwich and homemade chips –just cos I like it!

What do you keep on your bedside table?
A bottle of water and Elizabeth David French Provincial Cooking book

When is the last time you had a McDonald’s or similar fast food?
I was in Italy recently and managed to eat plenty of pizza – does that count? (Er, no Shaun!)

What is your career Plan B?
I’ve never had one. It’s always been about cooking for me and I am totally focused on Bohemia and also working on my SR brand.

What’s your favourite thing to cook at home?
A great Sunday lLunch! It would be a rib of beef with Yorkshire puds shared with family and friends.

Is there any food you can’t stand to eat?
Glacé cherries, they are disgusting!

Do you have any reoccurring dreams?
My average day starts at 6am and ends at 2am the next day so sleep doesn’t exist much.

Who would be your ideal dinner date?
My lovely wife Cheryl aside, it would be Uma Thurman

What is the one object you can’t do without?
My Wolf range in my home kitchen

To find out more about Shaun, visit him at www.shaunrankin.com
or follow him on Twitter

Shaun has just been made a British Celebrity Ambassador for Teenage Cancer Trust and the next year will see him concentrating on helping to raise funds for the charity and consulting on food related issues for young cancer sufferers and their families