In the Car with Yotam Ottolenghi

FavorFlav’s Marieke jumped into the car with chef and author Yotam Ottolenghi. Yes, that’s the one from Jerusalem, Plenty, Plenty More and Nopi. Bestsellers, every one of them. Next year, he’s releasing a baking book. In London? Then be sure to eat at one of his restaurants.

Which food trend should we put an immediate end to?

Sugar-free eating! There are so many people who suddenly don’t want to eat sugar anymore; it’s truly a trend. Hopefully everyone will come around again soon.

Most memorable food experience?

One of the most memorable is a very simple one from my childhood. When we lived in Jerusalem, we often ate sugar cane. We would peel away the outside and then spend an hour gnawing on the stick. It was basically just a lollipop, but one from nature.

Favorite drink?

Campari with ice. That’s it; it has so much flavor.

Favorite supermarket product?

Deodorant, no, haha. I think cheese, an old, matured cheese. I also love the cheeses from the Netherlands.

Essential kitchen gadget?

A garlic press and a lemon squeezer.

What would you never eat again?

Yak’s milk tea that I drank in Ladakh, North India, ten years ago. I was a guest with a family and they offered it to me. The milk is fermented, and then they add tea to it. It was really too intense. I generally eat everything, but this just wasn’t for me.

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Which country is your favorite when it comes to food?

I have a few. I love Persian food. Tahdig, which is crispy rice, is so delicious. But I also love the spices they use in that region and what they do with couscous and eggs. And Malaysia. The mix of Malay, Chinese and Indian cultures is amazing.

What should everyone try at least once?

Hainanese chicken with rice. Coconut rice, poached chicken, garlic, ginger, a little chili. It’s super simple and super delicious.

Which cookbook should everyone have on their shelf?

Oof, that’s a difficult question, because there are so many good cookbooks. Claudia Roden’s A Book of Middle Eastern Food is wonderful, but I also think her book about Spanish cuisine (The Food of Spain ed.) is wonderful. So yes, basically everything by Roden!

What do you like to make at home when you want to eat quickly and well?

I put a pot of rice on the stove, a pot of lentils and fry onions. That’s already very delicious on its own, but you can also add all kinds of spices. Curry powder and ground coriander, for example. But that basic combination is simply very easy and flavorful. Everyone loves it, even children.

Which dish makes you lose all self-control?

I have a few. I have a problem with so many things—cookies, candy, nuts; I just keep eating them. But when I go out for dim sum at the weekend, which I do regularly, I really can’t stop. I just keep ordering and ordering. Especially barbecue duck and cheung fan, a roll of rice noodles filled with meat. I also think turnip cake is amazing.

Image: Keiko Oikawa