What Matters to Me: Tom Herbert, baker

Published on Sunday 5 February 2012 13:00

WHO would attend your fantasy dinner party? Laura Marling, Elizabeth David, Solomon Burke, Joseph of Bethlehem, Paul Smith, circus ring mistress Nell Gifford, Elbow guitarist Guy Garvey, Maggie Doyne (runs an orphanage and school in Nepal), Ewan McGregor and Joan of Arc. We’d eat a Babette’s Feast! I’d need my wife Anna, and my brother Henry to help me pull this off.

Whom did you last text? Evening William, please can you pick me up on your way into the bakery?

It’s not cool but... I love dancing and big hugs.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given? You better go now, we’re not going to stop for 300 miles.

What’s the worst job you ever had? Remaking 3050 jumbo finger rolls in a cold, dingy corridor.

Who is your favourite fictional character? Mowgli from The Jungle Book.

What are you afraid of? Feathers.

Did you have a nickname growing up? WiddleAche, I’ve no idea why.

What situations make you lose your temper? If I’m tired it could be the slightest thing. And bullying.

If you could choose a profession that you would like to try, what would that be? Why? Space baker. Imagine what low gravity would do to dough rises and soufflé?

What food or drink is always in your fridge? Henry’s Hobbs House Ham, jam, sourdough culture, breakfast milk, very good cheese, and the ingredients for an Old Fashioned cocktail.

If you could change something about yourself, what would it be? I’d love a distraction OFF switch.

Saturday night or Sunday morning? Both please. I’d like to have my cake and eat it.

Who or what is the love of your life? Anna.

• The Fabulous Baker Brothers Cookbook by Tom and Henry Herbert is published by Headline, priced £20.

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