Dinner with . . . Nicky Taylor

Published on Sunday 27 December 2009 10:46

NICKY TAYLOR is manager of the gift section in the food department of John Lewis, Edinburgh.

She has collaborated with Kshocolat to create a collection of five cocktail-inspired chocolates, exclusive to John Lewis. The Kshocolat Cocktail Tower is now available in all Scottish stores. . .

What's the best meal you've ever had? It was a meal in my home town of Dunfermline when we were celebrating my parents' 40th anniversary. I had a starter of scallops with black pudding, a steak for main course and sticky toffee pudding for dessert.

What's the worst meal you've had? A dodgy omelette in a caf in Lanzarote.

What's in your fridge? Milk, orange juice, salad, jars of pickles and condiments, a bottle of Baileys and a bottle of fake tan.

What's your hangover fix? I'm not a big drinker so a hot cup of tea with buttered toast always sorts me out.

What's your most useful kitchen utensil? Good-quality, sharp knives and a wooden spoon. My other favourite is my cake stand. I loved going out for high tea when I was younger and always wanted a cake stand. The one I have belonged to my grandma, so has sentimental value too.

Do you have a guilty pleasure? Anything sweet.

What's your classic standby recipe? A big pot of chilli, which my mum taught me to make. It always tastes good and can be eaten in a variety of ways: with rice, baked potatoes, tacos or even as a burrito.

Who would you invite to a fantasy dinner party? Marilyn Monroe would have some stories to tell. Richard Gere could provide the eye candy and Peter Kay could keep us entertained.

What kind of food says 'home' to you? Roast beef and potatoes with Yorkshire pudding and vegetables.

Have you ever been on a diet? Constantly. I lost three and a half stones last year through Scottish Slimmers, which kept me disciplined when the pounds were creeping back on.

What's the one food that makes you feel better? A toasted bagel with peanut butter.

Do you eat airline food? Yes, I flew with my mum and sister to New York for Christmas shopping 11 years ago. As it was Thanksgiving Day, we were given a turkey dinner on the flight, which was excellent.

Do you buy organic? No, I'm not passionate about pesticides and/or preservatives. I tried organic bananas and couldn't taste the difference.

How tidy is your kitchen? It's spotless, I'm a real 'Monica'. I always clean the surfaces with an anti-bacterial spray.

A version of this article first appeared in Scotland on Sunday on December 27