Smash hit

What annoys you about food culture in Britain?

The falling prices that are driven by companies and retailers. The waste and all the packaging is another problem. What I can’t understand is why, suddenly, the focus is shifted to the few products that are flown in from Africa. This is one of the few chances that African farmers have to sell their crops and they’re being vilified, which is ludicrous because Britian imports and exports an enormous amount of food. As well as the product we have to look at the social conditions in which the food was produced.

A lot of people think global warming is the main issue, well I don’t. I think the climate change, poverty, and war and security issues are the three main issues, today. I think people just want everything.

What is Britain’s best-kept food secret?

Seasonal food recipe finder: April

Watch Celia Brooks Brown find spring's freshest, local ingredients at London's Canteen restaurant

• The joys of spring recipes

• Top 35 organic box schemes in the UK

• The UK's 10 best restaurants

Seasonal food recipe finder: March

Watch Celia Brooks Brown plug this month's "hungry gap" with the freshest, local ingredients at London's New Covent Garden Market

• Great British bites: watercress

• Kids' food expert: asparagus and watercress

• Real Food Pioneer: Harriet Lamb

Related Internet Links

• Real Food Directory

• Organic Box Finder

Related Links

• Kids' food expert: asparagus and watercress

• A Cornish cuppa

• Food festivals 2008

Chestnuts are a forgotten food that are very good for you. They have zero cholesterol and are a lovely traditional English nut. In the old days people used to eat them much more. You can still buy them in the market. We have an open fire that we roast them on, or you can roast them in the oven.

Do you prefer eating in or eating out?

I’m very happy eating in. I’m happy sitting with my family and lighting a fire. It’s more relaxed.

When I do eat out in London there are a lot of vegetarian options - Indian and Turkish restaurants serve great vegetarian dishes. I love salad so I never have a problem finding something to eat. When I was in Germany for a few years, I actually got sick of goat's cheese salad because it was the only vegetarian option on the menu in most places.

What is the next big food trend?

Britain is leading the way in the Fairtrade movement and I think it’s going to get much, much stronger globally in the future.

I also think that traceability [of food] is growing. The public are holding companies to account about informing them where products come from. I think we’ll see a rejection of things like single origin tea and begin valuing products in their original forms. Differentiation of products according to their origins is a growing trend.

For more information on Fairtrade visit: www.fairtrade.org.uk

Times Recommends

• Top Ten most searched for recipes
• Chalet Chef 2010: the winning menus
• Gin and pomegranate jellies