It's Not Easy Being Greedy's interview
Interview by LaurenceWe interviewed It's Not Easy Being Greedy!
Visit the blog: It's Not Easy Being Greedy.
Hello It's Not Easy Being Greedy, so tell us...
When did you begin your blog and what inspired you to start it?
I started my blog just over a year ago for two main reasons: firstly I fancied myself as being able to write in an amusing way, and secondly because I was working in web communications in financial services and wanted to get some experience of social media to improve my professional skills. The blog could only ever be about food, as I am always thinking about my next meal, and so I started the blog quietly to see whether it was something I could really stick at, and then 'launched' it officially in January 2013 to my friends, family and colleagues. I have over 300 followers and hopefully that number will continue to grow, as the feedback from people has been lovely.
In your wildest dreams, where is your blog going to take you as it develops?
I know I shouldn't say it, but I'd love to get loads of free food and cooking equipment sent to me to review! As well as being greedy, I do love a freebie. Or if I could go to lovely restaurants and get paid to review them - that's another one of my dreams. My ego would of course love it if the blog became more popular and lots more people followed it, and I ended up reaching a larger audience of people who all think I am brilliant and my food is amazing. But it's already been a fantastic experience and I've come into contact with loads of great people, and just been appointed Head of Social Media where I work, so I have a lot to thank the blog for already.
Are you active in the blogging community? Have you met any interesting people through your blog or has it brought you to new places?
I am becoming more active through initiatives such as Foodie Penpals and Our Growing Edge, which has given me the chance to meet some bloggers who I really admire. I've also contacted some of those bloggers directly to ask for tips and they have been kind enough to share their feedback with me. Most importantly, I take blogging very seriously and see all foodie experiences as a potential blog post, so it's really encouraged me to try new things and visit new restaurants to get more experience. How fabulous would it be if someone paid me to travel to learn about different food cultures though! Maybe one day ...!
Do you have a secret weapon in the kitchen?
My KitchenAid artisan food mixer is my favourite kitchen item. I was desperate to own one for years but they are so expensive and I could not justify the cost to myself ... so I just used to wander around John Lewis' kitchen department dreaming of owning one eventually (sending my boyfriend quite mad in the process). Then my good friends Bree and Noah got married and asked me to help cater for their wedding feast, and so I convinced myself that was the perfect excuse to buy the KitchenAid. It made my life easier for that job, and I've probably used it at least once a week since then to whip, knead and mix in the kitchen. Plus it has the added bonus of looking beautiful in the kitchen!
What would be your choice of dish or menu if you had to choose your "last meal ever"?!
Hmmmm, well I think that a lovely juicy steak with bearnaise sauce would have to feature somewhere, plus some deliciously gooey cheese - perhaps a ripe brie de meaux and a gorgeous fresh baguette. And for something sweet, sticky toffee pudding or treacle tart with clotted cream. Oh, and maybe a starter of crab and prawns. Gin and tonic, some red wine, and some port at the end, and I'd be ready sleep!
What is your earliest memory involving food?
I have always been really greedy, and my nan and grandad particularly used to indulge mine and my brother's greediness - Sundays used to be: bacon and eggs for breakfast, then munching on packs of biscuits whilst we waited for Sunday lunch to be cooked - with as many roast potatoes as we could eat. Vienetta for pudding (a whole quarter each!) and chocolate bars for later. Then help yourself sandwiches and cakes for Sunday tea when we waited for Mum to collect us to take us back home. My mum is actually a great cook, but as children of the 80s all we wanted was mini chicken kievs, crispy pancakes, chips and baked beans, so my main memory of her cooking is the beloved deep fat fryer's daily use on the kitchen counter. All the kind of stuff I wouldn't dream of eating now!
Are there any chefs that you admire in particular?
I absolutely love Michel Roux Jr. He comes across as such a lovely man, and I was lucky enough to go to Le Gavroche for a special meal a few years ago and he came out of the kitchen to say hello to each table individually - it was such a treat to meet a food hero. His recipes are very complicated, so they are quite a challenge for me (and not very healthy with all the French influences of butter and cream), but I am enjoying working through my many cookbooks of his!
If you could be a contestant or guest on any cooking show what show would you choose?
Being on cookery shows has never really appealed to me - my friends have often said I should apply for Masterchef or Bake Off, but I don't think I am an exceptional cook - I just really love good food and so I have to cook so that I can eat what I like. But if I was forced to be on a show it would probably be Great British Bake Off - I did a challenge each week for this years' series and was impressed with my ability to cook things I would never normally dream of cooking, so maybe I would be okay at it.
Which Gourmandize recipe would you recommend? (if none take your fancy add your own and share it with us!)
I haven't tried any recipes from the site yet, although it's great to be able to search through so many in one place. I will add my own recipe for Hainanese chicken rice to the system, which is also on my blog - http://knattster.wordpress.com/2013/04/25/hainanese-chicken-rice/ - as there isn't a version of this on Gourmandize and it's one of my favourites.
Any last words or message for our readers?
My favourite food quote by Mark Twain, one of my favourite writes: "Part of the secret of success in life is to eat what you like and let the food fight it out inside"
Thank you It's Not Easy Being Greedy for answering our questions and see you soon!
Published by Laurence - 18/11/2013
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