When a visitor to Essence in Queenstown, our only restaurant to hold two Michelin stars, likened one dish to a Jaffa Cake, he wasn't mistaken. Head chef Paul Froggatt may be renowned for his artful treatment of the finest local ingredients, but he hasn't forgotten the processed and packaged treats of his UK origins, or the first dish he made in home economics.
What are the five elements of your perfect weekend?
The great outdoors, family time, fly fishing, and a good picnic, ideally in a place where the phone can't ring.
What surprised you most about New Zealand when you first moved here from the UK?
So many things. How people say "hello" without knowing you – it's great.
What was the first thing you cooked that revealed your potential talent?
Kedgeree in my home economics class when I was 13 or 14.
Which group of people in Aotearoa deserves more attention?
I'd love to see more attention given to our local food producers and growers. Farmers, fishermen, cheesemakers...They spend years perfecting their craft, and I think New Zealand's food story starts with them. I'd also like to see us help our young chefs and front-of-house teams see that there's a wonderful world of hospitality and you can do anything when you set your mind to it.
What's your worst character trait?
I can't eat a meal out without commenting on the food.
What are three things you look for in a friend? Someone that is grounded and authentic. It’s a bonus if they like fly fishing or fast cars.
What was the last great book you read? I have just gone back to The Perfectionist: Life and Death in Haute Cuisine, by Rudolph Chelminski.
What's one memory that lives rent-free in your head? Many... The births of my children, and getting served a whole globe artichoke, unpeeled, when I was 14 – my first dinner in France.
What do you miss most about the UK? Jaffa cakes and Monster Munch.
What's one vice you'd like to quit or reduce? My home-made fried chicken. It's just too good to give up.
What relaxes you after a hard day (or night) at work? I love my drive home in silence or with a few tunes and then my chamomile tea on the sofa.
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