Ainsley Harriott Quotes

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Ainsley Harriott

Profession : Chef

Birth : February 28, 1957

I want to help others smile and be kind as often as possible.

Ainsley Harriott

It's quite true to say that if you work with marvellous fresh ingredients, the simplest dish is taken to another level.

Ainsley Harriott

My brother, a businessman, is the main cook in his home and my sister teaches cookery. Good food and good music were the mainstays of my childhood.

Ainsley Harriott

I'm a classic cheddar man, I really do like it, though I don't mind a good Stilton or blue cheese.

Ainsley Harriott

To be honest, 'Ready Steady Cook' was a great opportunity, but I did compromise myself. I was stood there quizzing chefs on what they were doing when I knew exactly what they were doing and why.

Ainsley Harriott

Performing has always been instinctive to me. I remember people saying, 'he doesn't know if he's a chef or an entertainer.' But what's wrong with being both? It's like saying you can't run the 100 and the 200 metres.

Ainsley Harriott

To a degree and If I'm playing a game, I do my best to win.

Ainsley Harriott

If I hadn't become a chef I would have loved to be a top tennis player, although I was never good enough so it wasn't really an option. But that has never dimmed my love of the game, which started in childhood when I was lucky enough to be a ball boy at Wimbledon.

Ainsley Harriott

You don't realise until you do 'Strictly' how obsessed people are.

Ainsley Harriott

We were brought up with having a love of your garden, having somewhere you can go in, it's your little sanctuary, you can go there and you can switch off.

Ainsley Harriott

When you look at people cooking in Britain - and Dubai, too - they're not that adventurous. They need to be encouraged somehow. And not everybody needs to be shouted at.

Ainsley Harriott

I used to quite like the idea of zooming in and out of traffic quite quickly, but when you get a decent car and kids in the back, you become more courteous.

Ainsley Harriott

I haven't got tinted windows. I get the odd 'Oi, Ains' and 'What's he like,' or 'I do enjoy your programmes,' depending on where you are. That's quite nice.

Ainsley Harriott

I don't just loving cooking in a vacuum, as it were; I love cooking for people, with people, and laughing.

Ainsley Harriott

When you're at the top you have to know how to delegate without putting the fear of God into people.

Ainsley Harriott

I'm always interested in cooking and helping to bring people together.

Ainsley Harriott

To me, Caribbean food is about fresh, seasonal produce - using what's in season to create vibrant and great tasting food. The spicing is also important. A dish doesn't necessarily need to be hot, but spice is important to the flavour.

Ainsley Harriott

Bread's so important for me, it makes such a difference. I like it with a lovely bit of cheese on it, sometimes just with butter, or with some fresh soup.

Ainsley Harriott

I very much consider myself British.

Ainsley Harriott

I like a bit of chocolate as much as the next person, but cheese is a complete world on its own. The sheer variety is staggering and there's always going to be a cheese to tickle your taste buds.

Ainsley Harriott