A Culinary Chat with Chris Shaw: The Burger Debate and Budget-Friendly Feasts
Each week, we grill top chefs in the UK to find out their most coveted food hacks, their thoughts on this whirlwind industry we call culinary arts, and the occasional absurd hot take. This week’s contestant is none other than Chris Shaw, head chef at Toklas restaurant, where, apparently, the art of haute cuisine is just a stone’s throw from the Strand in London. Or as I like to call it, Designer Gastronomy Town.
Memories Made of Dough
When it comes to his go-to restaurant chain, Shaw opts for nothing less than the illustrious Pizza Express. Yes, you heard that right—Pizza Express, the place of many a late-night regret, now celebrated as the epitome of fine dining. He waxes nostalgic about the dough balls—those delightful orbs of carbs that dance perilously close to culinary brilliance. He claims it’s the smell that tugs at his heartstrings, like perfume from your high school crush. And let’s be honest, who doesn’t love their American Hot pizza, an acceptable way to pretend you’re eating “cheerful” food while reminiscing about when your biggest worry was finishing your homework?
Supermarket Gold: Maggi Liquid Seasoning
Now, if you want to elevate your culinary game without breaking the bank, Shaw’s holy grail of supermarket products is none other than Maggi liquid seasoning. He sprinkles this magical elixir on everything. Fried rice? Check. Poached eggs? Double-check. Good luck trying to convince your local grocer that the secret ingredient in last night’s sauce was not just boiling water and a fulfilled grocery list.
Shaw’s ‘Simple’ Go-To Recipe
And what’s Shaw’s culinary masterpiece when he’s too tired to breathe after a grueling day? Enter the illustrious puttanesca! Do you have a cupboard full of random things? You’re halfway there! Just grab some anchovies (the tin of nostalgia), capers, and tinned tomatoes—voilà! Toss in some parmesan rinds for good measure. It’s not just a late-night snack; it’s culinary alchemy happening in your very own kitchen. Restaurants everywhere are shaking in their boots.
Sandwich Nirvana: Dom’s Subs
Shaw’s ultimate cheap eats haunt is Dom’s Subs in Hackney Road, where a sandwich will set you back approximately £10. But these aren’t your run-of-the-mill, limp excuses for sandwiches; these are gargantuan flavor explosions packed like a suitcase on holiday. Just don’t forget to order ‘The Grapes,’ the spicy sub that promises to set your taste buds on fire and probably require a fire extinguisher.
The Dinner Party Dilemma
If you find yourself gracing Shaw’s dining table, fear not if you’ve arrived empty-handed; he’ll be the picture of hospitality. Food will be lovingly prepared, and he’ll be as gracious as a cat living with a toddler—scarcely affected by your lack of contribution. Remember: it’s about the company, not the canapés.
Unconventional Culinary Opinions
Now, let’s talk controversies. Shaw’s war cry is loud and clear: bacon on burgers is akin to putting glitter on a Picasso—totally unnecessary and tasteless. He would rather savor a proper beef burger, unencumbered by chewy strips of bacon that seem to have gone through a two-week residency in a crematorium. In his eyes, quality beef deserves the limelight without bacon hogging the stage and falling apart like a cheap bad joke.
Crowning Culinary Royalty
And if you ask him who wears the chef’s crown in the UK? That title goes to the formidable Cynthia Shanmugalingam of Rambutan. This Sri Lankan gem is turning the concept of open-fire cooking into an art form that could make even the most jaded foodie weep with joy. Shaw is evidently a fanboy, making it clear that if there’s a culinary Mount Olympus, she’s already claimed the top spot.
