The Bafta-winning TV cook on why his food tech teacher was great – and why Michel Roux Jr’s souffle wasn’t
Big Zuu’s Big Eats is just a very normal programme that doesn’t take itself too seriously. A lot of food shows can be a little bit over the top: they always look like you have to go to Waitrose or M&S to have good food. We respect recipes, we respect tradition, we respect cultures, but we don’t do it in a way that makes people feel like you have to order spice rub from Amazon. If you want to make Caribbean stuff, go to a local yardman shop and get some plantain. We like to stay down to earth and cook food other people can make.
When my mum was pregnant with my little bro, she stopped cooking towards the end of her pregnancy because she was tired, as you are when you have a baby growing in your belly. So cooking was a way for me to do a chore around the house: as a young fat man, it fulfilled my need for food and also it meant that I was a good little boy. Two birds, one stone.
Big Zuu’s Big Eats continues weekly on Dave and all episodes are available now on UKTV Play
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