Celebrity chef living in fast lane - but family still come first

AS she sits in the back of a travelling car, it is becoming increasingly difficult to hear Lesley Waters but there is a definite rise in her pitch as she comes onto the topic of family’s eating together. “Oh God,” she almost bellows. “I think it is so, so important for families to eat together. I miss the days when families would sit round a table for a meal, talking about their day.

"It kept families close and meant everyone could talk about their day. Families just are not close enough these days and I think a large cause of that is the fact that they do not eat together.” Speaking to the 47-year-old celebrity chef, one thing you instantly notice is her huge sense of family loyalty and the importance that family plays in her life. So, one would assume that her family are very close.

“Oh yes,” she proudly beams. “We always eat together and cook together as well. I think it is important that our two young children learn how to cook as it is a good discipline and a vital skill to learn in life. From a very young age I taught them the value of cooking and they are getting very good at it. They often help out in the kitchen and it is things like this that keep us close as a family.”

From much of what Lesley says and when analysing her values and ideals, you could be fooled into portraying her as the stiff-upper lip, middle class cookery snob but she also has a witty side – after all, who else would name their child Scout after a book? “I love the novel ‘How to Kill a Mockingbird’ and it seemed like a cute name to give my second child. I like it – its different. How many children are called Scout? Probably none!”

In fact, reading is a big part of Lesley’s life as she cites Thomas Hardy as one of her favourite authors. So much so, that she moved to a country home four years ago, with a very aux-pas literature setting. “It's so nice being hidden away in the country,” she excitedly states. “It is such a beautiful view when you look out of the window and ever, ever so quiet.”

In keeping with the theme, Lesley too goes quiet but is back seconds later. “Sorry, doing an interview in the back of a car – not the best setting is it?” she asks. Not exactly but Lesley is in demand at present, travelling all over the country after starring in such shows as Ready, Steady Cook and This Morning – and when talking about her experiences on both, you get the sense she is almost pining to return.

“I’ve not been on This Morning for about a year,” she says. “I do miss it, it was great fun and Fearne and Phil were so easy to get along with and such a good laugh. The best thing about being on the show is that you know you are cooking to everyone. OK, people assume This Morning is a show for mothers because of the time that it is broadcast but we all know that’s not true don’t we?

“It is watched by mothers but also by students, fathers, everyone so my cooking tips are reaching a wide audience.” Yet with ready meal Britain we all know that cooking isn’t always so high on the agenda but apparently, we’ve got it all wrong. The mention of microwaves brings a slight sternness to Lesley’s voice – which is good, it means I can hear her properly!

“Cooking is not hard and cooking does not take up a lot of time. In fact, with This Morning – that is a great example of how quick cooking can be. Being on a show like that, you only get a few minutes on air - if that – so you have to make something that is really simple and quick for people at home to go away and do themselves. That’s the key – viewers have to be able to cook it so it must be both tasty and quick to prepare.”

So where does quick cooking leave the microwave, ready meal generation? “There is nothing wrong with eating a ready meal or using a microwave,” Lesley insists. “But it is not good to do it all the time. When you cook, you get a real sense of pride and achievement at what you have created. There is no better feeling than when you cook something that looks and tastes great from just a few scrap ingredients.”

It is good to hear Lesley talk about food with such passion and enthusiasm, just as it is as pleasing to hear a celebrity chef talk for a long period without knocking another chef in the public eye. Although, you feel you have to ask. You have to know: is the rivalry between celebrity chefs a publicity stunt or do they in fact, dislike each other – there certainly seems to be a lack of harmony between the nation’s chefs these days!

“Honestly? I don’t know,” she replies. “There is a lot of bitterness between chefs I think but chefs can be very arrogant. We get really obsessed almost, about our dish. We want it to look like the best dish you’ve ever seen and taste like the best dish you’ve ever tasted – even I can get like that.”

Even Lesley? “Only in the heat of the moment. I’m not one to moan or wage with other chefs. I like to just get in what with what I love doing – cooking. Cooking is my first love so I am not really too bothered what other people are doing as long as I am still cooking.” And it would seem that we haven’t heard the last of Lesley Waters.

She will indeed cook to generations of people and with her children already pickling up the whisks and wooden spoons, there may always be a Waters on the telly! Failing that, Britain is braced for a legion of Water’s cookery graduates from her very own cookery school in Leith where she is headteacher.

Why don’t you pick up a tip or two from one of the country’s most skilled chefs? You can catch her at the Good Food Magazine British Theatre giving sessions and practical advice at the BBC Good Food Show from November 26-30 at the NEC.

There are various packages available all best booked in advance. Find out more by calling The Ticket Factory on 0844 3388 000 or visit www.theticketfactory.com. For more show information visit www.bbcgoodfoodshow.com.