If you are not extreme, then people will take shortcuts because they don't fear you.

I wasn't manufactured. I was cut from the cloth of the very old world of gastronomy. There was no such thing as celebrity chefs, chefs were trained and I like to think that I still represent those old values from that world and the opportunities that I am offered I often say no to.

I don't do social events, I don't do award ceremonies, I don't do charity dinners. I live my life off-radar.

Once you accept you are being judged by people who have less knowledge than yourself, then what's it worth?

Today there are very few chefs at that high level who are behind their stoves. You don't feel their presence within the room. Where's the romance? Where's the show? Where's the theater? The modern day restaurant - it's like dining in a chapel. It's boring.

I've never tried to be a celebrity chef, people call me that but I was that young boy that the media chose.

People do peculiar things in life and they do for whatever reason but I think one of the greatest crimes in life is when you lie.