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Heston Blumenthal

Kirsty Young's castaway is chef and broadcaster Heston Blumenthal.

Kirsty Young's castaway this week is the chef Heston Blumenthal. He is one of only three chefs working in Britain today to be awarded three Michelin stars and last year his restaurant, The Fat Duck, was named the best in the world by a panel of 5,000 food experts.

His speedy rise to the top of his profession is little short of extraordinary. He has only ever spent a week in a professional kitchen and taught himself classical French cookery. He became fascinated by the science of cooking and has become the Willy Wonka of modern cuisine - dishes he's created include mango and douglas fir puree, salmon poached with liquorice and, most famously, snail porridge. But he acknowledges his success has been largely due too to his wife's support and now wants to change the balance of his life towards spending more time with his young family.

[Taken from the original programme material for this archive edition of Desert Island Discs]

Favourite track: Love has Finally Come at Last by Bobby Womack
Book: On Food and Cooking: The Science and Lore of the Kitchen by Harold McGee
Luxury: Japanese knives

Available now

45 minutes

Last on

Fri 3 Nov 2006 09:00

Music Played

  • Lili Boniche

    Ana Fil Houb

    • Flying Carpets: Claude Challe.
    • Mercury.
  • M.A.S.S.

    Man with the Harmonica

    • The Best of Ennio Morricone.
    • Koch.
  • The Sunburst Band

    Every Dub

    • Jose Padilla:Man Ray 4.
    • Wagram.
  • Castaway's Favourite

    • Bobby Womack

      Love has Finally Come at Last

      • Bobby Womack: Collection Live.
      • Castle.
  • Paco de Luc铆a

    Entre Dos Aguas

    • Caf茅 Del Mar 11: Various Artists.
    • React Music.
  • Dr. Rubberfunk

    Harry the Guitar

    • Rubberfunk: The First Cut.
    • GPS.
  • Ilham al-Madfai

    Chal Chal Alayea el Rumman

    • Hammam Caf茅 -the finest Oriental Lounge.
    • EMI.
  • Giuseppe Verdi

    Grand March (from Aida)

    Orchestra: Orchestra e coro del Teatro alla Scala Conductor: Lorin Maazel

    • Aida.
    • Decca.
  • Book Choice

    • On Food and Cooking: The Science and Lore of the Kitchen - Harold McGee

  • Luxury Choice

    • Japanese knives

Credits

Role Contributor
Presenter Kirsty Young
Interviewed Guest Heston Blumenthal

Broadcasts

  • Sun 29 Oct 2006 11:15
  • Fri 3 Nov 2006 09:00

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