Revelations: Ales Maurer, head chef, the Lygon Arms, Broadway, Worcestershire

What was your first job in catering? As a breakfast chef in an 84-bedroom hotel in Prague. I soon discovered I was not a morning person

Which is your favourite restaurant? Tom Kerridge's the Hand & Flowers in Marlow is an amazing achievement and an inspiration to all chefs

What's your favourite hotel? It must be the newly refurbished Lygon Arms hotel. It has a smart and friendly feel with a high standard of finish

What is your favourite drink? Jameson whiskey, I have some stories for later…

What is your favourite food? Comfort food, slow-roasted pork belly, apple sauce and sauerkraut

Are there any ingredients that you refuse to cook with? No, that's impossible with my job

Which person gave you the greatest inspiration? Our butcher, Mr Trejbal, from my first job. He was 72 and was still able to butcher a whole pig by himself

Which person in catering have you most admired? All the hard-working chefs that I've met in my life

If not yourself, who would you rather have been? Someone who has changed the world, been an inspiration to a generation. Look at what Tim Berners-Lee and Steve Jobs did for the way we see the world

If you had not gone into catering, where do you think you would be now? Maybe a pilot, as I love flying

What irritates you most about the industry? Unfortunately, people don't see it as a career anymore, they don't want to start at the bottom and work towards something great

What is your favourite prepared product? You can buy some great quality fresh pasta. It's good to have the quality without all the hassle when cooking at home for my family

Who would be in your fantasy brigade? My last three sous chefs, my wife on pastry, mother-in-law doing washing up and Lee Evans calling checks on the pass!