Chef revelations: Liam Dillon, owner, the Boat Inn, Lichfield, Staffordshire

What was your best subject at school?

 

Practical lessons, such as working with wood and metal and ‘food tech’ (as it was then)

 

What was your first job?

 

I had a paper round for £11 a week, then I worked on a go-kart track

 

What was your first job in catering?

 

I was a KP in a local restaurant

 

What do you normally have for breakfast?

 

Usually something boring like Weetabix or granola

 

What do you do to relax?

 

I take the dog for an extra-long walk, get away from technology and try to switch off

 

Which is your favourite restaurant?

 

Other than the Boat, Momofuku Ko in New York. An amazing team

 

What’s your favourite hotel?

 

We have a stunning little boutique B&B in Lichfield called St Johns House, but if I’m travelling I usually stick with the Hiltons, mainly for the cookies

 

What is your favourite drink?

 

Estrella, Monkey 47 gin or Takamaka rum and coke

 

What is your favourite cuisine?

 

I love Indian food

 

Which ingredient do you hate the most?

 

Avocados! I wouldn’t use them if they grew in the garden!

 

What flavour combinations do you detest?

 

Let’s set the record straight, pineapple doesn’t belong on pizza

 

Which person in catering have you most admired?

 

Marcus Wareing, and Heston Blumenthal for turning a village pub into a world-recognised restaurant

 

Describe your ultimate nightmare?

 

Waking up in a pile of avocados

 

What’s your favourite book?

 

Anything by Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall. He is a wealth of knowledge and experience

 

Tell us a secret...

 

Growing up I used to be a bit of a geek, so I’m quite partial to a bit of computer gaming. I find ‘popping a few UAVs’ quite relaxing

 

What is your favourite prepared product?

 

French’s mustard or pretty much anything pickled