Revelations – Lisa Allen

What was your best subject at school?
I enjoyed art and design

What was your first job in catering?
Washing pots and prepping veg

What do you normally have for breakfast?
Weetabix or a crumpet

What do you do to relax?
Spend time with good company, good drinks and listen to music

What's your favourite restaurant?
Hibiscus in London and Alinea in Chicago

What's your favourite hotel?
The Liberty hotel in Boston, USA - it's an old jail that's been converted

What is your favourite drink?
Tanqueray No Ten G&T or Champagne

What is your favourite food/cuisine?
Italian, charcuterie, antipasti and good British food

Which ingredient do you hate the most?
Kidneys

What do you always carry with you?
Lip balm and mobile phone

Who gave you the greatest inspiration?
David Everitt-Matthias of Le Champignon Sauvage - he gave me my first real look into the industry

Who in catering have you most admired?
Angela Hartnett, as she's the leading female chef in the country and the one to look up to

If you had not gone into catering, where do you think you'd be now?
The first female F1 Grand Prix champion

What irritates you most about the industry?
People that run off when the going gets tough

What's your favourite prepared food product?
Salad cream

What's your favourite film?
The Shawshank Redemption

Who would play you in a film about your life?
Kate Hudson - in a mad comedy

If you had more time, what would you do?
Travel to India and Thailand, spend more time with friends and family and take up a hobby

What's your favourite music?
Paloma Faith, Snow Patrol, Kings of Leon

Who would be in your fantasy brigade?
Tom Kerridge, the Hand & Flowers; Alan Murchison, L' Ortolan; Claire Clark, formerly of the French Laundry; Glynn Purnell, Purnell's