Chef Revelations – Phil Howard
Phil Howard, chef-proprietor at the Square, London, talks about air miles, Marco, David Attenborough and The Italian Job
What was your best subject at school?
Biology
What was your first job? Stocking shelves in a supermarket
What was your first job in catering?
Roux Restaurants - making sandwiches in the staff canteen of Kleinwort Benson
What do you do to relax?
Run
What is your favourite restaurant? River Café
What is your favourite hotel?
The Stafford
What is your favourite drink?
Coke
Which ingredient do you hate the most?
Chorizo
Are there any foods/ingredients that you refuse to cook with? If so, why?
Anything from the southern hemisphere. Air miles.
What do you always carry with you?
Optimism!
Which person in catering have you most admired?
For many years it was Marco
Which person gave you the greatest inspiration?
Marco
What flavour combinations do you detest?
Chocolate and raspberry
Cast away on a desert island, what luxury would you take?
My wife
If not yourself, who would you rather have been?
David Attenborough
What is your favourite prepared product?
Ketchup
Describe your ultimate nightmare Full house, empty kitchen
What irritates you most about the industry?
Gossip and insecurity
What's your favourite film?
The Italian Job
Who would be in your fantasy brigade? My current brigade at the Square, plus Brett at the Ledbury and Mark from Kitchen W8
If you had more time, what would you do? Read a book