Paul Ainsworth

Having picked up a Michelin star (and a Food and Travel gong) for Number 6, the chef has helped prove Padstow offers more than just Rick Stein’s empire. Alex Mead hears where he likes to travel and eat…

Paul Ainsworth Photo

I grew up in a bed and breakfast

so we always had solid meals. My dad used to cook dinners from Monday to Thursday and he was good too – I didn’t think that was unusual until I started to realise my mates’ dads couldn’t cook at all.

Our annual holiday was always in January

when we were closed, and we’d go to some amazing places. We went to the Seychelles because that’s where my mum is from. I always remember thinking it was like that old Bounty advert – you know, when the coconut falls on the rock and splits in two. And then you had kids riding those giant tortoises, they’re just huge!

I realised just how vast America was

when I went on a road trip as a child. I had an auntie in San Jose, so we flew there first, then went on to San Francisco and drove to Los Angeles. It really opened my eyes, the drive was about nine hours but the huge expanses were breathtaking. We eventually finished up in New York, so I got the full range. One day you’re in sunny, lovely San Francisco, the next you’re on the east coast – whose climate is completely different.

They leave the bread dough to prove on your table

at Restaurant Frantzén in Stockholm. Then, later, they take it away, bake it, and bring it back, hand-whip the butter at your table and serve it. I went there with Tom and Beth Kerridge and the things they do just blow your mind. I think we ate about 24 courses and it’s just out of this world – the city is seriously cool too, it’s got a great buzz.

For pure relaxation, I love Cyprus.

I went there with my wife Emma and stayed at Elysium. It was perfect for just getting away from it all. The people are so lovely; one restaurant knew I was a chef and gave me a 20-pot rack of spices all from the area – you just wouldn’t get that over here.

Sat Bains is like the Pelé of cooking:

he’s got his own beliefs, everything he says makes a lot of sense, and after you’ve spoken to him you look at things in a different way. What he and Amanda have done with their whole set-up, they’ve just thought of everything. It’s the same with Tom and Beth at The Hand and Flowers. I just love his whole approach to food.

We try and get to Strong Adolfo’s as often as possible

– it’s a place near Wadebridge in Cornwall but has this cool 1960s rocker vibe and it’s simply brilliant. They do this roast chicken and thyme sandwich that literally tastes like a roast dinner in a sandwich. It’s fantastic.

In Padstow, we always go to Chip Ahoy

for fish and chips, it’s absolutely delicious. There’s also an incredible café called Cherry Trees, which does the best Victoria sponges. A dream trip would be to Brazil for the carnival culture and to visit Alex Atala’s restaurant in São Paulo, D.O.M Though I’d love to pay a visit to Panama as well.

Paul Ainsworth Photo

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