Jamie Oliver has had a huge effect on cooking and eating in Britain. From the days of the Naked Chef when he encouraged a nation of men to pick up a chopping knife and saucepan, to highlighting the standard of our school dinners; from providing disadvantaged young people with the chance to gain professional training, to waxing lyrical about growing and eating your own produce, he has achieved so very much.

Jamie has become part of British culture and it is hardly surprising that he is now considered the most iconic British chef of all time. It was to our great pleasure that we had the opportunity to ask him a few questions…

What did you have for dinner last night?

I actually made a curry last night. I do love a good chicken curry, either out at a great Indian restaurant - and there are many dotted around the place - or cooked in your own home.

You are very busy with many projects on the go - when you finally get some quiet time, how do you relax?

I just play with the kids, watch a video with Jools curled up on the sofa with a glass of wine, have a few mates round, potter in the garden - normal stuff.

What is your ingredient of ‘the moment’?

Chillies. I’ve always been a huge fan but now I grow my own, I’m really into all the different varieties and what you can do with them.

Regarding the website - your hot topic at the moment is asking what’s the most romantic meal you’ve cooked or had cooked for you - what’s your most romantic dish?

I’ve done a few romantic meals for the missus over the years but quite often the thing that keeps her happiest is a simple tuna pasta, the one in the Cook with Jamie book.

With fingers in many ‘pies’ - the Chicken campaign, Fifteen, Jamie’s Italian, Jamie at home (growing your own) etc - what is your next project?

Fifteen really looks after itself now and there’s a great team of people at the various restaurants all over the world and the chicken thing has got Hugh all over it. I’m excited about the Jamie’s Italian restaurants - we opened Oxford already and that’s doing really well. We open Bath and Kingston later this year and then Brighton, Cambridge and a few others next year. And I’m working hard on a new book and TV project for the autumn and you’ll find out more about that in September.

I can’t wait for the opening of Jamie’s Italian in Brighton, it’ll be right on our doorstep and the news that there’s a new book and TV project coming up, is very exciting too, my mouth is watering at the very prospect! September is not too long to wait, but in the meantime, here is a scrumptious Jamie recipe to keep you going…

Jamie’s chicken curry
(From Happy Days with the Naked Chef)

Ingredients
5 Tbs vegetable oil
2 Tsp’s mustard seeds
1 Tsp fenugreek seeds
3 fresh green chillies, deseeded and thinly sliced
1 handful of curry leaves
2 thumb sized pieces of fresh ginger, peeled and coarsely grated
3 onions, peeled and chopped
1 Tsp chilli powder
1 Tsp turmeric
6 tomatoes, chopped
1 x 400ml tin coconut milk
4 chicken breasts, sliced into 1cm strips
1 Tsp coriander seeds, crushed
Salt

Heat the oil in a pan, and when hot add the mustard seeds. Wait for them to pop, then add the fenugreek seeds, fresh green chillies, curry leaves and ginger. Stir and fry for a few minutes.
Using a food processor, chop the onions and add to the same pan. Continue to cook for 5 minutes until the onion is light brown and soft, then add the chilli powder and turmeric.
Using the same food processor, pulse the tomatoes and add these to the pan. Cook for a couple of minutes, then add 1 or 2 wineglasses of water and the coconut milk.
Simmer for about 5 minutes until it has the consistency of double cream, then season carefully with salt.
Stir fry the chicken strips and coriander seeds until lightly coloured, then add to your sauce and simmer for 10 minutes.

This is such a simple recipe and it tastes so good; you can taste the different spices and there’s just enough heat to warm you up a little.

Have you been to the new Jamie’s Italian in Oxford? Or are you planning to go? I’d love to know what you think, so drop me a line with your reviews.

What's Next?	If you enjoyed this you'll love:
Get EB daily free in your email  Subscribe via our RSS feed  Leave a comment and have your say	Jamie at Home Jamie Oliver’s Italian Chilli Fiesta - Westdean Alzheimer’s sufferers should eat curry! Celebrate National Chilli Week, 26 November – 3 December