Yahoo Lifestyle What's in your shopping basket, Gary Mehigan?
What are 10 items would we always see in your shopping basket?
Fresh bread – I always make sure I have that in there.
Good butter – I’m a big fan of good butter.
Steak – I’m a man and I love steak. If there’s anything I spent money on it’s that.
Fruit and vegetables – I usually buy whatever is in season.
Italian beans
Lemons - Basic things like lemon juice and garlic .. you can make anything taste delicious.
Tomatoes
Olive oil - I love olive oil. I buy expensive ones and different ones for what I’m cooking.
Fresh and dry herbs – I love fresh parsley and basil and I use a lot of dried spices too
Garlic
I try and put something that I use every week but I try and mix it up as well so I don’t cook the same thing every week. I force myself to buy something different – even if it’s a vegetable or something.
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Gary with his wife Mandy and kids at the "Star Wars Episode One" 3D Australian Premiere, February 2012. Source: Getty
Do you have any favourite indulgent snacks or treats?
I have a sweet tooth but at home I rarely eat sweet things. In my 20s I’d hack into a cheap block of chocolate but at 45 I don’t. I buy good quality, expensive chocolate now and eat just a bit and try and be a good boy.
Chocolate and caramel is also a winning combination with me and I love anything with those two ingredients.
What are your favourite ingredients or food items that you are cooking with at the moment?
I love berries... especially in summer. When I’m at home, I like simple things like Greek yoghurt and honey. I am surrounded by restaurant food, so that’s what I want.
I like Vincotto too – it’s like a sticky balsamic. And I love chilli. I’m a chilli freak. I use a Sriracha chilli sauce. I love it, I put it on everything.
Do you have any favourite fruit or vegies?
I like seasonal fruit. I never buy out of season – same goes with vegetables. I hate it when people have cherries in the middle of winter.
There is a circle of life with fruit and vegetables. They should be eaten when in season. There’s a good reason for eating it when it’s in season. They’re cheaper and more special. Figs and cherries are the ones I really look forward to. I just love them.
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Is there a favourite recipe or meal that you regularly make?
Summertime it’s barbeque time in my house. I love to barbeque whole fish. It’s easy and I like doing different varieties with vinegar or other seasoning.
It’s always a stew in winter. I’m a big lover of my pressure cooker. My favourite recipe is my mum’s lamb stew and dumplings. Even though my waistline gets bigger every time I eat it, I love it!
