Chef John Torode publishes a personal collection of recipes

Australian chef John Torode, who built his culinary career in the UK, has a new cookbook out – 'My Kind of Food' – based on his everyday meals at home.

John Torode says his new book is less a cookbook than ‘a personal collection of recipes’. Courtesy Yuki Sugiura

Chef John Torode, who was born in Australia but built his culinary career in the UK, is known for his role on BBC1's MasterChef, Celebrity MasterChef and Junior MasterChef. He's also a presenter of The A to Z of TV Cooking on BBC2.

In addition to hosting television shows, he has written several cookbooks and is also a regular contributor to food magazines. He has just published what he calls his most personal cookbook, My Kind of Food.

Where did your love of food come from?

It’s just one of those things – I started young and was inspired by my Nanna, a wonderful cook who taught me many of the basics.

As I have travelled and seen more and tasted more, I just seem to fall more in love with it. I am very lucky to do this as my job.

What are your thoughts on how far you’ve come since learning to cook in your grandmother’s kitchen?

I have discovered new worlds and have tasted thousands of dishes – be it in a professional kitchen or on MasterChef or around a family table. It's the same as playing chopsticks on a piano compared to a concerto.

How is My Kind of Food different from other cookbooks you've written?

Because it’s not really a cookbook in my mind. It’s what I cook every day and all the time. It’s the food I eat around my table with my family and friends, so it’s a personal collection of recipes.

What will we learn about food – and about you – from this book?

That good cooking can be easy and achievable. Maybe people will simply be inspired by a picture – hopefully they will cook the dish and love it, and maybe it will become the go-to.

I love this book. I wrote every word and I cooked every dish that was photographed. I feed the people who work with me and it’s the food my children have grown up on, so it holds a lot of memories.

What will you be presenting at the festival?

Real food, my food. A few basics and a few which are worth the work that is put in. It’s a surprise – but all of it will be simply delicious.

• Torode will present his food and stories at An Evening with John Torode, on Wednesday from 8pm to 9:30pm, at Terra Firma Steakhouse, InterContinental, Dubai Festival City, Dh250. Torode will also talk about his life and adventures as a MasterChef, on Thursday from 8pm to 9pm, at Al Ras 3 InterContinental, Dh70.