FOOD STYLING: ELLA TARN. STYLING: SARAH BIRKS
FOOD PHOTOGRAPH: TOBY SCOTT.
I come from a huge family of foodies. My mother’s name was Luz Catalina Arronte de Carrillo – she was a beautiful redhead with a strong character and soul, and the skills of an artist. She painted, played the piano and made gorgeous flower arrangements. She was an artist in the kitchen, too. One of the things my mother cared about most was passing on the family’s recipes and wisdom to my sister and me, as my grandmother did to her. My father loved and encouraged this ritual.
From a young age I was willing to help and learn. My grandmother, who was also a wonderful cook, organised cookery classes for her nine granddaughters, because she thought cooking well was important to keeping a good marriage. She taught us everything from basic everyday dishes to the most complicated pastry techniques.
On Sundays we had big family gatherings where we’d share great meals that my mother and father planned together in advance. But during the week my mother liked to cook simple recipes made with whatever ingredients she had to hand, leaving her time to get on with the other jobs she had to do. One-pot recipes cooked on the hob or in the oven were her favourites – and this chicken dish was one of them.