Picture: Issy Croker
Ireally like simple food that’s full of flavour and as natural as can be. That’s why I try to process the ingredients as little as possible. I investigated many culinary traditions to find their comfort food classics, looking for inspiration for dishes that are balanced and nutritious, something that can fill you without killing energy, something that can keep you sharp and energised but still give you that comforting, feel-good experience.
Back at the Discovery Channel, I remember my friend Elle wondering if I could serve what she called ‘wet hot salads’, which I thought was a funny and quite bizarre idea at the time. But when I started this project, Elle’s idea came back to me again and again. Initially I called them saladsoups, but the name didn’t sound appealing. Then I explored the Asian tradition of ramen, pho and curries and their combinations of raw and cooked veggies, meats, eggs and carbs. This gave me the insight to rethink those ‘soupy salads’.