Talking Heads with Angela Hartnett

Sheetal Patel - Televisionpoint.com | New Delhi
Gordon Ramsay has terrorised chefs across the world. As the ruthless face of Discovery Travel and Living's Hell's Kitchen, Ramsay has built himself a reputation as a tough taskmaster, difficult to please and given to frequent temper tantrums.

But ask Angela Hartnett and she'll have an entirely different story to tell. Hartnett, a protégée of Ramsay, was in the city last week, as part of ITC Maratha's (Sahar) Celebrity Chef Series, 2007.

Speaking about working with Ramsay, she says, "Off screen, Gordon's very different from the nightmarish persona he has on TV. He's a great guy and he treats his staff really well. I've been working with him for 14 years, we're almost like siblings now, he's just a couple of years older than me."

Food fads and reality Hartnett blends classic British culinary styles with contemporary European flavours. She describes her food as Mediterranean but not French, explaining that her cooking goes easy on sauces and butter. But there is a distinct Italian influence that comes from her part-Italian lineage from her maternal grandmother's side.

A great believer in seasonal cooking, Hartnett says, "I don't believe in messing with nature, doing things like serving strawberries in summer. All my menus are seasonal and based on the produce available at that time of year."

Hartnett also believes in using local ingredients. She says, "Local produce ensures freshness. I don't particularly care for importing ingredients from across the world." What she does care about is the right food pairing, and she stays away from mixing herbs and spices for the sake of reinventing a dish.

In Hell's Kitchen Hartnett is perhaps England's most popular woman celebrity chef. A Michelin-star chef, Hartnett has worked with Ramsay since 1994, well before he became the most famous chef from Hell.

Some seven years ago, Ramsay gave Hartnett the chance of a lifetime - Angela Hartnett at The Connaught, now counted among the best restaurants in London. She's also worked in a TV programme called Kitchen Criminals and has written Cucina: Three Generations of Italian Family Cooking.

And in September this year, Ramsay announced the opening of two new restaurants at Mayfair, with Hartnett at the helm of affairs. Incredible India About this trip, she says, "India is the current flavour in London. I've wanted to come here for a long while." Hartnett is also visiting Kolkata and Delhi and is hoping to squeeze Agra somewhere into her schedule.

She enjoys eating Indian food but is aware of the fact that what she'll get in most Indian restaurants abroad is far from authentic. She says, "I prefer Indian food cooked at people's homes, instead of the stuff you get at curry houses, which is just not the same. I'm not here to eat Chicken Tikka Masala because you get that in London too. Here in India I hope to savour the local cuisines."