Shopping with Head Chef Jackie Cameron

Jackie Cameron
(Photo : Sally Chance) 

The following is an extract from a candid Q&A interview with our Head Chef, Jackie Cameron, which was recently published in the Travel & Food supplement of The Times.

Favourite things? 
Recipe books; kitchen equipment (exciting kitchen gadgets always win me over); improved ingredients and products; I also love handbags, shoes and earrings.

Best thing about shopping?
Finding that something that puts a smile on my face.

Worst thing about shopping?
The hustle and bustle.

Cash or Credit Card?
I always pay... cash. With the arrival of the credit crunch, I’ve... become very aware of every transaction I make.

Fragrance?
Jean Paul Gaultier.

Best gift?
A cap gun at the age of three.

Worst gift?
A chocolate-dipped scorpion.

Earliest shopping memory?
Begging my mother for a chocolate at a grocery store. I’m always reminded of that when I hear other children trying their luck. Just the other day, while standing in the queue at Woolworths, I overheard a young boy telling his mother how much he loved her. I was taken aback by his honesty and caring nature, only to hear two seconds later how much he would love a chocolate. I had to laugh.

Whats in yor fridge? 
In my fridge I always have... a selection of Midlands cheese and homemade pickles and preserves.

Perspective on 'Green'?
To me going green means... contributing in a positive light. Believing that every individual can make a difference.

Best shopping companions? 
My mother and sister.

Worst shopping companion?
A person who is irritated and in a huff and rush.

Best all-time purchase? 
Larousse Gastronomique, “the world’s most famous culinary reference book”.

Most expensive purchase?
My studio flat.

WHAT I’D BUY WITH...

R500 : A meal for one at a top restaurant.

R5000 : A coffee machine and beans... together they make a full-bodied espresso with a perfect crema.

If the sky’s the limit?
I would buy only the best quality, state-of-the-art equipment to furnish my dream kitchen. A good chef is a prepared chef and a prepared chef is a fast chef.