The one where Marco Pierre White came to my house
Ever had a dream where everything is a bit surreal and out of context? Missing a train to a city you’ve never been to? Giving a speech naked to 500 pharmacists? Having tea in your home with a random celebrity?
Wednesday was a bit like that.
At BritMums, we’ve been working with the Lean on Turkey folks, including arranging a Google+ Hangout with Marco Pierre White! We wanted a kitchen environment, so I suggested we use my newly renovated kitchen (still planning to blog about that) as the setting. I didn’t think they would agree!
The PR agency said to make sure I had fresh coffee, tea and cakes. That stressed me out a bit. Should I make something? Filter coffee? Cafetiere? I ended up going down to the local Mason Blanc and getting a plateful of pastries. I was paranoid about BT letting us down with the Internet and had all sorts of backup plans with neighbours. I also went around hiding all my Gordon Ramsey books!
So Wednesday morning up rolls Marco in his Range Rover, accompanied by his manager and driver.
He walked in, was very pleasant, then sat down AT MY KITCHEN TABLE and asked for a cup of tea.
We talked about pubs (he knows one in nearly every area), wine (he doesn’t drink it! He loves British food and thinks that beer is the best accompaniment), and of course turkey (more flavourful than chicken). He seemed genuinely intrigued by Google+ Hangouts, and the BritMums on-line community.
The best bit? I was so stressed about how the house looked, I got hubby to finally hang our kitchen clock and finish the fiddly roller blind curtain (good thing he did, we ended up needing it for lighting).
Oh yes, and it was a bit special to have tea with Marco in my home.
You can watch the hangout below, it’s short (18 minutes) and has all sorts of tips for cooking with turkey, and general cooking tips too.
Marco and the perfect Christmas turkey | A Modern Mother | 5th Oct 13
[…] the first time at BlogHer’11 in San Diego. We’ve done a couple work events with him, and he’s even been to my house! Each time he is polite, charming and full of practical cooking […]
homestorage4u | 29th Mar 13
Well i am sure that that was a lot of fun an i am also sure that a lot of the stress was for nothing , i am going to have a look at the video later
nice one
angelsandurchinsblog | 18th Mar 13
Definitely one of those OMG comments because I can’t think of what else to say. OMG OMG. Must have been hilarious. Love the thought of you talking turkey with Marco!
Susanna | 17th Mar 13
Bark worse than bite. He was polite and charming! And hopefully you will see him at BritMums Live this year x
Jody Brettkelly | 13th Mar 13
OMG susanna – couple of things – You can see how random I am- love the cover for his computer! Also how wildly french he is with that freshly out of bed hair and full tweedy looking jacket. Also that the PR agency asked for cakes and biscuits. He looks so slim as if he wouldn’t eat that sort of thing – or was that for his entourage. How fabulous girl!
Caroline Job | 7th Mar 13
ps so sorry I missed the Google hangout, would have loved to have been part of it x
Caroline Job | 7th Mar 13
I totally get you! It was my most surreal lunch sitting next to Marco Pierre White in his London restaurant, sampling various turkey meals… I was so lucky to be invited, even though he sat there fiddling with his razor sharp knife! His eyes staring into your soul as he interrogated us with every mouthful we sampled!
Perhaps equally surreal was when I had 5 minutes to interview Jean Christophe Novelli… *eyes glaze over*
Gosh, I am behind in my blog posts… x
Susanna | 7th Mar 13
Next I meet him (as if) I’ll ask about veggies dishes for you.
Susanna | 7th Mar 13
I know! Believe me I wanted to ask 😀
Susanna | 7th Mar 13
I know!
Susanna | 7th Mar 13
It was stressful! (but glad I did it). x
Susanna | 7th Mar 13
I thought of you when he said that, and thought you might be able to change his mind!
Knackered Mother | 6th Mar 13
So sorry to have missed this…what an extraordinary experience! Bit traumatised that he doesn’t drink wine but am sure I’ll get over it 😉
Gretta | 5th Mar 13
That’s amazing! I think I’d be too stressed for a sleb chef to come to our kitchen though, and our rural broadband definitely wouldn’t be up to it!
notSupermum | 3rd Mar 13
Oh wow! What was he like? I always imagine that his bark is worse than his bite.
Now, I must just go and invite Hugh Jackman to the opening of my new study…..
Trish@ Mum's Gone to | 3rd Mar 13
Sorry, notSupermum, but Hugh is booked up to have a ceremonial shower in our new bathroom
Laura @ Chez Mummy | 2nd Mar 13
You should have got him to whip up a souffle while he was there!
Sammie (oneblueonepink) | 2nd Mar 13
OMG Susanna! That’s twice you have met with Marco in less than a year! Lucky lady! I still find the whole experience from last year so surreal! Xx
Amanda | 2nd Mar 13
Oh my, you lucky lady! Off to watch the hangout, even as a vegetarian I wouldn’t miss a bit of Marco 😉