The Weekender Interview: Peter Sanchez-Iglesias

The chef behind the brilliant Casamia on dirty chefs whites, leaving Bristol to open in Cheltenham and being forced to watch the new Beauty and the Beast

What do you currently have on your phone’s wallpaper?

Standard iPhone setting, stars in the night sky

What was your first job?

Washing pots and pans in the first Casamia kitchen

Gordon or Marco?

Gordon

What was the last film you saw in the cinema?

Okay I’m not proud of this, but it was Beauty and the Beast, and yes in my opinion it was shit

What is your guiltiest food pleasure?

Fries and vanilla milkshake

Where are you going on your next holiday?

Spain

What industry figure do you most admire? 

I wouldn’t single out just one industry figure, I think every person who I have met I’ve admired one way or another. The beauty of this industry is we inspire each other to push and better our craft

If you weren’t in restaurants, what would you do?

I would love to think I could have been an architect, but most likely a carpenter

Biggest regret?

Leaving Bristol to open a restaurant in Cheltenham

Pet hate?

Dirty chef whites

Oddest thing a customer has said to you?

One asked for a condom

Marmite: love it or hate it?

Do you know what, sometimes I do, sometimes I don’t. Weird

Describe your cooking style in three words

Creative, multicultural, delicious

What country do you next want to visit?

Japan

Most overrated food?

Supermarket premium ranges. I’m not convinced...

Restaurant czar for a day – what would you implement?

Ban ready-made products

What’s the worst/best review you’ve ever had?

I hate it when people have said they liked it then slagged us off in the review… that’s the worst. The best? Still like to think we’re working for our best review

What made you want to become a chef?

I love cooking. End of

What do you cook at home on your days off?

I’m hardly ever home to be fair but if I am I get take out or go out

What advice would you give someone starting out in the industry?

Give it everything you’ve got, do what you want to do, and don’t try to people-please

iPhone or Android?

iPhone, all the way

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?

Be nice, be kind

What’s your earliest memory?

Christmas Day

Where do you go when you want to let your hair down?

Believe it or not I’m most comfortable eating at a restaurant

Twitter or Instagram?

Instagram. It’s better to look at pictures, I believe it explains a 1000 words

Tipple of choice?

Sherry or an IPA

What would you choose to eat for your last meal?

A Thai banquet cooked by our development chef Josh Green