Feedback with Alastair Campbell

THIS MONTH WE TALK TO WRITER, STRATEGIST AND BROADCASTER ALASTAIR CAMPBELL

Alastair is still active in politics and campaigns in Britain and overseas, he now splits his time between writing, speaking, broadcasting, charities and consultancy. His main interests outside work are cycling, open water swimming, running, playing the bagpipes and following Burnley FC. His latest book But What Can I Do? Why Politics Has Gone So Wrong, and How You Can Help Fix It is out now.

What food always reminds you of your childhood?
Trifle (home made)

Do you have a current favourite restaurant or type of restaurant?
Mimmo La Bufala. South End Green NW3 – A proper family-run Italian restaurant – presided over by  Mimmo with his daughter Paula.

Do you cook and if so, what’s your signature dish?
Apart from kids’ food when they were growing up, I have only ever cooked one proper meal in my life. It was a tuna and potato soufflé in the early 80s when I was trying to impress Fiona. Not sure I did impress her, because she had to rescue it for me.  

What food or ingredient could you not do without?
Grapes and bananas. 

What was the most memorable meal you can remember eating?
When I was working for Tony Blair there was a time when we had to visit all the EU capitals. As we travelled around, we gave all the meals we had marks out of ten. Ireland came top. Denmark second. France third. The Irish meal was a sea fish starter and the best red meat I have ever eaten, followed by a rich chocolate pudding. I still remember it, and I am not a big meat eater!

During your time at Number 10 there must have been lots of unavoidable dinners. How did your waistline cope?
I used to run to work and run home!!

Is there something particular you always keep in the fridge?
White Toblerone. I am something of a chocoholic. Though if I start eating a big slab of chocolate, I find it very difficult to stop.

What would be your last supper if literally anything was available to you and where would you eat it?
Marseille port. Fish soup followed by sea bass followed by chocolate mousse (with a dollop of pistachio ice cream).

Alastair's latest book But What Can I Do? Why Politics Has Gone So Wrong, and How You Can Help Fix It is out now in hardback, published by Penguin. We have 5 copies of the book to be won in our competition

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