What's Behind Nigella Lawson's Culinary Success

What’s the key to your success?

I feel that my food is accessible, and my mission is to demystify cooking. I am not a chef, but a home cook, and I believe that my readers and viewers can see, from the way I cook, that you don’t need any special skills, techniques or expertise to cook food that tastes good. I don’t really feel that I am in the business! I feel I am just a home cook, who loves food, eating and words, and my desire is just to convey my enthusiasm to others, to make them see that cooking can be simple and delicious.

How have you evolved as a cook over the decades?

My approach to food and cooking has never changed: I am a great believer that food and cooking do not have to be complicated. But I am also always open to new tastes, and fresh approaches, and I love to find new ingredients and discover more about the cuisines of other countries.

Away from the cameras, who do you enjoy cooking for?

I enjoy cooking most when I’m feeding people I love: there is no one I want round my table other than my friends and family.

Have you had any cooking disasters on TV?

Well, I did almost set the kitchen on fire once, but luckily the cameraman managed to stamp out the flames before the director noticed or any damage was done.

Tell us more about your upcoming projects?

I am working on a new book and, once that’s written, a new a television series.

What’s a dish that represents your life?

It is a very simple, gorgeously flavoured chicken traybake with fennel and bitter orange. It was the first thing I cooked in my new kitchen so is, for me, the taste of home.

What’s your dream holiday feast?

Each country provides different opportunities, and one of the pleasures of travelling is discovering new tastes and foods, but I have to say for me, sitting by the water, under a blue sky, gazing at a blue sea, and eating quickly cooked, freshly caught fish, is my absolute dream.

Is there anything in particular that you’d like to eat or experience in Margaret River?

One of the chief reasons I love coming to Australia is for the food: Australian cooking is so vibrant and fresh and inspiring. But the whole atmosphere of the country - relaxed, welcoming, lively - is also a great lure. It’s one of the places I am always happy in. I’ve heard so much about the extraordinary produce in Western Australia, and of course the wines from the Margaret River region are famed all over the world. But I am keen to sample the gorgeous fresh seafood, grass fed beef and lamb, and the whole array of artisan foodstuffs the area has to offer.

This year's Margaret River Gourmet Escape is happening from November 18-20. To find out more, visit www.gourmetescape.com.au