What's Delicatezze all about?
It's inspired by the Mediterranean way of eating - lots of delicious little dishes for everyone to share. When I'm in a restaurant, I always want to taste what I see on other people's plates and, with these dishes, you can try everything. You eat a little of this, a little of that and the conversation flows. It's all very relaxed.
Where do the ideas for the dishes come from?
They come from several different countries, but the main influence is the Eastern
Mediterranean - the coastal part of what used to be the Ottoman Empire. The Empire once stretched from Egypt, through Syria, Iran and Hungary, so there are common food traditions across a really wide area. I grew up in Bulgaria, and a lot of the Delicatezze dishes are inspired by the food my mother made. If you've been on holiday to places such as Morocco, Tunisia, Turkey or Bulgaria, the flavours will instantly take you back there.
How did you come up with ideas for the dishes in the range?
I'm always travelling, and that's the best way to be inspired. The most exciting food will often be found when you stray off the beaten track. The falafel offered in a tiny Turkish mountain village, for example, will be completely different to what you get as a tourist in Istanbul, and that's the kind of food I like to take ideas from. Often the people who cook it can't actually tell you the recipe, so you have to work it out yourself.
Have you used traditional recipes?
Some of the dishes are very traditional, but for others, I've taken a traditional idea and created a new recipe. The pastries, for example, would usually be sprinkled with sesame or caraway seeds, but we've added them to the pastry mix instead, which creates a whole new taste and texture. I've put a lot more vegetables in the falafel than you'd get in a traditional recipe, so they're really light, with fresh, vibrant flavours. Those falafels are so good, I won't even bother to make my own at home any more.
Do I need to know which dishes work together?
No, there really aren't any rules. Even though the dishes come from different cuisines, they'll complement each other. It's great for entertaining, because there's something for everyone. You don't have to have them as a full meal either: I'd serve a few of the cold dishes with drinks, or have a couple of pastries with a dip for lunch. They're great for picnics too, or when you come in from work and you just want to wind down with a snack and a drink. It's just a lovely, relaxed way of eating.