Renowned chef, writer, and Wahaca co-founder Thomasina Miers has unveiled her personal culinary favourites, offering a tantalising glimpse into the tastes that inspire her. From high-end pantry staples to beloved local eateries, her recommendations span the globe and cater to every budget.
Premium Pantry Staples and Global Flavours
When it comes to olive oil, Miers extols the virtues of Querubi, a French brand retailing at £26. She describes its flavour as exceptionally green, verdant, and alive, reserving it for special drizzling due to its premium price point. For travel, she never leaves home without a selection of dried chillies, typically packing chipotles, guajillos, and ancho chilli flakes to add a kick to meals abroad.
Restaurant Revelations and Scenic Sips
Miers expresses a fervent desire to return to Alfonsina, a family-run restaurant approximately 45 minutes from Oaxaca City, Mexico. She praises its deliriously delicious and sublime regional Oaxacan cuisine, crafted by a dedicated mother-and-son team. For drinks with a view, her top spots include Da Adolfo on Italy's Amalfi Coast, Forza Wine in Peckham, and the Seaside Boarding House in Dorset, each offering spectacular but distinct vistas.
British Classics and Store Cupboard Secrets
In the UK, Miers champions The Aldeburgh Fish & Chip Shop in Suffolk for its perfect, fresh-from-the-sea fish and local produce. For a Sunday roast, she recommends The Camberwell Arms in South London, highlighting its impeccably cooked components, from golden crispy potatoes to beautifully seasoned vegetables. Her store cupboard boasts luxurious items like worm salt and Willy's Live Apple Balsamic Vinegar (£29), which she says transforms any dish.
Quick Eats and Kitchen Essentials
Miers' go-to condiment is chilli oil, which she believes improves any meal; she makes her own but also recommends Poon's brand. For a ten-minute meal, she relies on a simple fried egg on toast. Her most useful kitchen gadgets are a microplane for grating and a pestle and mortar for pounding spices. She favours Tony's Chocolonely for corner-shop chocolate and Manomasa crisps in manchego and olive flavour.
Supporting Sustainability and Local Producers
Miers pays homage to the late Skye Gyngell's Spring restaurant at Somerset House in Central London, praising its groundbreaking 'Scratch menu' that uses would-be wasted ingredients at a third of the price. She also champions UK producers like Fen Farm Dairy and Brinkworth Dairy for butter, and White Lake Cheese in Somerset for its hard goat's cheese called Rachel.
For cheap eats, she recommends Sudu, a Malaysian restaurant in Queen's Park, and Master Wei, a Chinese eatery in Hammersmith. Her potato of choice for life is chips with mayonnaise, and she is obsessed with bread-making, baking sourdough loaves weekly. Ready meal picks include FieldGoods' Goan fish curry and Spice Tailor's Indian-spiced marinades.
