Seven questions for Yotam Ottolenghi & Sami Tamimi

We were so excited to host superstar chefs Yotam Ottolenghi & Sami Tamimi in the Chatelaine Kitchen, Powered by GE Café on Wednesday (they're still here right now as I write this!!). Known for their bestselling cookbooks Plenty, Jerusalem, and now their newest Ottolenghi, we had so many things we wanted to ask the two chefs. Our food director, Claire Tansey, threw seven rapid-fire questions at our culinary heroes. Here's what they had to say:

Coffee or Tea?

Yotam: “Coffee, naturally. Sami has already had how many, sixteen shots today.”

Sami: “No. Only six. Or maybe eight.”

What’s your favourite breakfast?

Yotam: “Porridge or oats, with lots of stuff in it, nuts and maple syrup.”

Sami: “Bacon sandwich with HP sauce.”

What’s your favourite ingredient to work with?

Sami: “Eggplant.”

Yotam: “Onion. You always need an onion.”

What’s your favourite time of year to cook?

Yotam: “Summer: We live in London, so it’s welcome.”

Sami: “Summer too, but I also like winter’s, soups and stews.”

Who are your culinary heroes?

Sami: “My mother.”

Yotam: “His mother, although unfortunately I never met her, his food comes from her.”

Favourite thing to cook after a long day?

Sami: “Normally I’ll do something quick, like a steak and a salad.”

Yotam: “I would make a very simple pasta and sauce; make life easy.”

What’s the first music album you remember buying?

Yotam: “I’m so embarrassed, it was Olivia Newton-John.”

Sami: “It was Eurythmics.”

Yotam: “Sami, that’s so cool. I never knew that about you.”

Watch the interview below

For great recipes from the authors of Ottolenghi, check out the November issue of Chatelaine or Chatelaine.com

Learn more about one of their favourite ingredients, Sumac, here!