Four of the world's greatest culinary tastemakers on everything from hotties to hotels...

Nobu Matsuhisa
This 61-year-old chef is Robert DeNiro’s business partner and the man who created miso cod, while reinventing Japanese cuisine.
Movies and more
Favourite film of all time? Casino
Favourite movie snack? I don’t eat during movies
Current favourite TV show? I don’t watch TV
First record you ever bought? House Of The Rising Sun by The Animals
Favourite band? The Beatles
Song to be played at your funeral? Nothing
Best album of all time? don’t remember the name, it’s by Kenny G
Song guaranteed to get you on the dance floor? I don’t dance
Last book read? A book about Rikidozan,
a wrestler | Favourite celebrity hottie? Cameron Diaz
Best Website? I don’t use a computer
Describe yourself in three words? Chef, passionate, family man
Food
Favourite restaurant in the UAE? I don’t eat in other restaurants, just my own
Your favourite restaurant in the world? Paper Moon in Milan
What dish do you lways order there? Parmigiana risotto with white truffle
Your signature dish? Black cod, New style sashimi and Yellowtail sashimi
Your ultimate food on the go? Sushi
Your worst food vice? Junk food
The worst meal you’ve ever had? My wife made it at home
What would be your last meal on earth? Sushi |
What’s your favourite ingredient? Miso and soy sauce
Your favourite celebrity chef? Wolfgang Puck
Which country’s food do you most love? Japan
Who would you most love to cook for? My family
Giorgio Locatelli
This Italian chef is known for family-friendly, Michelin-starred restaurants that serve fresh produce without fuss, including Dubai’s Ronda Locatelli.
Movies and more
Favourite film of all time? Forrest Gump
Ultimate movie icon? La Dolce Vita star, Marcello Mastroianni
Movie character you’d most like to play? Michael Corleone in The Godfather
Favourite movie snack? I hate snacks because they are a distraction to the film and too noisey!
Current favourite TV show? Wonders Of The Universe
First record you ever bought? Dark Side Of The Moon by Pink Floyd
Favourite band? The Specials
Song to be played at your funeral? Volare by Modugno
Best album of all time? Any of Bob Marley’s masterpieces
Song guaranteed to get you on the dance floor? Cypress Hill, Jump Around
Last book read? The Power Of Now by Eckhart Tolle
Favourite celebrity hottie? Nigella Lawson
Best Website? www.gazzetta.it |
Describe yourself in three words? Generous, honest, temperamental
Word or phrase you most say? “Buon appetito”
Food
Favourite restaurant in the UAE? Apart from Ronda Locatelli I love going to Levantine
What dish do you always order there? I let the chef decide
Your favourite restaurant in the world? Da Vittorio in Portopalo, Menfi
What dish do you always order there? There is no menu so it varies
Your signature dish? Pappardelle with broad beans
Your ultimate food on the go? Rice crackers, salt and vinegar flavour
Your worst food vice? I eat too fast!
The worst meal you’ve ever had? No comment
What would be your last meal on earth? Risotto with white truffle
What’s your favourite ingredient? Locadeli olive oil
Your favourite celebrity chef? Egyptian Chef Osama
Which region’s food do you most love? Sicily
Who would you most love to cook for? My grandmother
Aldo Zilli
Born in Italy, this seafood-loving chef has spent the last 30 year in the UK becoming a TV and radio personality and putting his Italian flavours on the map.
Movies and more
Favourite film of all time? The Godfather
Ultimate movie icon? Al Pacino
Movie character you’d most like to play? James Bond
Favourite movie snack? Chocolate
Current favourite TV show? Call The Midwife
First record you ever bought? The Show Must Go On, Queen
Favourite band? Queen
Song to be played at your funeral?
Dance With My Father, Luther Vandross
Best album of all time? The one that Vogue by Madonna is on
Song guaranteed to get you on the
dance floor? Night Fever, The Bee Gees
Last book read? Natural Highs by Patrick Holford and Dr Hyla Cass
Favourite celebrity hottie? Katherine Jenkins
Best website? Livingsocial.com
Describe yourself in three words? Strong, loving, hot-tempered
Phrase you say most? “You having a laugh?”
Food
Florentine steak, amazing!
What’s your signature dish? Spaghetti lobster
Your ultimate food on the go? Quinoa salad
Your worst food vice? Nuts and chocolate
The worst meal you’ve ever had? Fish stew in a restaurant in Zermatt, Switzerland
What would be your last meal on earth? Suckling pig | What’s your favourite ingredient? Basil and olive oil
Who is your favourite celebrity chef? Raymond Blanc
Which country’s food do you most love? I love the Abruzzo region in Italy;great white truffle
Who would you most like to cook for? The Queen, as I think she needs more fish in her diet!
Bobby Chinn
World Café TV star, restaurateur, champion of Vietnamese cuisine, formercomedian and stockbroker – this charming chef is the ultimate Renaissance man
Movies and more
Favourite film of all time? Casablanca |
Ultimate movie icon? Tom Hanks’ character in The Green Mile
Movie character you’d most like to play? Any Mafiosa guy
Favourite movie snack? Salted popcorn
Favourite TV show? Entourage, its like a guy’s Sex And The City
First record you ever bought? News Of The World, Queen
Favourite band? Too many! The Rolling Stones, The Grateful Dead, Steely Dan, Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers, The Beatles...
Best album of all time? Side B Abbey Road, The Beatles
Song to get you on the dancefloor? Miss You, Rolling Stones
Describe yourself in three words? Mutt, generous, stupid
What’s your personal motto? If you can do it right, do it right
The phrase you say the most? “Spare me the grief” – at work!
Food
Your favourite restaurant in the world? I love Gary Danko in San Francisco
What do you always order there? At Gary Danko they order for me, he makes an amazing chocolate soufflé
What’s your signature dish? Seafood ceviche with mangosteen truffle and coconut sauce
Your favourite food on the go? A burrito or falafel
Your food vice? Nuts, I will eat them by the handful
The worst meal you’ve ever had? The food at my English boarding school
What would be your last meal on earth? I’d basically order everything! Buckwheat blinis with salmon and caviar, a lot of sashimi, Peking duck, biryani, curries, aloo gobi and chocolate soufflé
Your favourite celebrity chef? Keith Floyd
Best ingredient? Raw fish | Who would you most like to cook for? Anyone who loves food
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