Who are you and what do you do?
I am Manu Canales, and you can find me cooking at Kebab Queen in Covent Garden. For as long as I remember, Ive been fascinated by food, which is the reason I became a chef.
Tell us about Kebab Queen
Its the icing on the cake of our Kebab project, which also includes Le Bab and Maison Bab. Its a beautiful little place where we work hard to give our guests a memorable and tasty experience.
You come home drunk and hungry – what do you cook?
Fried eggs with a crispy edge, with plenty of bread to dip.
Whats the strangest encounter youve had in your restaurant?
A customer liked my hair and kept trying to touch it – so irritating, and weird.
Whats your earliest food memory?
Having yoghurt at nursery. Mrs Elena had a peculiar way to open it; instead of tearing the lid, shed poke it with the handle of the spoon, give it to you and let you dig your way in. It felt rewarding.
Tell us about the best meal you ever had
It was a dinner I had somewhere in Northern Thailand. Wed been trekking for a week in the jungle, going up and down, through rain, crossing rivers with the water up to our necks when we finally made it to a village. We shared a chicken and rice dish with the locals, eating it with our hands. It couldnt have been a more authentic experience.
Whats the worst thing youve ever put in your mouth?
Funny one – I was watching Spain during the World Cup nine years ago with a friend. We had eaten some Pringles, and finished the tub. We were very nervous, my friend was biting his nails and spitting them into the tub. I thought that they were the crumbs of the Pringles and went for it… Yuk!
What do most people get wrong when cooking?
Failing to learn the right cooking times for different ingredients. I also see a lot of people incorrectly seasoning their dishes.
What should everyone have in their kitchen cupboard?
A large selection of spices. They will help you to break the monotony in your cooking, giving you access to an endless range of flavours.Read More – Source
