Dry Extract Interview: Russell Norman of Polpo, London

Russell Norman is a restaurateur, author and broadcaster. He founded the Polpo group of restaurants in London and has won numerous awards for his cookbooks. His most recent is "Venice: Four Seasons of Home Cooking.” In 2014 he presented the BBC documentary series “The Restaurant Man.” His next project sees him return to his roots: he will be opening Trattoria Brutto, a traditional Tuscan restaurant and bar, in London’s Farringdon in autumn of 2021.

The best advice I ever got

Don’t leave the house without sunglasses.

My life motto

Everything is always better if you have a dog to cuddle.

I am currently reading

A Moveable Feast by Ernest Hemingway

My most played music track

Solsbury Hill by Peter Gabriel

If I didn’t do my current job I would be

A beach bum on a Greek island

Skill I don’t currently possess but would like to have

To play the piano well

My favourite kind of exercise

Swimming. If I have a choice, preferably in Lake Garda.

I relax while

I recently learnt transcendental meditation. It works.

I Collect

Guitars and watches

My essential newspaper/magazine

The New Yorker

My desert-island wine

Bandol, Domaine Tempier, a nice vintage

I have learnt a lot from

Studio Ghibli movies

My last meal and sip will be

A Black Label Burger from Minetta Tavern and a Gibson