A Conversation with Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall
FalmouthIn the lead-up to the Falmouth Book Festival, we caught up with one of Britain’s most beloved food writers and broadcasters to talk about his deep-rooted love for Cornwall, his connection to Falmouth, and his lifelong passion for good food. Known for championing sustainability and the joy of eating well, he shared reflections on coastal life, Cornish flavours, and how the county continues to inspire both his cooking and his storytelling.
Cornwall kind of makes me feel like a kid again. Because I was a kid when I first came here, aged ten, 1975, and then for the next 12 to 15 years, I came on holiday to Cornwall every single year. So I was here as a kid, here as a teenager, and I've come back many times as an adult, and I brought my kids here too.
And only earlier this year we came back to Cornwall to celebrate my dad's 90th birthday, and we went to stay in the very same holiday house that we first went to in 1975. So that was a massive, massive family treat.
Okay. The whole reason that I live in the West Country is because of holidays in Cornwall when I was a kid. And it's always such a pleasure to come back here. Falmouth, especially. Love the Falmouth Book Festival. Love the Falmouth Oyster Festival. I've also spent some time in north Cornwall, Port Isaac Polezeath at Haven Cove, the very best beach in the world. But you can point me to any part of Cornwall, and I know I'm going to have a good time.
Well, I live in Devon, I live in Devon, which as far as I'm concerned, is centre of the food universe. So many great producers, so much going on. But when I come over to the border in Cornwall, many more treats to be enjoyed. I was actually at the Cornwall show earlier in the year, and some of the most amazing food and drink from all over the county, was on show.
Always come back to Cornish yarg cheese. One of my very favourite things of all. But always great things to enjoy. Seafood, of course. Very high on the agenda. Oysters, absolutely love them. Best oysters in Cornwall: Falmouth & Falmouth Oyster Festival. Just what an amazing treat. Native oysters. That's the key to it all. I'll eat any oyster as long as it's fresh, ideally alive at the moment when we pop open the shell. But Falmouth native oysters have to be the apex.
Chocolarder! I've just been given a goodie bag with some chocolate in it from Chocolarder, and I've actually been judging the BBC Food and Farming Awards and Chocolarder was one of the nominated companies, so I feel very much at home and happy to be taking a bar of their finest, away with me as well. What a treat!
I'm staying at St Michaels for a couple of nights. What could be nicer than that? Right in front of the beach. Might even get a swim in in the morning. Looking forward to dinner there this evening after I've done my gig here in the Princess Pavilion. So, thanks very much for looking after me. St Michaels always nice to come back. Amazing.