Jay Rayner

Can the Observer's restaurant critic and novelist cut the mustard in our Lifting the Lid feature? 

What is your favourite dish?

I do not have a favourite dish... perhaps a plate of spare ribs or a French stew, brilliant sushi.....

What do you feel is your signature dish?

The term signature dish p****s me off. But I do a cracking Pork and Chorizo Stew, my own recipe. It's a dish built on classic Spanish principles.

How do you relax? Any pass times or hobbies?

I relax at the piano. I am a mediocre to ok jazz pianist. I try and play at weekends - 2 or 3 hours a day.

What'ss your foodie weakness?

Pork Scratchings....... even low quality ones. I've even got them on the One Show three times already.

What is your motto?

If I become the kind of person with a motto, kill me now.

What's for lunch?

Absolutely no idea. As I'm getting all my writing done, I'll have probably a salad of some kind.

What's on your plate?

There's lots of TV and I'm working on a longer piece of writing beyond what I do in the newspapers.