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Christopher Hogg's avatar

I think Clarissa Dickson was the in house cook at The Spectator. That's where they manufacture Britishness. I think Nigella did it too? Have you ever been? They have their own private dining experience in a room that overlooks St James' Park. They wine and dine business partners and influential people. The chef who have done it is a real who's who, and worth a podcast episode maybe.

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gilly smith's avatar

I think it was Jennifer Paterson who was The Spectator’s boardroom cook and Clarissa who worked at an afternoon drinking club in St James Place. Not sure Nigella ever cheffed, did she? She was a journalist.

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Christopher Hogg's avatar

They amount of wine they plied us with at the lunch and it has all gone hazy. Was happy to have been asked. They mentioned Nigella.

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Miranda Worsley's avatar

One of Clarissa’s early jobs was cooking for some friends of ours in Sussex , who remembered her and her cooking very fondly even though she crashed their car and was so posh that when she was organising their picnic for Ascot she offered to sponsor their tickets for the royal enclosure (which I think annoyed them even more than the car as they definitely felt they out poshed their cook and could jolly well get their own tickets) But they really loved her and used to come to loads of her events. She sounded just like her television persona

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gilly smith's avatar

Ha! Brilliant.

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gilly smith's avatar

Ha! Or did they??

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Sam  Heeney - Governo's avatar

Reading this brought memories flooding back of great times with Clarissa when we worked together at Lennoxlove House. I was lucky enough to be onset for a few TFL shoots what an experience. Pat was a genius bringing them together such a vision. I miss Clarissa, thanks for rekindling the memories Gilly!

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gilly smith's avatar

Ahh how lovely. My absolute pleasure!

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Elisabeth Luard's avatar

You do the motorbike and I’ll be in the sidecar. But we’ll have to grow bigger bottoms.

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gilly smith's avatar

Speak for yourself! 😉😉

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Elisabeth Luard's avatar

Lovely bit of nostalgia, Gilly! We could do with a touch of Clarissa and Jennifer right now - push for a re-run!

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gilly smith's avatar

Fancy taking it on?? 😉

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