Whether or not you’re a Noel Fielding fan, there’s great value in binge watching The Great British Bake Off. It’s an unfiltered celebration of the human ability to derive pleasure from food – despite the current climate of putrid green concoctions being passed off as the holy grail of breakfasts. Every series, there’s at least one contestant who embodies this exhilarating ethos, and in 2016 one particular baker set the bar insanely high for any contestant to come after him. Not only was he capable of creating pink, ombre rose petal Victoria sponges, but he was fit, charitable and the only man ever in the history of the world to put a tea towel over his shoulder and make a nation of women simultaneously crumble.  I am of course referring to Selasi Gbormittah who made it to the final four on the seventh series of the much-loved show.

Peak fangirl was successfully reached last week when I approached the banker/baker’s agent for an interview. Within 24 hours, he’d agreed with pleasure and delivered honest, thought-provoking answers to be devoured shortly before dinner. Even I, three years into recovery, felt the drawbridge of self restriction loosen a little after reading back his responses.   Read, eat and try not to fall in love with him – you’ll have to fight me (and Laura) for him first…

 

ON ‘HEALTHY’ EATING

Personally, I have never felt the pressure to make or eat food that society defines as healthy. I am big believer in eating well and eating big, maybe it is my cultural upbringing; who knows?  Food is genuinely a source of health and happiness and I can’t say this enough.  It plays a huge role in social inclusion, in terms of bringing people together. It serves as a catalyst for uniting different backgrounds and beyond in my eyes, so why restrict yourself with what we are lucky enough to be provided with? 

I won’t bore you too much with the whole, ‘I grew up in Africa’ story, but I loved my childhood and a majority of my fond memories of food are from my childhood in Ghana. Food was everywhere, in abundance and fresh. There was also the tendency to do with what we had not because of poverty but purely being self-sufficient and we damn sure made great, tasty food with it.   Eat well but if you feel you’re eating too much, just eat in moderation. Do not restrict yourself unless of course there a huge health concerns like serious allergies.

 

ON HIS SUPPORT OF INTERNATIONAL CHILDREN’S CHARITY, WORLD VISION

I always aspire to make a difference and WV are my charity of choice for a few reasons.  Firstly, I strongly believe in their work which helps disadvantaged families and children in poorer parts of the world, and secondly, they have a religious background like myself. Although I can confess, I haven’t been to church in a while (hope mum doesn’t read this).

“I’VE NEVER FELT PRESSURE TO EAT WHAT SOCIETY DEFINES AS HEALTHY”

I strongly believe disadvantaged kids face extra, if not tougher, challenges but in a way this is also down to the parents and the level of access they have to nutritional food. Parents or adults play a huge role in making sure kids have access to nutritional food that in essence aid child development physically and mentally.  I visited Uganda with WV last August to highlight this same issue of malnutrition amongst kids and it was an eye opener. The highly nutritious, easily accessible and affordable food we take for granted here in the developing world is scarce particularly where I visited; a refugee settlement called BidiBid – the largest refugee camp in Uganda.  They buy Items like milk, eggs, fruits and vegetables. It kind of brings things back home a bit. I am lucky, we are lucky.

ON HIS CHILDHOOD FOOD MEMORIES

Every birthday party back in Ghana was a celebration of food rather than your actual birthday. It was great. I remember my gran, aunties and mum waking up to cook – not just on special occasions- but every day and they looked forward to it. We always planned ahead.

Markets and streets were always buzzing with food vendors from literally the early hours to the next day. My family always got me involved maybe because it meant I could carry the shopping bags.

ON FOOD + HAPPINESS

It’s the perfect correlation; food and emotion. The food that makes me happiest depends on my mood and how long it takes to make the food, but it’s anything ranging from a good old moist chocolate cake to a big meaty meal. My friends can sometimes sense my mood by how I eat boney meat.

ON BEING A (FANICABLE) MAN IN FOOD

Hahaha this is funny. I am such a woman, it’s unreal. Probably because I grew up around women and I’m very in touch with my feminine side. I am sure there are better bakers than I am who have already paved the way. For me, it’s the passion for the art and for being able to feed myself, so I never feel like an odd one out. The way I see it is, everything I cook/bake will in some way have made an impact in a person’s life – and that’s the whole point.

“KETO? SORRY, I DON’T SPEAK FRENCH”

It could, for example, bring back a childhood memory or make them want to try and cook it, so as long as I continue to influence men/boys or even women, I am happy. . My only ambition is to love what I do more each day and by doing so I am sharing this passion with the world through my culinary adventures.

 

ON DIET FADS

Sorry I don’t understand French. HA! This is all foreign to me; consciously.  I always say diets are over rated. I personally think it’s a bit silly now. There are so many ways now to eat good food without necessarily restricting the nutritional, good old staple food. Eat well. Simple as that.

I am a massive feeder and that’s the only time I force food onto people, because of cultural habits. I am never one to tell people what is best for them. If you want a burger, I will make you ten burgers and as long as you’re happy to eat ten burgers, I am not going to say it’s too fatty for you. Food is all about personal choice. Eat what you want and  just balance it out. Restricting yourself won’t necessarily make you lose weight if that is your aim.

ON HIS FAVOURITE FOODS

I love a challenge in the kitchen and always prepared to learn so I cook most thinks and most nights. My favourite actually depends on what I fancy at the time also. It can be anything from meaty spicy pizza (thin crust), or a slow cooked meat or hog roast perhaps (greedy).

 

ON HIS ULTIMATE FOOD HEROES/HEROINES

Dad, Gran, Mum and Aunties. Boy, can they cook and with a lot of pride and joy.

 

ANY FINAL TIPS FOR ALLEVIATING FOOD ANXIETY?

This is a tough one but I would say eat what your heart desires not what your head asks. One thing I always try to do is always try local foods – regardless of what it is – wherever I go, because it’s just great. Be adventurous.

*Swoon swoon swoon swoon e.t.c e.t.c.*