Inside Out: Marcus Wareing

Renowned for his gourmet palate, Marcus admits at home he is a man of simple tastes. 'I like comfort food - full English breakfasts, roast dinners, and shepherd's pie. Homemade shepherd's pie with loads of HP Sauce is amazing.' Marcus has been around food since he was a child, when his father was a fruit and vegetable merchant. 'We ate very, very well. There were always fresh vegetables for lunch and dinner, and a bowl of fruit in the house.' The pressures of The Berkeley mean that Marcus now struggles to maintain a healthy lifestyle. 'I only have two full meals a week. There is a constant drip feed of food at the restaurant, so by the end of the day I am not really hungry. When I get home late, at about one o'clock in the morning, I just have a bowl of Shreddies.'

Who would join you for a sofa supper?
My wife, Jane, and our sons Jake, seven, and Archie, four. The way they sit on the sofa acting all grown-up, laughing at things on television that aren't funny makes me laugh so much. My daughter is only one, so hopefully she'd be in bed.

What would you eat?
A proper fry-up: eggs, bacon, sausage, tomato - everything apart from black pudding.

What's for pudding?
Traditional tarte Tatin with vanilla ice cream.

And to drink?
A pot of English Breakfast tea.

What's on the television?
Something the whole family can watch, such as the first Pirates of the Caribbean or Ratatouille. Anything but Power Rangers; I can't bear that.

What are your five favourite places to eat around the world?
Le Saint Gèran in Mauritius has the best location overlooking the Indian Ocean. I have been there three times and it has great French-Indian cuisine and very good service. Per Se in New York does classic French food. It's the whole package and Thomas Keller is a brilliant chef. Ken Lo's Memories of China in Belgravia is one of my favourites. Mr Butt, the chef, always pops out of the kitchen to see me - he has been there for donkey's years. I say to him, 'Cook me what is best on the menu,' and he does. His softshell crab and sweet-and-sour soup are both amazing. I love Wild Honey, Anthony Demetre's place in Mayfair. He does the best foie gras dishes. There is also a lovely restaurant in San Sebastian in northern Spain called Arzak. It does fantastic modern tapas in a great setting.