Antonio Carluccio's London

Q: Where did you last eat out in London?

A: It was last night, actually, at a Chinese restaurant called the New World in Gerrard Place. I go there quite often for great dim sum and chicken feet. It's not a fancy restaurant but the food is very good and always fresh.

Q: Where do you think serves the best London breakfast?

A: The Wolseley. The coffee is great and the food is of the highest quality.

Q: What's the best party you've been to in London?

A: I was at Restaurant Magazine's World's 50 Best Restaurants Awards recently. I saw a lot of old friends; lots of fellow chefs and restaurateurs including Japanese restaurateur, Tetsuya Wakuda. His restaurant (Tetsuya in Sydney) was in the top 50. St John was on the list too, which I was happy about. I think the food there is superb.

Q: What's the best play, gig, comedy act you've been to in London recently?

A: I don't see a lot of shows as I'm always so busy. I've just come back from Rome where I was filming a programme for BBC2 about the famous Renaissance chef Bartolomeo Scappi, and I'm off to Australia next week. 

I did see a brilliant production of Cabaret at the Donmar Warehouse a few years ago.

Q: What's your favourite London icon?

Battersea Power Station. I can see it from my house.

Q: Where do you think's the most romantic place in London?

A: The view in front of Buckingham Palace with St James Park, The London Eye and Parliament in the background is very beautiful. It's like a Canaletto painting.

Q: What's your favourite shop in London?

A: Well I don't really need to food-shop as I can get everything I need from the Carluccio's delis! I buy my footwear from the Natural Shoe Store.

Q: What is your top tip for visitors?

A: Don't hail taxis unless they have their lights on. I always see tourists trying to flag down taxis with people in them already.

Q: What's your favourite gem in London?

A: Hyde Park. It's one of the most beautiful parks in the world.

Q: What's the strangest thing you've ever seen in London?

I found a huge white edible fungus in Hyde Park. It was so big, I thought it was a football at first. I took it home and cooked with it. It was very tasty.

Q: If you were Mayor for the day what would you do/change?

A: I'd need longer than a day! I would organise more co-ordination for London road works. Main roads are often blocked up for weeks.

Q: If you were invisible for the day where would you go?

A: I'd like to see inside the Royal Mint and find out how money is made and where the old money goes to.

Q: If you could go back to any period in London's history when would it be?

A: The Shakespearean era must have been interesting, as long as you had a bit of money.

Q: If you could take one piece from a London museum, what would it be?

A: I'd have the whole of the Natural History museum. The V&A is good too.

Q: What do you miss most when you're away from London?

A: I miss the climate. If I've been away somewhere hot for a while, I really appreciate a bit of moisture in the air.

Carluccio's new flagship store is now open at Garrick Street, Covent Garden.