Breaking Bread with: Hayden Quinn

Well known for his laid-back outlook, down-to-earth approach to cooking and panache for recipe writing, TV host, intrepid traveller, former MasterChef contestant and waggish individual Hayden Quinn is a breath of fresh air in an often pretentious epicurean landscape. Discover his surprisingly simple go-to snack and what food-related word makes him cringe. 

Your go-to snack: 

Crunchy peanut butter on a Vita-Weat.

Your ultimate comfort dish: 

Pasta e fagioli.

Your least favourite food-related word: 

‘Goodness’. As in, “Look at this healthy, leafy, green goodness!” (I’m pretty sure I have said this before, but seriously, what a wank! Haha.)

The cook(s) who inspires you most:

Well, as a team on tour, we are watching good old JO clips. Jamie has always been someone I have loved to watch and just see how he produces amazing TV content that is accessible to everyday people.

Something you’ll never eat: 

Blue fin tuna – you wouldn’t eat a rhino.

What’s for dinner tonight? 

We are currently on the road filming Taste of Australia and the whole crew is just about to sit down to a big bowl of spaghetti Bolognese. It’s always about family-style cooking on the road and Tim Coleman (my right-hand food man) always has the team covered!