#INSPIREDBY BEN PUNDOLE
28/04/2020
Ben began his career at The Groucho Club in Soho before running celeb bar of the 90s The Met Bar. It was Madonna who recommended Ben to Ian Schrager as he opened his first hotel in London, St Martins Lane hotel. Ben is now VP of Brand Experience for Schrager's EDITION Hotels and founder of travel website AHotelLife.com.
What was one of the very first dishes you remember eating?
I was 19, it was 1993 I’d saved money to go to Le Pont De La Tour, I thought I was at the very epicentre of the culinary world. It was definitely not my jam at all. I was with my ex-girlfriend who I was trying to impress. I think we got smashed and went to a rave afterwards.
Who is your food hero?
Dan Barber, for being such an advocate of 360 degree farming practices, giving life back to the Earth and letting flavours speak through the quality of the produce.
What is your guiltiest food pleasure?
Van Leeuwen Mint chip ice cream (vegan).
Which restaurant to you long to return to?
NIX, John Fraser’s plant-based restaurant in Manhattan.
What would be your last meal?
A traditional Turkish breakfast with all the dishes!
What dish do you cook the most at home?
My famous veggie, lentil curry, shared lovingly with Tansy, my better half.
Most-used condiment?
Smoked salt
What restaurant T-shirt would you wear?
@buythistshirt did a range of T shirts for NY restaurants to raise money for displaced restaurant workers and to encourage people to ‘Stay the F*** home'.
Favourite vegetable?
Parsnip
Favourite restaurant not in the UK?
Ok, I’ll do this backwards because I live in NY. Dishoom, I just miss great Indian so I always make a stop to Dishoom when I’m in London.
Most over-rated dish?
Meat
Favourite fast food joint?
Hart beat on Hart Street in Bushwick, Brooklyn. Wow. Vegan fast food.
QUICK FIRE
Breakfast in Bed or Hotel Restaurant?
In bed
English Breakfast Tea or Long Black coffee?
Green tea…all day long
Martini - Gin or Vodka?
Gin
Ketchup or Mayo?
Both
Stella or Boli?
Depends on mood
London or New York?
NY, although also London!
City break or Hideaway?
Both
