Nick O’Halloran, head chef at Italian fine dining restaurant Figurati, at Southampton’s Ocean Villages, shares his culinary journey, favourite family food and his guilty pleasure
What first inspired you to become a chef?
My first professional kitchen experience was around 12 years old as my older brother was a chef. I went in on a Sunday just to help out washing up and I remember making a smoked salmon mousse from scratch of which my brother gave me very little help, just guidance, as he wanted me to use my sense of judgment in what would work. From around 14 I would wash up in his kitchen at the weekends and some other evenings. This is where I would begin my basic training in knife skills and handling fresh ingredients.
What is your proudest career moment?
It has to be being in a position of being a chef patron of a public house around 14 years ago. Just to be able to open the doors of a place that is yours and what you try to represent is something that I hold very dear to my heart– the very first day especially.
What is your signature dish?
My current menu signature dish is a pan roasted fillet of hake with caponata, saffron cream and a pesto crust.
Where is your favourite place to eat in Hampshire?
The Cricketers Arms in Curdridge. This in my idea of a perfect country pub – fantastic food, served in a great relaxed environment, beautiful garden and family friendly.
What is your favourite meal to cook at home?
Comfort food – we as a family love making a slow cooked meat ragu in the winter, served with some homemade pasta or gnocchi. In the summer months, we love to make homemade pizza using our outdoor pizza oven.
What is your culinary guilty pleasure?
Pot Noodles – the perfect snack to go home to after a very long day at work.
What is your favourite Hampshire delicacy?
It has to be for me Chalk Stream Trout, I absolutely love the product, from how they farm the fish, to re-oxygenating the water to filter back into the River Test. The product is simply stunning.
figurati-southampton.co.uk
Figurati Southampton serves fine dining Italian food. Image; Figurati