Beth Haughton, boutique owner and restaurateur, likes late suppers when the customers have gone home, writes Melanie Morris
How big a foodie are you? "My grandmother is the most amazing cook and I grew up surrounded by her home-cooked food. She's still keen and works through all the latest cookery books - from Nigella to Rick Stein. My husband Harold is a great cook too. He did the Ballymaloe course and now we work together in Citron, our restaurant in Douglas. We inspire each other - he's good on proper ingredients well-cooked, while I'm the aspirational one, who might not always get it together."
Who cooks at home? "Harold during the week, because he's home earlier. I do the weekends."
What is your failsafe easy recipe? "Everyone loves a roast, so something like a big organic chicken with stuffing, my crunchy roast potatoes and cauliflower cheese."
What are your store cupboard essentials? "Black olives, chick peas, flageolet beans, tins of tomatoes, garlic, ginger, baked beans, eggs, cream. And stuff like cumin seeds and mustard seeds for something spicy."
How do you entertain? "We love having people around. It's always casual. We have a big living space and can fit up to about 20 at a time. I like to have bites for people with drinks - guacamole or humus, or foie gras with toast. Then I'll do a big antipasto platter and Harold will do the main course. He is big on uncomplicated one-pot dishes like beef bourguignon or curry with basmati rice - something simple. There's no point getting complicated. Everyone is too busy for that sort of thing these days and the effect really only impresses for about four seconds."
What are your favourite restaurants? "Isaacs for the great buzz and wonderful room; Café Paradiso is excellent; and Jacobs, Jacques or Ballymaloe House for treats. In London, I love a new restaurant called 8 Over 8 for good cocktails and Nobu-esque food at better prices. It is a great girlie place and brilliant for people watching."
What is your eating out treat? "Irish Coffee. But it's mad, with our daft licensing laws, you can't get them in every restaurant."
Are you healthy eaters? "Harold is, and he really lives by the book. I'm aware, but I know I get side-tracked. If I ate what our children do, I'd be the healthiest person alive. Harold has really educated them and they eat anything - lentils, olives, fish, risotto - whatever we eat. Even Phoebe, who is nine months. She gets it whizzed up."
Is there anything you won't let your kids eat? "Yes, McDonalds. I know they will have it at some stage, but not with us."
What is in their lunchboxes? "Soup, or risotto, or a chicken casserole that they get microwaved. Then a bunch of grapes, or a plum and a Fig Roll. As far as biscuits go, these are high fibre, low sugar and low salt."
What is your favourite comfort food? "A bottle of wine! With munchie food like Bombay Mix or Japanese Rice Crackers."
What was your last meal? "Breakfast. I had muesli with fat-free milk and grapefruit juice. Then I came into the shop and had a big scone with jam and a cappuccino"
Do you eat late at night? "Yes, because Harold and I work in the restaurant, it might be 10 or 10.30 p.m. by the time we sit down. We don't eat heavily at that time, maybe two starters, or we might share a steak. We often hook up with Canice Sharkey from Isaacs and share dinner together."
What would be your death row last meal? "A big leg of lamb with rosemary and garlic, and ratatouille, and my own roast potatoes. I'd like a good, gutsy Côtes du Rhône and my favourite, Irish Coffee."
And finally, Beth, if you are what you eat, then you are... "A contradiction. If I order the salad, I always want the deep fried option ... and vice versa."