"Excellent food ... wonderful food ... food to die for ... Marys cooking is great"
Mary Gray is the resident cook at the Sunshine Breaks Mountain B&B Casa Escocia in the south of Spain.
Her cooking gets a lot of rave reviews in the Guest Book page of the Sunshine Breaks website. We caught up with her in her Las Alpujarras home in Granada to find out what she does that makes her cooking so well loved.
Hi
Hi!
How long have you been cooking for?
I grew up in a big family so I've been cooking for a long time. I learned to make spaghetti bolognese when I was about nine.
I grew up in a big family so I've been cooking for a long time. I learned to make spaghetti bolognese when I was about nine.
What were your earliest cooking influences?
My mother.
My mother.
Where do you get your recipes and ideas from?
I generally make them up as I go along although I do get some ideas from the internet and various cook books.
I generally make them up as I go along although I do get some ideas from the internet and various cook books.
Do you have a speciality dish?
I do make a fine Lasagne.
I do make a fine Lasagne.
What is your own favourite food?
Chicken curry, if I had to choose just one thing to eat for the rest of my life, that would be it!
Chicken curry, if I had to choose just one thing to eat for the rest of my life, that would be it!
Where do you buy your ingredients?
At the local market. Sometimes my neighbour gives me stuff from his garden. He grows everything and spends half his life in there, a proper old fashioned local Alpujarran man who is self sufficient.
At the local market. Sometimes my neighbour gives me stuff from his garden. He grows everything and spends half his life in there, a proper old fashioned local Alpujarran man who is self sufficient.
Do you have a set menu?
No, I use my own imagination to to make whatever is suitable as things are seasonal.
No, I use my own imagination to to make whatever is suitable as things are seasonal.
Have you had any disasters in the kitchen?
I once made a cheesecake that didn;t set. It looked great but when the guests cut into it, it all fell apart! Still tasted great though!
I once made a cheesecake that didn;t set. It looked great but when the guests cut into it, it all fell apart! Still tasted great though!
Would you say you are adventurous with your cooking?
Very, I try and cook new things everyday. I copy things if I see something nice and if I don't have the ingredients I just add my own and try it.
Very, I try and cook new things everyday. I copy things if I see something nice and if I don't have the ingredients I just add my own and try it.
Is it true you are a fan of Masterchef?
Yes, I do like watching chefs under pressure and seeing what they come up with.
Yes, I do like watching chefs under pressure and seeing what they come up with.
Who is your favourite celebrity chef?
Gordon Ramsey, he's just so passionate and full on. He's good at what he does, has character and is a great entertainer!
Gordon Ramsey, he's just so passionate and full on. He's good at what he does, has character and is a great entertainer!
Is it true your husband Rob is your biggest influence in the kitchen?
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ... and so on!
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ... and so on!
What's your favourite Spanish dish?
Seafood Paella, I love it.
Seafood Paella, I love it.
What are you making for dinner tonight?
Lasagne, Rob & one of the other guys who lives near us are going out on their mountain bikes so they'll need a good carbo load when they get in. Lasagne always goes down well.
Lasagne, Rob & one of the other guys who lives near us are going out on their mountain bikes so they'll need a good carbo load when they get in. Lasagne always goes down well.
What are your top tips for cooking a good meal?
Always use fresh ingredients, allow time to prepare, plan ahead and always ensure you have good wine to accompany it!
Always use fresh ingredients, allow time to prepare, plan ahead and always ensure you have good wine to accompany it!
Thank you.
Mary does 2 course evening meals at Casa Escocia for only 15 euros and that price includes all your drinks. A great deal whatever way you look at it!
Sunshine Breaks http://www.sunshinebreaks.com/
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