HOW DO YOU UNWIND AT THE WEEKEND?
Down time is quite difficult to get as I work all day Saturday and Sunday. But a nice cup of coffee or a glass of wine in the evening works. I read a lot of up-and-coming cookbooks and am working on a book about the hospitality industry in general with someone who knows the ups and downs, but I can't say who... I enjoyed Anthony Bourdain's Kitchen Confidential, he was vocal about the business, like Marco Pierre White, with whom I've worked. Family time with mum, dad and my brothers is great, and I like being on my grandparents' 60 acre livestock farm in Dundrum. We have shorthorn cattle – they're timid, like to go slow. They only eat grass and they're 100 per cent better in taste.
WHAT DO YOU RECALL MOST ABOUT WEEKENDS GROWING UP?
I worked at the Buck's Head in Dundrum from the age of about 12. It was the best thing that could have happened to me. I was never a desk person but keen to learn and very into food. Cars were the other thing. It's unbelievable but my grandfather Ian bought us an old scrapper to drive on the farm; some craic for the four of us boys and great when I could reach the pedals. Motors remain a big passion. I have five - too many, really. One's vintage, my late brother Paul's car. He died four years ago aged 21 in a farm accident. It's a rare grey 2007 BMW 525.
HAVE YOU A MUST-LISTEN RADIO PROGRAMME OR PODCAST?
The podcasts are Russell Carr on motors, Clare Smith on cookery.
IS THERE A MUST-WATCH TV PROGRAMME OR NETFLIX?
I don't watch much TV but like Stephen Nolan, who's very controversial.
IS SUNDAY STILL SPECIAL?
Not in a religious sense. I went to Kilmegan parish church every Sunday with my grandparents when young. But life takes over.
HAVE YOU A FAVOURITE EATERY OR IS IT A TAKEAWAY?
Like everybody else I sometimes enjoy a takeaway. A pizza or Thai, but I don't like Chinese. In terms of the Christmas dinner, this year we're probably having beef, so you can relax and do it all beforehand. The veg and meat are cooked, then frozen. We do the table with a bit of pride - traditional red and green and fresh holly.
HOW DO YOU FEEL ON SUNDAY EVENING ABOUT MONDAY MORNING?
OK. Monday starts early as I have a shop in Newcastle that sells fish and fresh products. Michael Deane popped up in one of the B&B By The Sea programmes and we cooked great scallops, oysters, lobsters and squid.
B&B By The Sea runs on Friday at 7pm on BBC One and iPlayer.
