Erasure • Features • Interviews
Andy Bell (2000)
Note: This interview was originally published on the now defunct Simply Food website.
Where's your favourite restaurant?
I don't have a favourite restaurant as I like all sorts of food. In Majorca there's a fantastic Indian on the seafront that has an excellent buffet, lots of little stuffed birds and things like that. I also have a lot of veggie friends so I often eat out meat free with them. When I come back to London I steer well clear of the West End, but I go to a couple of good Moroccan restaurants in Hampstead. I also like Polish restaurants, probably because they do good vodka. I love beetroot, so anywhere that does good Borscht is fine by me.
Do you get recognised when you eat out?
It goes in waves really, if you do one piece of publicity everyone tends to know who you are. I'm used to people mistaking me for Jimmy Somerville and saying 'oh yes, you're that bloke out of The Communards!' It doesn't offend me, I'm used to it!
What annoys you most in restaurants?
Waiters who hover around you. But what really irritates me is sitting near to loud people!
Describe your perfect meal
It would still have to be an English roast with beef, Yorkshire puddings and all the trimmings, cooked by my boyfriend with only an apron on!
When did you first become interested in food?
I used to love doing home economics at school. I went to a great place that made you choose between woodwork, metal work and home economics. I remember cooking pizza and taking it home. I don't know how good it was, but because I've got a large family it all got eaten! I also lived with a Jewish woman when I first moved to London. She taught me how to cook things such as liver goulash, that weren't too expensive. She educated me quite well and was very inspirational.
Do you cook much anymore?
No, not as much as I should do. When I do cook I make enough for about ten people, even if there's only the two of us eating! It's all because of having a large family I suppose. I tend to make bean hotpots and nourishing stews.
Which city in the world is best for eating?
San Francisco. For all the seafood, and the many different cultures producing food. We always seem to end up there on holiday.
What food could you not live without?
I love garlic and liver.
What food do you hate?
I really used to hate Brussels sprouts when I was a child, but I don't mind them now. I really can't stand the smell of Bombay duck, the Indian dried fish.
Are you health conscious?
Not really, but I do find it easy to put on weight. I usually wait until I become a blob until I do anything about it! The one thing we do is get a delivery service from Fine Foods once a week. They bring us lots of organic or normal fresh vegetables.
What do you always keep in your fridge?
Some beers and juice - it doesn't have to be fresh but never concentrated. I love spreads on toast, so lots of spreads and marmite, a selection of cheeses.
What's your favourite tipple?
I only really drink beer. So apart from that, Red Bull, Aqua Libra and tap water.
Where's your favourite bar?
It's in Majorca and it's called Avalon. It's in the middle of the red light district there. It's very low key and is run by an Albino hippy!