James Martin admits date never called back after he cooked 'manky' meal

James Martin has shared a humorous anecdote about a time he had to get creative on a date, concocting a meal from KFC and some less-than-fresh ingredients. The chef candidly addressed the misconceptions people often have about professional cooks like him, including their dietary habits. Contrary to popular belief, James revealed that chefs usually opt for "simple stuff" such as "steak and chips", and anyone claiming they don't indulge in fast food is "lying".

The 52-year-old also confessed to once serving up a meal he pretended to cook himself while on a date more than three decades ago. He recalled: "That was a KFC. That was a date a long time ago, 30 years ago.



, I can't believe I'm saying this. I was working as a pastry chef and I was finishing quite late, and I promised to cook and I didn't get the ingredients [on time]." James decided to use some leftover jus from work and made a quick stop at the shops to pick up some last-minute items, reports Edinburgh Live .

Arriving late, he found the selection limited and ended up buying leftover "manky" bacon and mushrooms. Speaking to the Good Food podcast, he added: "And I got a KFC, took the skin off it and did my version of Coq au vin with KFC." When asked how his date reacted to the meal, he responded with a laugh: "Yeah, it didn't last very long that.

After that, but yeah that was that, so you do...

chefs do." While James generally keeps his personal life out of the spotlight, he has occasionally offered glimpses into his romantic history over the years. In a heartfelt conversation with Prima Magazine in 2020, the renowned chef candidly discussed prioritising his illustrious career over personal milestones such as marriage and children.

"The biggest low of my career is that I've given up everything for it," he confessed. "I look at my mates and they're all married with kids, and that's not the case for me because I've been so focused on work." Acknowledging the immense dedication and difficult decisions his profession demands, he noted: "The level of commitment it requires and the choices you have to make have a huge impact.

" Looking back, James conceded that despite the trade-offs, his passion for his work remains unwavering, as he stated he would "probably" choose the same path again, reasoning, "it's made me who I am". James Martin's Saturday Morning airs at 10.30am on ITV today (Saturday, April 5).

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