Bucks &amp; Oxon


<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/05/Interview-with-samseats.jpg" alt="Sam Way/ Samseats headshot " class="wp-image-161963" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/05/Interview-with-samseats.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/05/Interview-with-samseats-800x800.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/05/Interview-with-samseats-400x400.jpg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/05/Interview-with-samseats-500x500.jpg 500w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<p>Feeding the internet is hefty work, but Oxon-native chef Sam Way (aka <a href="https://www.instagram.com/samseats/">@samseats</a>) takes it in his stride. Whipping up viral dishes since 2020, in what was initially a mission to buff up his CV, Sam now sits on an impressive 13 million followers across Insta, TikTok, and Youtube. Want a peek of what goes down BTS of his snappy vids? You can see it all in the flesh this weekend (<strong>Sat 25 &#8211;</strong> <strong>Mon 27 May)</strong> as he joins a stellar line-up of celeb chefs at <a href="https://www.blenheimpalace.com/whats-on/events/food-festival/">Blenheim Palace Food Festival</a>. Until then, meet the man behind your next fave recipe. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1000" height="667" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/05/Sam-Way-3.jpg" alt="Sam Way on TV cooking set " class="wp-image-161960" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/05/Sam-Way-3.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/05/Sam-Way-3-800x534.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/05/Sam-Way-3-400x267.jpg 400w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-is-it-true-that-you-ve-never-worked-in-a-professional-kitchen">Is it true that you&#8217;ve never worked in a professional kitchen? </h3>



<p>Nope, never! But being a self-taught cook means I take a lot of pride in learning the various techniques and skills myself. Having said that, it&#8217;s my dream to open a wine bar serving small plates in the future, so watch this space. </p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tell-us-your-career-highlight">Tell us your career highlight.</h3>



<p>Writing my first cookbook&nbsp;<em>Sam’s Eats: Let’s Do Some Cooking</em> takes the cake for me<em>.</em> It was a huge personal achievement and allowed me to express my true love for food in a physical format, putting it out there for people to enjoy and learn from.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-sum-up-your-cooking-style">Sum up your cooking style.</h3>



<p>I&#8217;m all about home cooking but going that extra mile with every aspect it &#8211; I love to challenge myself to make all kinds of things from scratch.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-maddest-moment-of-your-career">Maddest moment of your career? </h3>



<p>I will never forget doing a live cooking demo over in the US, on the prime time morning TV show <em>The Today Show</em> (NBC). It was such a surreal experience, travelling to New York for the first time and getting on live TV in front of millions of people. </p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-the-dish-you-re-most-proud-of-creating">The dish you&#8217;re most proud of creating?</h3>



<p>I recently made a British pub classic, ham egg and chips. I challenged myself to curing and smoking my own ham joint, as well as making triple cooked chips, and it came out so well. You could say I was pleasantly surprised with it.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-s-your-best-ever-cooking-tip">What&#8217;s your best ever cooking tip?</h3>



<p>Always use a little pinch of salt to help caramelise your onions. I was given this tip from someone a while back and have never not done this since. The salt draws out the moisture from the onions and speeds up the caramelising process tenfold!</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-go-to-foodie-spots-around-oxfordshire-and-london">Go-to foodie spots around Oxfordshire and London?</h3>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="931" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/02/BullcharlburyJul23-7989-931x1000.jpg" alt="The Bull charlbury food " class="wp-image-156178" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/02/BullcharlburyJul23-7989-931x1000.jpg 931w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/02/BullcharlburyJul23-7989-745x800.jpg 745w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/02/BullcharlburyJul23-7989-372x400.jpg 372w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/02/BullcharlburyJul23-7989.jpg 1000w" sizes="(max-width: 931px) 100vw, 931px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">The Bull, Charlbury </figcaption></figure>



<p>One of my current favourites in Oxfordshire is <a href="https://thebullcharlbury.com/">The Bull</a>, in Charlbury. I went here recently, after it had been taken over by new owners, and the food there is wonderful. Delicious, British countryside dining.</p>



<p>In London, I love <a href="https://www.caravelrestaurant.com/">Caravel</a>. It’s in North London, set on a barge and is the perfect romantic date night spot. The menu is focused on delicious plates of Mediterranean style foods. </p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-would-you-cook-to-impress-a-hot-date">What would you cook to impress a hot date?</h3>



<p>This is a classic combo, but you can&#8217;t go wrong with steak frites for mains and a chocolate fondant to finish. </p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-you-re-tired-starving-and-impatient-what-do-you-cook-for-dinner">You&#8217;re tired, starving and impatient: what do you cook for dinner?</h3>



<p>I order a takeaway! We all do it and sometimes it just hits the spot when you’re tired, have had a long day and don’t have the energy to cook. If I did cook something though, it would probably be a simple pasta dish like aglio e olio. Simple flavours, good ingredients &#8211; you just can’t beat it.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="911" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/05/Sam-Way-1-911x1000.jpg" alt="Sam Way with his first cookbook " class="wp-image-161962" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/05/Sam-Way-1-911x1000.jpg 911w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/05/Sam-Way-1-729x800.jpg 729w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/05/Sam-Way-1-364x400.jpg 364w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/bucksoxon/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/05/Sam-Way-1.jpg 1000w" sizes="(max-width: 911px) 100vw, 911px" /></figure>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-favourite-things-to-eat-when-you-re-on-holiday">Favourite things to eat when you&#8217;re on holiday?</h3>



<p>This ultimately depends on where I am; I spend a lot of time going to places around Europe, and love to stay by the sea. This means seafood is ALWAYS on my mind. I don’t eat it often in the UK, unless I am near the coast, so I love treating myself when I’m abroad.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-favourite-chef">Favourite chef?</h3>



<p>There&#8217;s too many to choose from, but if I have to pick I&#8217;ll say Anthony Bourdain. His travels, stories and character are all very loveable and he was, and still is, such an inspiration to foodies around the world.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-favourite-cookbook">Favourite cookbook?</h3>



<p>Of recent times, I love Ixta Belfrage’s book <em><a href="https://www.penguin.co.uk/books/445516/mezcla-by-belfrage-ixta/9781529148091">Mezcla</a></em>. It is such a very refreshing take on Mexican cuisine and one can always find something nice to cook up from inside it.</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-favourite-ingredient-and-why">Favourite ingredient and why?</h3>



<p>Butter. Butter simply makes everything better!</p>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-three-dishes-every-home-cook-should-master">Three dishes every home cook should master.</h3>



<ul>
<li><em>A decent ragu such as bolognese</em> &#8211; this sauce can go on to be used in so many dishes so I think it is the best beginner dish to master.</li>



<li>Another sauce, but more basic, is <em>a tomato sauce</em>. This, mixed into some pasta with a grating of parmesan on top, never fails to please.</li>



<li><em>Hollandaise</em> &#8211; if you’re a new home cook, I find that brunch is as great place to start as you’ll more often than not have the time at the weekend to do something like this. A hollandaise is a challenge, but when you get it right, it always goes down a treat. Served over some runny poached eggs and buttered sourdough. Mmmm.</li>
</ul>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-loads-of-us-are-really-bored-of-our-own-cooking-any-advice">Loads of us are really bored of our own cooking &#8211; any advice?</h3>



<p>Use seasonal produce. This way you don’t get suck in the habit of cooking the same thing over and over and you are challenged to make new recipes using the seasonal produce that you have around you. Of course you’ll be able to get most produce out of season anyway, but it never tastes as good. Sticking to seasonal produce is a nice and safe way to ensure great tasting meals.</p>



<p><em>Want more cooking tips? Catch Sam at the <a href="https://www.blenheimpalace.com/whats-on/events/food-festival/">Blenheim Palace Food Festival</a> this weekend and follow him on <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@samseats">TikTok</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/samseats/">Instagram</a>, and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@samseats/videos">Youtube</a>. </em></p>


What’s cooking? TikTok star chef, Sam Way

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