To celebrate Helen’s birthday, we thought we’d do something a little more fun than cake and candles. We sat her down and fired off some properly important foodie questions – from dream food trucks to biscuit opinions…

Imagine you’ve just been handed the keys to your very own food truck – what’s it called, and what deliciousness are you serving up? ⁠
I spent a month in Argentina when I was travelling & one of my best memories is horse riding in Patagonia, out into the hills with saddlebags full of steak & Malbec. We stopped by a stream, made a fire & cooked up some steak. Best steak sandwich I ever had, washed down with a lot of Malbec. So it would be called Steak & Malbec & we’d serve steak & Malbec! Next to a little courtyard with some tables so people could sit & enjoy. This feels less like a food truck and more like a lifestyle we’d like to adopt immediately.

What’s your wildest, most chaotic food combo that somehow works… and would probably make Gordon Ramsay gasp?
Bagel with Cream Cheese, Rocket, Avocado, Crispy bacon, Fried Mushrooms topped with HP Sauce. The trick is in the layering. The layering note tells us this is a considered chaos!

We all have them – which dish secretly makes you side-eye other people ordering it?
A well done steak. It’s not well. It’s just done. Straight to the point. No further questions!

You’ve woken up with a hangover from the depths of hell – what magical meal or snack brings you back to life?
See question 2, or anything with bacon & cheese

On your travels beyond the UK, what’s the meal you can’t stop thinking about? The one that made you go “wow, this is unforgettable”?
This is hard, but i’m going to go with this one. I did a sailing course out of Phuket, in the north of the island & we stayed in a little village nearby. There was a really small restaurant run by a mother & daughter, we went there every night & they would ask us what we wanted & just cook it up. Best Thai food ever. These are the meals that ruin everything else for you – in the best way

Back on home turf, what’s a memorable meal you’ve had in the UK? Bonus points if you tell us the restaurant and the dish – we’re secretly mapping out the ultimate foodie trail!
I love Scotland & there is a fabulous place in Inverness called The River House. It’s small, cosy, lovely staff & the food is beautifully cooked, beautifully presented. The Shetland scallops were beautiful ❤️ It was all beautiful!!

What is the best biscuit and don’t hold back, we want the full justification!
Choc chip & nut cookie. It’s soft, crumbly, buttery, sugary & it’s got chocolate & nuts! A flawless biscuit choice

If you could only eat one type of cuisine for the rest of your life, what would it be, and why would it never get boring?
So, this is broad brushstroke, but Mediterranean, I love a really juicy tomato, aubergines, pomegranates, olives & the beautiful grapes that make rich red wines! Everything tastes like the sun

⁠What’s the one item or condiment you reach for most in your kitchen – the unsung hero of all your cooking?
⁠Salt, salt & salt! Salt makes stuff taste good!! That or soy 😂 Spoken like someone who truly understands flavour

⁠Hard-hitting foodie question: Which supermarket is your ultimate favourite and what’s the one thing you absolutely can’t leave without?
Torn between 2: Waitrose or M&S. I’m a real wine geek, and they both have really wonderful wine selections. I never leave Waitrose without a bottle of Terre de Fiano, one of the best Primitivo’s I’ve ever had. M&S do this wine selection called the “Found” collection – lesser known grapes, regions or vineyards & they do a stunning Georgian Saperavi.

From Patagonian steak sandwiches to perfectly seasoned everything, Helen’s love for food, flavour and great cooking is at the heart of everything we do at The Avenue. Happy Birthday, Helen – here’s to another year of delicious ideas, brilliant classes, and excellent wine choices!