Our top 5 moments from this Nigella Lawson interview
Nigella Lawson talks about guilt, pleasure and being a little bit of a control freak. And don’t forget the food - there’s lots to say about the food.
Hundreds of Nigella fans queued up outside the Emmanuel Centre in Westminster yesterday evening, to soak up the words of the domestic goddess. Interviewed by Philosopher and The School of Life founder, Alain de Botton, he and Nigella made an odd but entertaining pairing on stage for the night. Alain de Botton quizzed her about what she worries about at 3am, how *exactly* to cook the perfect chicken and what *specifically* is the perfect meal. Slightly bemused by his particularly precise line of questioning, Nigella did what she does best and let her words waft across the stage with a mix of conviction, playfulness and seduction. On that note here are our top 5 favourite moments from the evening:
**1. Nigella on being a feeder**
*"People have this view of the great nurturer when people can cook, but actually those of us who like feeding people are actually quite controlling."*
**2. Guilt versus pleasure**
On being asked by Alain de Botton what her guilty pleasures were, Nigella responded: *"The only thing I can imagine feeling guilty about is not feeling pleasure... It's our duty to take pleasure - it's an acceptance of being alive."*
**3. What vegetable am I?**
At one point in the evening, Alain de Botton asked Nigella if she could sum him up as a food, what food would he be. She replied: *"A green bean. Partially because you're thin, but also because you're quite hesitant." *
**4. Favourite flavours**
When quizzed about her favourite flavours, Nigella was quick to declare that: *"Salt unleashes everything."*
**5. On always having backup food**
Early on in the evening Nigella admitted to being a bit of a control freak. By the end of the evening, as questions were being taken from the audience, it emerged that she takes food with her to other people's houses when they're cooking dinner. Not because she doesn't like other people's cooking, but because she always likes to know she's got food with her if she needs it. (We can totally relate).
*"What did you bring along tonight?"* Alain de Botton asked her.
*"Dr Karg's crispbreads, Vegemite and BUTTER!" *said Nigella.
*"Did you get hungry?"* he asked.
*"No, but I ate some just in case!"*
(Yep, our kind of woman).
For more intriguing courses like 'Nigella on the Meaning of Food', visit: http://www.theschooloflife.com/
**Written by: **Helenka Bednar