We've taken a look at the (TV set) kitchens of Jamie Oliver and Sophie Dahl. Now it's time to drool over the simple but warm kitchen of another British cook, our favorite, Nigel Slater.
If you live in the UK, you're lucky to have access to the second season of Mr. Slater's Simple Suppers (BBC One) which premiered this week. He's in the same kitchen that he used in season one: a beautiful, spare space that also feels friendly and functional. I've always assumed it really is his home kitchen, but can find no way to confirm this. Does anyone know if this is true?
I love how this kitchen is quiet and minimal, yet it remains warm and usable. The use of wood for the shelves and countertop help with this, as well as the soft, recessed lighting. A wall of windows and glass door allow the colors and textures of the garden to flow in, helping to temper the all-white scheme and (what looks to be) stone floors.
I appreciate how the shelves have been edited down to a few items with all the clutter relegated to a reach-in pantry (on the left above) and that they often hold large bunches of fresh herbs. I like how the refrigerator (behind Mr. Slater, above) almost disappears into the wall and the fact that its a freezer-on-the bottom model. Add to this the convenient, eye-level built in wall oven, the recessed double sink and the lovely antique round table and we're getting close to perfect.
I have a huge crush (pun not intended!) on Mr. Slater's white saucer-shaped mortar and pestle, the lovely white ceramic bowls, and the mix and match jars in his pantry. And, if it's not too obvious already, I'll also admit to a pretty big kitchen-crush on the man himself!
Nigel Slater has just released the second volume in his two-volume series called Tender. While Volume No.1 focuss on his vegetable patch, this second volume is all about fruit and it's a stunner. Look for a review soon.
• Nigel Slater's website
• Little glimpses of Simple Suppers from YouTube for those of us not in the UK
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Cool! I would love this see his show! Nigel Slater is my favorite for sure and Tender 1 has become my bible. I'm waiting on Tender 2, available at the end of the month here in Canada.
ooh, that is a pretty mortar and pestle indeed!
I love England. I can't confirm if it's his home kitchen but I'm betting it is. In the youtube clip he is seen on a different floor of the home looking at a book. So if it's not his home, they've made themselves comfortable in someone else's! Reminds me of being in a London city house where the kitchen is below street level and there is a little walk-out garden. The video also shows Nigel at a garden allotment which shows great emphasis on gardening--whether it's right outside the door or down the street. Between HFW, Nigel and Jamie, American food television has a long way to go!
I don't think this is his kitchen. I know it is designed by John Pawson though.
Nigel sometimes goes out into the garden from this kitchen and it is quite different to his garden which is photogaphed in both his Tender books.
I was feeling the Pawson design gardenali, good call.
I recall a reference by Nigel either in a book or his newspaper column, to his Aga range ... and that's not in evidence here. While I admire the lovely kitchen pictured here, it's not really what I imagined Nigel's kitchen to be.
I don't know if it is his actual kitchen, but I did see an article and accompanying photos of his home in the Guardian style section a number of years ago. This kitchen is very true to the feel and look of his home - minimalist, white and modern. It does look quite similar to the kitchen I remember seeing. But kitchen shows are often shot in studios, not in the chefs' homes, so it wouldn't surprise me if this was a "reconstruction".
I hate to disappoint you all, but it is not a real kitchen. I contacted Nigel as I too loved the look of it and wanted to create something similar, but he very kindly informed me that it was just a set. However, he said he'd let the set designers know how much I liked it!
Rosalind, did Nigel at least tell you whether or not the the set was designed to look like a Pawson kitchen? I think that if you were wanting to create something similar all that you would have to do is either hire Pawson or emulate his design. According to this article, "Highlights of John Pawson's career include the imposing Neuendorf Villa in Majorca and Calvin Klein's flagship store in New York. He is sought after by such diverse patrons as the order of Cistercian monks who commis signed a new monastery and, not least, our own Nigel Slater whose oh-so-minimal kitchen is a Pawson design." Maybe the article is referring to another Slater kitchen. If so, I'd like to see that one too!
Does anyone know where I can buy one of those lovely white (shallow bowl) pestle and mortar?