Ainsley Harriott Joins The Sunday Lunch Campaign
Ainsley Harriott says the traditional Sunday lunch should be a priority for every family. It may be just a meal, but for Ainsley Harriott it's one of the most important events of the week - and opportunity for him and his children embrace his West Indian roots. A typical Sunday lunch in the Ainsley Harriott household brings the whole family together but often it’s not even a lunch at all. 'A typical Sunday meal will be brunch at 11am,' says Ainsley, who lives with his wife (Clare Fellows) and two teenage children (Jimmy and Madeleine) in Wandsworth, south London. 'I'll probably do muffins, proper scrambled eggs and sweetcorn fritters, which the kids love. Kedgeree's another thing I like, and if any of the West Indian family are over, definitely ackee and saltfish.' Ainsley Harriott emphasises that it is vitally important for all families to enjoy a weekend meal together. With the pressures of modern life increasing both for parents and for children, a special meal together is often overlooked. 'Everybody is so busy these days, but if you feel you're going to miss out on Sunday lunch, then what could be easier than doing brunch instead?" says Harriott. 'At least that way, you'll get the whole family together, and that's the important thing.' Harriott takes the decline of the Sunday lunch very seriously and is genuinely concerned that it could lead to more serious issues. His view is shared by many leading culinary figures and health experts. Ainsley Harriott has put his name behind The Independent on Sunday's Sunday Lunch Campaign alongside many more celebrity chefs, including Jean-Christophe Novelli, Heston Blumenthal and Antonio Carluccio. It's a view that fewer and fewer people seem to share. A recent poll by the internet company Lycos found that 60 per cent of us do not now bother with a weekly family Sunday lunch. Harriott considers the Sunday meal as an important chance to teach his children about their roots. 'I'll often invite over the West Indian relatives, and we'll talk about the traditional foods and customs. That way they get a real sense of belonging - instead of 'dad's black, mum's white and that's all there is to it'.' |
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