Nigel Slater: the food writer opens the door to his fascinating home life
Nigel is the first podcast guest ever to make me cry. I'm a big fan of his writing, and suspected he'd be a kindred spirit, but spending the day with him in his house was an overwhelming experience I wasn't prepared for.He lives around the corner from where I grew up, in a pared-back way that feels very familiar. In this remarkably honest conversation, he outlines the essential role his home plays in keeping him on an even keel. We discuss what it's like to suffer from panic attacks, and how they're triggered by the built environment. He tells me that whenever he arrives in a building he hasn't been to before, the first thing he does is check where the exit is so that he can plan his escape. We touch on the childhood trauma that he wrote about in his brilliant memoir, Toast, from his mother's death to his father's bullying. We discuss the roots of his lifelong interest in gardening, why he keeps a daily diary, and the importance of smell within the home. This is a conversation I'll remember forever. Thank you, Nigel. This episode was recorded in person at Nigel's home in London.For more:Pick up a copy of Nigel Slater's latest book, A Thousand Feasts: Small Moments of Joy … a Memoir of SortsFind out more about Nigel's collaboration with Perfumer HSubscribe to The Modern House newsletter for weekly interiors inspirationPick up a copy of Matt Gibberd’s latest book, A Modern Way To LiveFollow Matt Gibberd on InstagramFollow The Modern House InstagramWatch our Homing In films on YouTubeProducer: Laconic CollectiveGraphic Design: Ben TuckerMusic: Simeon WalkerThis episode is sponsored by Vitsoe. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.