Nigella Lawson

Nigella Lawson is best known for her intimate, relaxed style of cooking. She is the author of the bestselling books How to Eat, How to Be a Domestic Goddess, Nigella Bites, Forever Summer, Nigella Express, and Feast, all of which are available in the United States. She has also hosted Food Network television programs Nigella Bites and Nigella Feasts. Nigella is a former columnist for the Dining In section of the New York Times and has been a frequent guest on the Today show. She lives in London with her family. For full bio, click here.

Recipe

The Pad Thai that’s causing me cravings.

I have printed out (and tip: if you print out on glossy photographic paper, you can spill and drip as you cook, then wipe clean easily) and have stuck to my fridge right now, a recipe for Pad Thai. Although this tangle of noodle, shrimp and peanut is probably the most familiar of all Thai recipes, I have never actually cooked it. Not that it looks difficult in this, Victoria Blashford-Snell and Brigitte Hafner's recipe, simply a matter of soaking flat rice noodles followed a bit of wok-work.

Restaurant

Locanda Locatelli: An Italian restaurant in London, by way of heaven.

I always love going to Locanda Locatelli (8 Seymour Street, London W1; tel +44 207 935 9088) and although there are always newer kids on the block, my heart belongs to Giorgio (the Signor Locatelli in question). Why wouldn't it? Last time I was there, I had the most heavenly dish, half-pasta, half-soup, studded with shrimp (the Paccheri in guazzetto di gamberi) followed by sea bass sealed and cooked in a herby crust and then, a dessert that truly the angels must be eating in heaven: called an Amalfi Eton mess, it is a sparkly, zingy, light mixture of lemon sorbet, lemon cream and toasted meringue. Oh, and did I mention the espresso martini to start?

Cookbook

For those who like consuming decadence, Fat is a page-turner.

Anything by Anna del Conte is a constant inspiration, but I am a "more is more" kind of person, and always open to a new culinary adventure. Right now, this is provided by Jennifer McLagan's new book, Fat. I turn the pages, salivating as I go. On my to-cook list so far: grilled steak with red wine sauce and bone marrow, lard-fried choux paste beignets, and salted butter tart.

Food Destination

People associate me with London, but here are my Manhattan favorites.

I think for variety, exuberance, and plenty (all important things for the gastro-traveler), it is hard to beat Manhattan. In fact, just booking a trip there induces some sort of meltdown in me, since there is never enough time for me to book tables in quite as many restaurants as I'm greedily aiming for. I want the olive oil ice cream at Otto, the clam miso soup at the uptown Nobu, the chicken soup at Eat, the schmoozy mood at Balthazar, and the whole damn barbecue at Daisy May's. And that's before I even get on to whatever's new in town. My next visit meagerly allows for just two suppers, and they're both booked already: dinner one at the Minetta Tavern, second supper at the Monkey Bar.

Nigella Lawson is best known for her intimate, relaxed style of cooking. She is the author of the bestselling books How to Eat, How to Be a Domestic Goddess, Nigella Bites, Forever Summer, Nigella Express, and Feast . She has also hosted Food Network television programs Nigella Bites and Nigella Feasts.

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