Meeting Marguerite Patten

Marguerite Patten, July 2010, copyright Eva Vermandel

On a blisteringly hot day (remember them?) back in July, I travelled down to Sussex to interview the grande dame of British food, Marguerite Patten OBE. The delightful, witty and sparky Marguerite, who turns 95 next month, entertained photographer Eva Vermandel and I with fascinating anecdotes about the Blitz and a slap-up spread of smoked salmon sandwiches and chocolate eclairs.

In front of the camera, late 1940s

Just in case you're unfamiliar with her work, Marguerite worked for the Ministry of Food during WW2, encouraging Brits to make the most of their meagre rations. After the war she begain presenting TV shows and has published around 170 cookbooks, selling 17 million copies over seven decades.

You can read the full interview in the October issue of the magazine I work for, which is out today.