Isla and Florence from Northgate’s News Team, decided they wanted to interview Mr Fair, Northgate’s food teacher! Here’s how it went:
What are your hobbies?
My hobbies are painting, cycling. I like walking/ going on walks and I enjoy paddle boarding too! Or any kind of extreme sports activity.
Have you had any previous jobs and what were they?
Yes, so I have had lots of jobs. So I was a teacher in another school, I was also an art teacher before I started teaching food tech. I lived in Spain for several years where I was a gardener and a greenkeeper and I even worked in hotels, restaurants and bars!
What is your favourite dish to make?
(Spaghetti) Carbonara. Or technically my dirty Carbonara, its not a very healthy dish that’s why I call it dirty. So it’s like my own spin on a traditional carbonara.’’
What is the weirdest thing you have ever eaten?
Umm that would have to be guinea pig, jellyfish or llama!
Have you ever met any famous chefs?
Yeah! I have met Gennaro Contaldo, he was the one who taught Jamie Oliver how to cook Italian food. I have also met Tim Kinnard (from Masterchef), he came and taught some things to Year 10 students at Northgate.’’
What made you decide to teach food tech?
Well I love all the different types of food and I love cooking! But I think also the fact that I wanted to become a teacher was because I had a really bad time in school and the teachers were not very nice and they didn’t really listen or help you in the 1980s so I thought by being a teacher I could give you all someone who would listen and help you and make you feel better about school/
If you didn’t teach food tech what would be your other option/s?
Art or Spanish. Two very good subjects!
We have heard you like to travel. What’s your favourite destination?
Ooh that’s a good question! I think I would have to say, South America or Thailand.
What do you like to do in your free time?
I like to go camping, like I said before I like to go paddle boarding, I also enjoy watching films, painting and drawing too.
Do you have any siblings?
Yes, one brother and two sisters – all younger than me.
And finally, which place do you believe has the weirdest foods?
Actually, that’s a pretty easy one, it would have to be China, or probably North Korea.
A big thank you to Isla and Florence for posing the questions and to Mr Fair for sitting down and answering them (he thought they were particularly good questions too!)