I WISH... SEAN CONNOLLY

Sean Connolly is a Yorkshire-born chef and res a ra e r who di ides his e be ween his ho e base of Sydney and New Zealand. The 55-year-old is he e ec e chef of i o o a s res a ran a T o el ellin on and s her a T o el ckland which he se and na ed a er his rand o her as well as fo r res a ran s in Sydney and New So h ales. e li es in Sydney wi h his wife o and hey ha e hree children a ed and . e will co e across he Tas an d rin ckland s es a ran eek for a oneo e en s her s rench lin wi h i o o a s on s .

I WISH 10 YEARS AGO I KNEW…

That working with bad people would make me richer and wiser for it. I wouldn’t change anything about my career. But I’ve worked with good and bad people over the years, and I’ve learned a lot from both of them. I’ve had an exciting career and I’ve never said no to an opportunity.

I WISH EVERYDAY I COULD EAT…

Food at Esther. I had the experience of eating it every day recently on my first trip back to Auckland. When I arrived, I got Covid and I was stuck in the room at the QT Hotel for seven days, being fed food via room service from Esther. I realised how beautiful that food is, to eat clean, fresh food every day felt so good. The Esther chefs have such technical prowess. They’re amazing.

THE PERSON I WISH WAS ON A BANKNOTE IS…

I’d have two. That would be my grandmother Esther who was like the Queen Mother in our family and my mother Margaret who is like the Queen. They both taught me to cook and set me up in my career. I was cooking from an early age and I found my vocation early because of them. My mother is 84 and she still lives in Yorkshire. I’m hoping to visit her this year.

THE NOISE I NEVER WISH TO HEAR AGAIN IS…

Whistling in a restaurant kitchen. Whoever is whistling in the kitchen, I’ll hunt that person down. I f…… hate whistling. I get a pain in the side of my head when I hear it. It drives me loopy. I also say that if anyone’s too jolly while cooking they’re not concentrating.

I WISH I COULD SPEND A SUNDAY WITH…

I WISH I COULD SWAP LIVES WITH…

LIAM GALLAGHER. I LOVE HIM. HE MAKES ME LAUGH. HE SAYS WHAT HE THINKS, AND HAS NO FILTER. THE STUFF THAT COMES OUT OF HIS MOUTH FOLLOWS MY MIND. ALSO TO STAND IN FRONT OF 50,000 PEOPLE AND SING LIKE HE DOES WOULD BE AMAZING. I’VE SEEN HIM A FEW TIMES IN MY LIFE.

Muhammad Ali. I was a kid in the 70s when he inspired every man on the planet. I was a Yorkshire dandy but even I wanted to be a boxer when I was young. My dad took me to the local garden fête and there was this kid being pummelled. Fortunately I decided to stick to making sticky buns. Muhammad Ali was so passionate and exciting. He believed he could do anything.

I WISH I COULD LIVE IN…

Sardinia in Italy. Good food, good wine, beautiful weather and beautiful turquoise waters. I’ve never been there but I just know it would be good. I’ve got a house in Byron Bay but it’s not where I’d rather be. I would want somewhere that would change my life and change my structure and what I do. I love the idea of a total escape, nothing but shopping for food and all that sun.

I WISH NEW ZEALAND WAS MORE…

That’s a tricky one because New Zealand is such a great country and I can’t fault it. I’ve been there 120 times in the last decade. I go over every four weeks to see the restaurants – apart from during Covid. I love the contact with New Zealand suppliers, that they come to meet me at the restaurant with the tomatoes or herbs they’ve grown for me to cook. You don’t get that same village feel in Australia. You don’t get a chance to meet the growers. New Zealanders are also exciting and fun.