Adriano Zumbo with his trusty thermometer — a must-have utensil in his kitchen!

Who’s better in the kitchen? A man or woman?

A majority of employees these days are women. I’ve noticed this doing demos around the world. I think women make better workers – they are definitely good workers, they are very clinical, very organised. But I think the man makes a better head chef. I am not saying a woman can’t be head chef, but I’ve noticed the guys are a bit stronger in the kitchen. In terms of creativity, it is something very personal. I don’t think creativity is gender-related. It’s just somebody who’s grown up with an open mind and sees things differently.

What are your must-have tools in the kitchen?

(Without hesitation) Thermometer. Yeah, definitely. Also a good oven is key; one that cooks evenly, it doesn’t have to be top of the range. Silicon mats are good, too ... and a whisk? OK, a bench top mixer.

Is baking an art or science?

It’s both. Definitely it is a science in the way things come together. The way things are made, temperature-wise. Product-wise, you know the ingredients, add this, it works, add this it doesn’t work at this temperature, et cetera. But then the finished products that you see, they’re really works of art.

What’s your favourite recipe book?

My Larousse desserts book, it’s pretty trashed. It’s seen many days in my kitchen. There’s a chapter on sponges, a chapter on mousses, ice cream; all pretty basic but I can use them to create my own cakes. You know, take the pistachios out and use hazelnuts instead, things like that. It gives me the base sort of structure and then I develop it in my own way.

Are you a good cook?

I learnt a little Italian cooking (the savoury stuff) from my mum. I am OK. I can make my way. I wouldn’t cook in a restaurant or anything, but at-home dinners and stuff, yeah.

Related Stories:
Life is sweet

• Best restaurants in Asia
• Yorkshire: England’s best-kept secret
• Snapshorts
• Google makes the world go round
• Who has the better chance of bagging that high-salary post?
• Love letter from a freelancer
• DÔME delicious
• The call of the Sahara
• A kink in the kindness
• Online guide for safari lovers