28
TheGreat British Bake Offjudge had a pivotal year before opening her first restaurant.
But she wasnt wanting for a hobby in 1968.
The chef was busy preparing to open Leiths, her first restaurant, located in LondonsNotting Hillneighborhood.
So I wanted to have a really good restaurant but with the informality of a bistro or a pub.
[Id be] flipping the burgers or organizing the pig roast, she says.
I would be the one sweeping the bloody floor in the middle of the night.
Id be backing up the van.
She was also in the midst of a 13-year affair withRayne Kruger,a family friend.
Theyd later marry and share two children.
It was all on the way, she says.
I was in love with a wonderful man.
I was building my business.
I was really successful.
That first outing was prophetic of Leiths delicious onscreen career to come.
Below, Leith talks about having a secret relationship and entertaining her famous neighbors with the munchies.
Take me back to 1968.
What was life like for you at 28?
I was determined to have a restaurant before I was 30.
Thirty is young to have a restaurant of your own!
Its interesting, isnt it?
People talk about how terrible it is turning 40, but I loved turning 40.
But turning 30 I was working really hard.
I had come from South Africa, Id set up my little catering company.
I was still working out of my mews cottage.
Where did you call home at the time?
At the time, I was in love with a guy who was married.
I was once asked by a newspaper whether I would recommend adultery because it seemed to do me good.
But I said the fact that I couldnt be with this guy all the time was really helpful.
I saw him when I could, but I didnt have to cook for him.
I didnt have to keep house because I worked at night and I worked on weekends.
So you werent cooking for a guy what would be your go-to meal for yourself?
Because I was catering all the time, I lived on other peoples leftover bits and pieces.
She was so shocked that I should produce this roast dinner in a tin foil tray.
And you know what?
It was perfectly good food.
But she was deeply shocked and told all her friends that I served ready meals.
What music were you into at 28?
The Beatles Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds is just one of the best songs ever written.
Though in my mind, I was a movie star.
The Great British Bake Offis such a comfort show for people.
What brought you comfort at 28?
It sounds extraordinarily simple, but I still do it.
At the time, yogurt had just become a big deal.
There was a company called Ski Yogurt, and they used to do a hazelnut yogurt.
What could be more innocent and simple than that?
Nowadays, Id probably want a glass of red wine for comfort.
When I was 28, it wouldnt have occurred to me.
Is 28 an era youve been reflecting on in your performance?
Theres a lot about that period.
I was very happy, I didnt want to get married, the wanting-children bug hadnt arrived yet.
I had a lot of friends.
They used to hide their marijuana on my herb shelf.
Of course I was!
And I remember one of them standing, looking at an apple pie Id made.
He just kept looking at this pie, saying, Ive never seen anything so beautiful in my life!
They were away with the fairies.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
This article was originally published onNovember 18, 2022
