I was determined when I turned 50 it was going to be a great time, because I understand perfectly well the privilege of reaching my half century. So many people in the music industry just don’t get there. Or they get there and they are in a real state. And I’m here, relatively unscathed. So I’m really careful about what I eat. What goes in my body in general. Just because I know what food can do. It can be obviously a wonderful comfort and a treat, but it’s also really healing … She says, just having demolished a sausage roll.
Growing up, I ate mostly Jamaican heritage or a Jamaican take on British food. I remember I asked Mum to make a shepherd’s pie, which she did, but she made it much more interesting, because the seasoning was a bit more lively. So there would be that blending of the food-culture lines. But things like welsh rarebit, I bloody love that, don’t change a thing! Absolutely fantastic.
I’ve never drunk alcohol. Many Christmases ago, when I was about 14, my uncle gave me orange juice – I thought – but it had vodka in it. Christmas treat! It wasn’t. I was so ill: I had a rash break out around my mouth and neck, and felt like I couldn’t breathe. I was ill for days. My mum was like, “Are you trying to kill my child?” My uncle was mortified. And that was the end of that: never touched alcohol again.
Tea is my drink. Black tea in the morning, and then as the day goes on it’s the green teas, it’s the mints or chamomile or ginger or whatever. When I’m on tour, my rider consists … yes, you guessed it: kettle, lots of water, teabags. It’s the first thing I look for in any dressing room. I’m the cheapest date going!
I didn’t drink at a time when it was definitely unfashionable to be teetotal. I’d go to a club, do a PA and then ask them to put the kettle on after I’d come off stage. At the time people would look at me sideways. Now people just find it fun and quirky and, yeah, definitely Bev.
I moved to London in 1995 and experienced food and a level of cuisine I’d never had before. Never had Spanish food until I was an adult. Never had sushi. We had Italian in Wolverhampton, at least. And we definitely had Indian. But a whole world opened up to me and I loved it.
My husband is an ex-chef, so he tends to take over the kitchen – lucky me! I showed him West Indian and specifically Jamaican dishes, and now he smashes them better than me, which really annoys me. But he’ll tell you himself, he is a bit of a nightmare in the kitchen. Because he’ll stand there and watch you: “Oh, I wouldn’t have done it like that …” He’ll tell my mum! My mum, who’s 75 and has been cooking since she was six. She’ll be like, “Get out of my kitchen!” in the best and most bantery way.
Prince was a brilliant host, brilliant. He invited me to Los Angeles in 2008 to perform at his Oscars party and I remember vividly walking into his house and him saying: “Are you hungry? Do you want something to eat?” I knew Prince didn’t eat meat, but he had a chef in and I got salmon and salads. And it was … it was a spread. I don’t know why I remember that salmon so much, but it was gorgeous.
My favourite things
Food
Ackee and saltfish, all day long. Ideally, ackee, saltfish, a slice of breadfruit fried with plantain and even a cheeky little green banana and bammy, which is like a pancake made of cassava.
Place to eat
It’s gone now, but Pete Sanchez-Iglesias, along with his late brother Jonray, had a Michelin-starred restaurant in Bristol called Casamia, which was outstanding. The best food experience of my life. He now owns a place called Paco Tapas, which is again Michelin-starred, and probably my second favourite.
Dish to make
I do a really good jerk chicken with rice and peas. But my jerk chicken is hot and you’ve got to be brave! Ask my band.
Beverley Knight’s new album, The Fifth Chapter, is out now. She stars in Sister Act at the Dominion, London from 15 Mar–8 June (sisteractthemusical.co.uk)
