In 2013, Annie Fenech and her partner Robbie Robertson, from Perth, Australia, donated money to the Better Food Foundation’s prize fund, and were entered into the draw for an all-expenses-paid trip to London to meet Jamie. They won the fantastic prize, and spent four days in London. On Food Revolution Day itself, they were invited to Jamie’s office to cook.
“When I found out I’d won, I could barely believe it – in fact, we thought it was probably too good to be true!” said Annie.
She added: “I’d neglected to check my Yahoo!, so Prizeo emailed me on Facebook and asked me to respond immediately so they could book flights. Eeeek! I took my partner, Robbie as we both needed a break – you won’t believe how well-timed it was.”
Annie said she has been a massive Jamie fan since he started his shows. “In fact,” she added, “I would go so far as to say that he taught me how to cook, and to use leftovers to make delicious dishes when I was a student. My friends could never understand when I was single, why I would cook for 20 and then freeze portions but I just love to cook.”
Neither Annie or Robbie had been to UK before: “I have family in Kent, an auntie I hadn’t seen for 23 years and two cousins I’d never met; so it was a truly wonderful experience.”
“Jamie was an utter legend – made us both feel so comfortable while cooking with him. He surpassed every expectation as an idol, and made us feel so welcome! Feel so lucky to see him filming too, so professional and a real larrikin!
“He taught us to cook Rotolo with fresh pasta – a recipe close to his heart as he made it when he was young and happened to be cooking it when he was discovered.
“Lastly, he signed a few cookbooks that friends loaded me up with. I showed him the book my dear mother gave me in 1989. She was the best person I’ve ever met; she regrettably passed away from secondary cancer in 1992. I used to make scones for neighbours when I was little, and deliver them in baskets – they were probably rock hard, but she could see I loved cooking since I was little. I’m so glad I got to meet him, and so grateful for winning the prize.”
