What’s cooking: Tony Adcock

Tony Adcock, the Auckland restaurateur who applied for the first Sunday brunch license in 1980, is celebrating 30 years in the hospitality industry.

Since opening Le Brie in 1975, there's been Carthew's Creole, also in Ponsonby, Anatoles (Howick), City Bistro (Auckland City), his latest Fish cafes (Epsom and Kingsland), and Harbourside, which has been going since 1988. In between, he's applied his expertise to Orbit (SkyCity) and Clarendon Restaurant (Christchurch Gondola), as well as consulting on Air New Zealand menus for the past 10 years.

What was the first thing you cooked as a child?

Pancakes. My two older sisters would let me make pancakes from the age of about 6. We always had them with lemon and too much icing sugar.

What is your idea of the perfect meal?

A swim or a surf, then sitting down and having a well-cooked meal.

What is your favourite drink?

A beer after exercising.

What do you like about your job?

The constant change and challenge. Running a successful restaurant involves being creative as well as operating the business side of things.

What do you eat when you can't be bothered to cook?

Pizza . I wander up to Prego and pick one up. Usually with basil, tomato and cheese.

What's always in your fridge?

Icecream. Hokey pokey, vanilla or chocolate.

What do you always have in your kitchen?

Tomatoes. I always have them in the house because there are so many dishes you can add the fresh acid flavour to.

What is your favourite fish?

Sardines. When I was camping by a beach in Greece where the fishing boats came in and the fishermen would flick the sardines out of the nets, I'd take them to the local cafe and the chef would cook them for me.

Is there anything you would not eat?

Peanut butter. I can't stand the taste, the texture or the smell.