Tuning in…
Tuning in…
Castaway
1 appearance
Food and wine expert
On the island
Eight records
something I used to love to play and was only allowed to play uh after a lot of uh other things which were less enjoyable, you know, the hour or an hour and a half practice every day and so on
Hungarian Sketches: An Evening in the Village
Budapest Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Miklós Erdélyi
something that would reflect the very deep rooted feeling for Hungarian atmosphere that anybody who has lived in Budapest and in Hungary in general couldn't avoid to enjoy.
Symphony No. 2 in D major, Op. 36: IV. Allegro molto
Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Herbert von Karajan
which I particularly like because of its uh to me very appealing rhythmic qualities.
Roman Festivals: III. L'Ottobrata
Philadelphia Orchestra, conducted by Eugene Ormandy
I I can't think, and I I can't remember, any piece of music which is more atmospheric.
Variations on a Hungarian Folk Song 'The Peacock'Favourite
Chicago Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Georg Solti
is perhaps my favorite piece of music, which is the Peacock variation by Kodai, because it is very much an echo uh of the music with which I was brought up in Hungary.
Romeo and Juliet: Dance of the Knights
Boston Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Erich Leinsdorf
I I love the the uh fearsome menace in this. Particular part.
Piano Concerto in D-flat major
Mindru Katz, London Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Sir Adrian Boult
my rast record comes under the heading of higher musical education in quotes, which was brought to me really by my wife, who knows a very great deal more about music than myself.
In conversation
Presenter asks
0:37What are your views on background music in restaurants?
Well, I'm afraid I don't like background music uh of any description. You know, restaurants sometimes try to uh categorize themselves into certain to a certain level by playing Bach or something like that. But whether it's pop or bach or uh whatever type of music, I think background music has no place in a restaurant.
Presenter asks
4:17Was it your early ambition to follow the family tradition [in the hotel business]?
Oh, yes, uh this has always been uh a plan of mine.
Presenter asks
7:03How did you manage to get out of Hungary after the war?
I got out in 1946 after the war. It wasn't easy, but I was very lucky inasmuch as I had a very great friend who was a very young man in those days. … And this friend of mine became mayor of Budapest. He had many very good qualities. One of them was that he just was unable to get drunk, and therefore he could drink much more than the Russian commander of Budapest. And he could drink him under the table. And this is precisely how he procured for me. uh a Russian military permit to leave the city, which was necessary to have in addition to your passport. And this is how I was able to leave Budapest.
The keepsakes
The book
Leo Tolstoy
something that has a lot of meat in it, and therefore wouldn't get tired of reading it several times if I had to
Presenter asks
11:48What qualifications must your restaurant inspectors have?
Well, first of all they must have stamina. … But really, basically, it needs good taste and common sense. And of course, we tried to choose, and we always do choose, people who have a fairly wide catering background and who have an international knowledge of particularly food, but also wine to some extent.
Presenter asks
18:47Having to do so much professional eating, what do you like to eat at home?
Ah well, um, like every good husband, I like my wife's cooking, although I cook myself. … but joke apart, uh it's the simple things we value most. I mean, a roast partridge, for instance, is better than anything I know.
“I got out in 1946 after the war. It wasn't easy, but I was very lucky inasmuch as I had a very great friend who was a very young man in those days. You know, after the war, very young people got to the top, so to speak. And this friend of mine became mayor of Budapest. He had many very good qualities. One of them was that he just was unable to get drunk, and therefore he could drink much more than the Russian commander of Budapest. And he could drink him under the table. And this is precisely how he procured for me. uh a Russian military permit to leave the city, which was necessary to have in addition to your passport. And this is how I was able to leave Budapest.”
“I think almost invariably the motorway cafes are with exceptions, but the majority of motorway cafes are simply below criticism. And I think more and more motorists just don't stop there, but rather drive off the motorway.”
“I don't expect to stay very long uh there, you know. Don't forget that I got out of Hungary, so it wouldn't be a great problem to get out of Desert Island after you.”