Meet William Drew, Editor of Restaurant Magazine

> How is Restaurant Magazine supporting Action Against Hunger?

Restaurant Magazine has always supported Action Against Hunger in
their efforts to elevate world hunger. This year alone we have have supported them through our National Restaurant Awards and The S.Pellegrino World's 50 Best Restaurants.

> Why have you chosen Action Against Hunger as your benefiting charity?

 The link between the restaurant industry and Action Against Hunger is logical; we are lucky enough to work with, and celebrate amazing food, so it is important to remind ourselves that not everyone is in that position. Restaurant Magazine is at the heart of the restaurant industry so it is entirely appropriate that we support the work of Action Against Hunger in its aims. I have also been personally impressed with Action Against Hunger's ability to mobilise top restaurateurs and chefs; not only are they effective in the field, but also at Headquarter level.

> Restaurant Magazine has played an instrumental role in drumming up prizes for our Financial Times Auction. Now we have a host of money-cant-buy lots (thank you!), such as a ten course meal with champagne at Le Manoir with a kitchen tour. What would you bid for?

It would have to be The Hardwick.  I have never been there and chef-patron Stephen Terry has a fantastic reputation. It won our Gastropub of the Year prize, but more importantly he has opened up a number of amazing rooms so I can sink into a soft bed after my huge, and delicious dinner, and wake up to breakfast surrounded by Welsh countryside.

How difficult was it to get so many restaurants on board for the FT auction?

The restaurants featured at the National Restaurant Awards were incredible: they were generous and immediately ready to join their peers in offering meals, rooms, teaching courses and special events...

> For you, how important is the link between the UK foodie world and benefiting those how are not so fortunate?

In our world we can have such a narrow focus; we can obsess over dishes, dinners and plates, but Action Against Hunger reminds is us that there is a bigger picture out there and it is not so easy for so many people. Perspective is incredibly important, as well as understanding and recognising the food supply chain. We need to know where food come from, who has lots of it, who doesn't and how we can help.

> What has been your best dining experience to date, and why?

At The Ledbury - the number one restaurant in our top 100. When I dined there, Mark Best (Marque) and Peter Gilmore (Quay) were cooking as visiting chefs from Sydney, Australia and the food was truly brilliant. Dishes included sea pearl and an amazing roast partridge.

> In your opinion who is the most inspirational person currently working within food in the UK, and why?

Fergus Henderson from St John. He has changed the way the UK thinks about food and revived the notion of nose-to-tail cooking - using all parts of the animal. His idea of using non-mainstream cuts and cooking  things simply and honestly has been inspirational. He is also a great supporter of Action Against Hunger and all-round nice guy, as well as a larger than life character.

> How do you see the Restaurant Awards evolving?

I hope they get bigger and more established. They are still in their infant stages, but they are becoming more and more recognised as the industry's leading awards because they are voted for by the industry itself - namely restaurateurs, chefs and food writers. They're also very democratic in that you don't have to be a restaurant of a certain type to qualify - you just have to be good at what you do.

> Where, do you believe, is the British restaurant industry setting the standard, and where is there room for improvement?

It's setting standards in the sense that we have a huge number of diverse restaurants in London in particular - only NY can rival us in that sense; we are a global leader. Where it can improve? Is in the overall standard of food as a whole, the 'mean' quality of our food in pubs and restaurants nationwide. However, I can foresee this getting much better...

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