I love speaking to people from backgrounds which are different to my own. I love learning about different cultures and foods. In March 2019, I won an award for my work on media portrayal of Care Experienced people.

To celebrate @JamieKinlochan took me to @ellacantalondon.

Our waiter, Nunzio, talked us through the menu and explained how each meal came to be on the plate, the background of it and what paired well with what.

He was a real expert. When he told us he was from Naples, my nosiness got the better of him and we started chatting.

We spoke about our backgrounds, the award and how he came to be working in London.

He was away from home and missing it. I asked him, as someone from a country so famous for its food what his favourite meal was. He told me it was Genovese sauce with pasta.

He described it as being a food his grandmother would cook. Something the whole family would look forward to.

A world away from frozen meals and jarred ingredients I first associated Italian food with as a small child.

I had never heard of it and rather than scoff he understood that of course it was overshadowed by pizza as being one of Naples main food groups...

He described it to me as being very onion based and told me the steps.

I promised to try it one day.

For a multitude of reasons I never got around to it but I spent my lunch today preparing it and have just had it for the first time.

I present to you my attempt at Genovese Sauce with pasta.

I’m sharing this story for two reasons. One - look at how bloody fantastic it looks! (It was delicious too).

Two - because the UK Government are celebrating ending freedom of movement and I can’t help but what a loss to our nation to miss out on everything Europe has to offer.

I’m sure some people will tell me that the internet is global and anyone can find a recipe.

The trouble is, without Nunzio and I meeting in London, sharing stories and asking questions I wouldn’t have a recipe that I can try out and go on to proudly cook for my own family.

I tried to find him on Twitter but I couldn’t. So, thank you Nunzio. Wherever you are.

P.S it was very onion based. This was for four servings.