My London: Loyd Grossman

TV presenter and pasta sauce maker Loyd Grossman cogitated,
digested and deliberated before telling Kate Church what he loves about London. From the red buses, blackouts at Le Caprice to shopping in Selfridges - he's a happy man when he's in town.

Where do you live and why? Fulham. It's a wonderful place to live with a family, has a great atmosphere, and is not a very self-conscious part of London.

How long have you lived there? I've lived there for nearly 20 years.

What advice would you give to a tourist? I would advise them to remember to look for the quirky things, not just the big iconic attractions. London is extremely big, urbanely complicated and rich in terms of the experience it has to offer. I've lived in London for 30 years and not a single day passes when I'm not enthralled by it.

What is your earliest London memory? Arriving here to go to the LSE and being on the bus from Heathrow. I remember thinking how small the cars were and I was amazed that red buses were not just in Bond movies or invented by the BTA!

Harvey Nicks or Selfridges? Selfridges. It's an exciting shop. You get the sense they are always trying to make it better and more intriguing for the customer.

What do you miss when you're out of London? The sound of a black cab's brakes. You hear that sound everywhere in London.

What are your favourite home comforts? My books. I'm a pretty eclectic reader and love to reread books. I recently reread War and Peace, and it was like reading a different book.

What would you do if you were Mayor for the day? It's the duty of the Mayor to look at where we went wrong with the Underground. It's the single thing that would improve the quality of life for Londoners.

What is your life philosophy? Try to have a sense of proportion. You should always be aware that you are not the first person and by no means the last for something to happen to you.

What were the last books you bought? The Age of Van Eyck by Till Holger Bochert and the latest Pevsner, The Buildings of England, London and Westminster.

What are your favourite shops? John Sandoe, just off the King's Road. It's one of London's top two bookshops. It's a classic overcrowded shop with amazingly knowledgeable and helpful staff.

How do you get around town? A combination of foot - it's a wonderful city for walking - taxi and bicycle, when I am feeling brave.

Do you have a favourite pub? The Blackfriar by Blackfriars Bridge. It has a fantastic Art Nouveau interior and is wonderfully higgledy-piggledy.

What have been your most memorable London meals? In the early days of Le Caprice, having lunch in a power cut. Chris and Jeremy, the then owners, calmly came round to explain the situation. The other was dinner at The Savoy, 18 April 1983, when my wife and I had our first date.

Where were the last three places you went on holiday?Toulouse, Venice and Milan. I'm stimulated by the civilised Italian lifestyle and the formidable regional distinctiveness. Italy also has the optimum amount of culture, shopping and eating.

What was the last play you saw in London? The revival of My Fair Lady. It's a brilliantly lavish production with great music. I enjoyed it immensely.

Who is in your secret address book? Emilia's Deli on the New Kings Road is a superlative Italian delicatessen. I could spend all my time eating through the stock - it's exceptional.

What aftershave do you wear? If I were a habitual aftershave wearer, I would wear Bay Rum. It comes from the West Indies and consists of rum infused with distilled bay leaves. It's delicious.

What was the last CD you bought? Latino Lounge. I've come to love Latino sounds, especially Cuban music, from trips to the Caribbean.

What are your extravagances? Neck ties. I love Hermès ties, but I am giving a large number to the Chelsea Arts Club in aid of the Artists' Benevolent Fund. Also, good food. I love having the odd halfhour for food shopping.

What is in your summer wardrobe? Comfortable deck shoes, in particular John Lobb.