Celebrity chef Tom Kerridge has defended selling £87 steak dinners at his pubs following major backlash as he reflects on the cost of the living crisis.
The MasterChef star, 49, who runs six restaurants in London, Manchester and Buckinghamshire, came under fire for the costly price of sirloin steak and chips at his pub, The Hand and Flowers, in Marlow, Buckinghamshire.
Those wanting to dine at the pub can expect to pay hefty prices for their main courses as a steak served with onion rings, béarnaise and triple-cooked chips will set you back by £87.
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Kerridge has defend the decision to sell expensive meals at a time when millions of people across the country are struggling to make ends meet.
(Image: Dave Benett/Getty Images)
He told The Times that people should not be “punished for making good money” adding that “you don’t help to feed children by making successful people ashamed because I am one of those people”.
The chef explained: “I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, if you want to ride in a Bentley, it costs money. If you’re on a budget there’s an intensely farmed Ford Focus available round the corner and that’s fine by me.”
(Image: Wales Online WS)
He added that he is angry over the cost of living crisis, but told the publication people who make “good money” should not be “punished” in the meantime.
Tom said: “It makes me angry there are more food banks than branches of McDonald’s in this country.
“But I also think: never punish people who are making good money, who’ve achieved a great lifestyle. You don’t help to feed children by making successful people ashamed because I am one of those people.”
(Image: Ash Knotek/REX/Shutterstock)
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He explained how the steak is form a cow which has been grass-fed for two years. The meat is then slaughtered, butchered and hung, which takes another month.
Tom then added how he will only get 10 steaks, which cost £25 per cut, before he needs to pay his waiters and Michelin-level chefs before he forks out for energy bills, cleaners, which he said will add £35 and the government take on a further £18 in VAT.
The chef added that he’d be “lucky” to make a 10 per cent profit of around £9 on the dish, which he said would go towards replacing essentials such as knives and cookers.
It comes as shopping bills have surged at the fastest rate since 2008, with the average house’s grocery bill jumping by £533.
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
