Rustie cooks up a taste of the Caribbean

Mar 27 2008 by Joanne Douglas, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

CARIBBEAN cooking queen Rustie Lee stirred up the interest in Huddersfield.

She left the kitchen behind as she visited book and cookery fans in the town.

The chef, actress and singer met fans at Waterstone’s in the Kingsgate Centre, where she signed copies of her first recipe book since 1984.

Rustie, who is set to appear in EastEnders next month, spoke about returning to her homeland, Jamaica, to source ideas for the book Rustie Lee: A Taste of the Caribbean.

The larger-than-life chef said: “I had an absolutely brilliant time.

“It was the first time in many years I had been back and the people were so warm and welcoming.

“When we were cooking on the beach so many people were coming up to see what was going on and giving us their views on my food.

“They all loved it of course and said it was some of the best they’d ever had.

“What is important to me though is that anyone can cook these recipes.

“They are simple, they include ingredients you can buy anywhere and they are delicious.

“I’d do it all again with pleasure; it was such great fun and I really hope people enjoy cooking the dishes and trying something new.”

Rustie was the first among celebrity chefs after appearing on TV-am in the early 1980s.

She has also made regular appearances on This Morning over the years.

Copies of her old cook books are being sold online for more than £50 and are much-sought after.

She hopes her new book, which includes an aphrodisiac cocktail, will be a hit with the many fans who queued up to meet her.

In April she will make a brief appearance in EastEnders as the battle-axe aunt of street cleaner Gus.

She has already filmed her scenes and loved playing the vibrant Aunt Opal.

She said that walking on to the set of Eastenders was surreal.

“I had an absolute ball doing EastEnders,” she said.

“I remember the first time I walked on to the set and saw Phil’s Jaguar car and the Queen Vic.

“All the cast were so lovely, they were coming up and asking me to cook for them and it was so funny when I saw Patsy Palmer (Bianca) and she shouted ‘Ruussttiiee’ in the way she does.

“I’m meant to be a bit of a battle-axe, but I think Aunt Opal is a lovely character.

“Who knows, I may go back if the audience love her and want to see more of her.”