She’s been described as the ‘Queen of Irish cooking’ and celebrity chef Rachel Allen is showing her cooking secrets at the BBC Good Food Show Winter at the NEC in Birmingham.

It’s Friday afternoon. What’s on your mind?

Most of my mind is thinking about how I’ll navigate our sons’ – Luka’s and Joshua’s – hectic sports calendars, what food I need to buy and what meals I’ll fit in around everything. However there’s a small (but vocal!) part that’s just wondering when I can have a gin and tonic.

Who normally has the pleasure of your company at the weekend?

Well apart from my husband and my children, it’s usually my sons’ football trainer or rugby or athletics coaches. If there’s time left I may get to spend it with friends in the evening.

How do you prepare for a big night out?

It’s been so long since I’ve properly had time to prepare, though I was never one to go get my hair done and spend hours putting on make up. I’m normally ready within 20 minutes these days, even if it’s a big night out.

What’s your favourite party outfit?

Well it changes, depending on the party really. I think my favourite though is always just the outfit I’ve got for the next party.

You’ve just arrived at the bar. What’s your first drink?

While I do love Campari and orange my first drink is almost always a gin and tonic. I adore Hendricks with a lovely bit of cucumber and not too much tonic! I like to have just one but it has to be a good one.

What is your favourite nightspot and why?

It’s probably sitting around at the table of a friend’s house, sharing good food and wine. Of course I do like to go out as well. Our local pub, The Blackbird, has been closed for eight months now and it’s been tough. Thankfully it’s now open again. It really is a fantastic pub. It’s the kind of place where anything can happen. It could be a quiet cosy night with the fire burning, or it can turn in to fairly wild night of dancing to either a DJ or live traditional Irish music. There’s always people you know in the Blackbird.

What tune always gets you on the dance floor?

I do love the Stones, but while I’m always quite particular at the beginning of the night, by the end of the night it’s hard to drag me away and I don’t mind what’s playing.

It’s a sunny Saturday. What are you up to?

I would love to say I’m spending the whole day gardening, tending to my vegetables and doing away with the weeds. In reality, though, I’m probably driving to football matches, rugby practice or hockey. I’m not complaining as I love to support my children’s sports, but if I get a spare moment I’ll spend it with my garden.

What’s your most memorable weekend ever and why?

One of my most memorable recent weekends was taking a trip to San Sebastian with a big crowd of friends. We ate some truly amazing food and drank fabulous wine in one of the restaurant capitals of the world. When we weren’t eating we were exploring the lovely little side streets.

What’s the recipe for a perfect night in?

For me of course there has to be great food. Ideally a big pot of something that we can all share and preferably some delicious red wine. Even better if there’s a warm fire and I’m with family and friends.

Favourite DVD? And what would you eat while watching it?

I’m looking forward to Jane Eyre coming out on DVD. I read the book years ago and I love it. Other than that probably a full box set of The Wire. To eat, anything delicious I can eat with a spoon out of a big bowl.

Sunday breakfast – cooked or continental?

Definitely cooked. We have some really lovely pig farmers near us who make some of the best sausages I’ve ever had. Along with that they do amazing bacon. Combine those with freshly cooked pancakes, maple syrup and eggs fresh from our hens. To me that’s a perfect breakfast, if it’s Sunday, Saturday or any day of the week!

Sunday lunch – home-cooked or the pub?

As a cook I have to say home cooked. We often do roasts of course the quintessential Sunday lunch. Roast beef is a firm family favourite, but strictly only if there’s béarnaise or horseradish sauce. Having said that our local restaurant The Herring Gull does great lunches that we indulge in from time to time.

Where and how do you like to relax?

In bed on a Sunday morning while my breakfast is being cooked for me, with a cup of tea in one hand and a telephone in the other, my sister at the other end of the phone. When I’m feeling a bit more energised I do like going for runs with a friend.

You’ve got a whole weekend off and a wad of money in your back pocket – which country or city would you head to?

I’d love to go to Rome. I’ve never been and I want so much to try the food, experience the culture and see the whole city. A friend has been and she tells that everywhere you turn there’s something spectacular to see.

* Rachel Allen will be at the BBC Good Food Show Winter at the Birmingham NEC from November 23-27.