Book Brahmin: Simon Hopkinson

Simon Hopkinson is a partner, director and founding chef of Bibendum, the London restaurant. His column for the Independent received multiple André Simon and Glenfiddich awards. Hopkinson is the author of Roast Chicken and Other Stories, which knocked Harry Potter off Amazon.com's British bestseller list when it was named the most useful cookbook of all time by a panel of chefs, home cooks and food writers. His new cookbook, Second Helpings of Roast Chicken, was published October 7 by Hyperion.

On your nightstand now:

Re-reading Patrick Gale's Rough Music.

Favorite book when you were a child:

The "Uncle" trio of books by J. P. Martin, illustrated by Quentin Blake, who has also illustrated all Roald Dahl's books. Uncle is an elephant.

Your top five authors:

Patrick Gale, Joanna Trollope, Patricia Highsmith, Bart Yates, Richard Olney.

Book you've faked reading:

None.

Book you're an evangelist for:

Call Me By Your Name by Andre Aciman.

Book you've bought for the cover:

I don't think I have ever knowingly done this. Maybe Spiderman comics, a long time ago.

Book that changed your life:

Richard Olney's The French Menu Cookbook.

Favorite line from a book:

"Alternate the sensations. Burn your mouth with a crackling sausage. Soothe your burns with a cool oyster. Continue until all the sausages and oysters have disappeared. White wine, of course." From Edouard de Pomiane's Cooking in Ten Minutes.

Book you most want to read again for the first time:

The Talented Mr. Ripley by Patricia Highsmith.