The one ingredient celebrity chef Tom Kerridge will never use in his restaurants

Celebrity Chef Tom Kerridge, 51, and proprietor of multiple gastronomic hotspots, has disclosed one particular food item that is banned from his kitchens.

Despite owning a venue in the prestigious Harrods and possessing establishments sprinkled throughout the southeast, he made it clear on TikTok which ingredients are a definite no-no at his eateries.

In a Q&A session with fans, Kerridge responded to user John McKay's query: "What is the one ingredient that will never enter your kitchen?" The chef is known for his use of classic pub and grill house experiences through London, with burgers and fish and chip dishes served up with Kerridge's own twist.

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Chef Kerridge confirmed he would never serve more out-there items and "exotic" meats were a no-go for his restaurants. He explained: "Do you know what there's quite a lot of, like, exotic style meats, you know. Things like ostrich or crocodile or... it's just nothing that would ever, ever, ever make an appearance on our menus."

So, diners with adventurous palates won't find such unique proteins on his menu. Kerridge, awarded two Michelin stars for The Hand and Flowers, a restaurant he opened in February 2005, adheres to traditional tastes.

His second establishment, The Coach, was graced with a Michelin star post its opening in Buckinghamshire on December 1, 2015. Meanwhile, his latest endeavour, The Butcher's Tap and Grill, unlocked its doors in Chelsea on December 5, 2023. This follows The Butcher's Tap's successful launch back on November 17, 2017, in Buckinghamshire.

The chef also confessed his least favourite part of food preparation, stating: "The idea now of doing two, picking two boxes of spinach is just like, that's my worst nightmare." Salisbury-born Kerridge offers upmarket takes on pub classics, including a fish and chips meal which costs £37. TikTok user James Dimitri tried the food and while the batter of the fish was "nice and crispy", he was left disappointed by the fish which kept "leaking loads of water."