Fashion & Beauty

From cymbals to blenders, chef Jamie Oliver’s ingredients for life

Jamie Oliver got his start in the kitchen at age 8, cooking in his parents’ pub in Essex, England — which is where his “Naked Chef” nickname may have first emerged. “According to legend,” Oliver posted on Instagram, “I used to dance naked on the windowsill to welcome the customers!” Since then, the (fully clothed) 43-year-old has served up a restaurant empire, multiple hit TV shows and more than 20 best-selling cookbooks. His new “5 Ingredients: Quick & Easy Food” (also a TV series now airing on PBS stations) offers 130 recipes that — despite their stripped-down approach — pack a flavorful punch. Oliver and his wife of nearly two decades, Jools (a children’s clothing designer), are parents to five children. Those chefs-in-training helped inspire Oliver’s charity work — including the “Feed Me Better” school-lunch program he launched in the UK and his Fifteen restaurant in London, which helps unemployed young people launch careers in the food industry.

Here are his most beloved tools of the trade.

“Not only is every recipe in this book quick and easy, but every single one uses just five key ingredients, cleverly combined to deliver maximum flavour, with minimum fuss.”

“5 Ingredients: Quick & Easy Food” cookbook by Jamie Oliver, $22.50 at Amazon.

“I’ve been drumming since I was 11 years old. Get a little one, and just whack it when you get excited.”

A Zildjian 18-inch “Crash Ride” cymbal, $260 at Zildjian.

“The pestle and mortar is one of the best bits of kit you can have in the kitchen. Use it to bash up amazing spice combinations and muddle together homemade pastes to kick off fragrant homemade curries.”

Large molcajate and tejolete (mortar and pestle), $60 at Williams Sonoma.

“A dirty weekend in Iceland? Iceland is a really cool corner of the earth. I’ve been a few times, and I love the people, the food, the music, the culture.”

Day pass to the Blue Lagoon, Iceland, from $58 at Blue Lagoon.

“I love the classic designs and quality pieces from this British  brand.”

“The Twin” track jacket, $705 at Private White VC.

“For me, it’s all about the vinyl. I love my record player.”

Linn “Klimax LP12” turntable in oak, $25,260 at Innovative Audio, 150 E. 58th St.

“A friend introduced me to this whisky society, which gives you access to some amazing bottles.”

Scotch Malt Whisky Society membership, from $95 at SMWS.

“Jools and I were about to celebrate our 18th wedding anniversary and I had no idea what to give her. We share an obsession for old-school, vintage hi-tops and I thought how cool it would be to design a bespoke pair for her!”

“Stan Smith” shoes, $80 at Adidas.

“My Bamix blender is always out on the kitchen top at home. I use it for so many things – blitzing up salsas, blending dressings, making punchy pestos. It’s brilliant.”

Bamix immersion blender, $200 at Williams Sonoma.

“This is just the nicest after-shave I have ever smelled in my life — also the most expensive. Key ingredient: whale vomit [ambergris].”

Creed “Aventus” after-shave balm, $105 at Neiman Marcus.