Eating With Seal

The musician on veganism, his speakeasy playlist, and addiction to popcorn.

Do you enjoy cooking?

I joke about this imaginary cooking show I have, Cooking with Seal. It revolves around me essentially cooking the same dish every time and the tagline is “a recipe for disaster”. That should tell you all you need to know.

How would you describe your diet?

I’m vegan with pescatarian tendencies. My reason for veganism isn’t to avoid eating meat, though, so if I felt like having a steak, then I’d go and have a great steak. I just haven’t felt like it in the past year.

What’s your favourite type of food?

French mountain food. I love snow, the mountain mentality, the freshness of the air. The truth is I feel more alive on a mountain top than I do on a beach.

Who does it best?

La Soucoupe, a restaurant in Méribel in Les Trois Vallées, in the French Alps. My favourite thing there is the anchovies. They’re not like those horrible ones you can get on a Caesar salad. These are in olive oil and are quite long and super-thin. They have a beautiful delicate taste. That’s my flavour.

If you could eat one thing for the rest of your life, what would it be?

I love popcorn. And really trashy, shitty popcorn, too. There’s this one kettle corn that’s like crack. It’s brutal and I can’t stop, which is why I avoid it.

What was on the dinner table when you were growing up?