Then, one extraordinary lunch switched on a light bulb, a Michelin-starred light bulb, that led him to swap the spreadsheets for stove tops. Wouldn’t it be great?”That lunch led to his career pivot. In 1999, he opened The Sportsman in a rundown pub in Kent – long before local and seasonal menus were de rigueur. Extract from The Sportsman at Home by Stephen Harris(Quadrille, £30.00)Christmas Ham Glazed with Mustard and Brown SugarChristmas ham glazed with mustard and brown sugar. Remove the pan from the heat and leave the ham in the cooking water to cool for a few hours.

Source: The Irish Times December 21, 2025 09:58 UTC