My Favourite Holiday: Chef Jak O'Donnell's menu of sun, snow and fresh air

Jak, who runs The Sisters restaurants in Glasgow, also starred in two series of BBC’s popular Great British Menu.

Jak, who’s 47, lives in Glasgow with husband Ewan and their two kids, Jemma, 11, and nine-year-old Fraser.

I started as a pastry chef then went out on my own so I didn’t have endless head chefs shouting at me.

I do love the kitchen environment. But it’s obviously hot and pressured, and you spend long, long hours in there without even a window to look out of.

So when I’m not at work I want to be in the open air as much as possible, soaking up 360 degree views.

There’s something about breathing in fresh air that’s good for the soul and there are a couple of places abroad that we go to for that.

We’re into skiing now and we go to the French Alps a couple of times a year if we can, New Year and Easter.

It’s a place called La Rosière in the northern Alps which has a reputation as being the sunniest resort. So you’re out on great snow, enjoying the sunshine too.

And, honestly, it’s not nearly as posh as you’d imagine.

The other place for bracing air is the Algarve, near to ports such as Vilamoura.

But while we love foreign holidays, the place that’s closest to our hearts is the east coast of Scotland, especially North Berwick.

When I was a kid we never went abroad, it was always holidays here.

I’d go to East Lothian with my parents and my granny. I’m not even sure it was a caravan we stayed in, more of a hut as I remember.

The funny thing is that it turned out that’s where Ewan spent his childhood holidays, too.

So when we started courting that’s where went – and still do.

In fact, I’m there so often I’m sure people who live there think I’m a local.

The weather always seems to be better, somehow, and I got into the habit of phoning the pub there for a forecast before we left the restaurant in Glasgow.

Then we’d drive through at midnight so we’d be there for a walk along the beach first thing the next morning.

It’s always a brilliant way to start your break.

Jak And Eddie’s Scottish Kitchen, which is on Mondays at 8pm.

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