miguel jimenez

Where are your favourite places on tour?

“Anywhere in Spain is good for me because of the language and because I love the food and the wine. But it doesn’t matter if you go to Paris, Hamburg, Frankfurt, Rome or to London; these are all big cities, they all have good places to go and enjoy a meal with friends.”

Do you cook?

“Yes, of course. My specialist dish is Spanish paella, but the real Spanish paella not the stuff you get all around the world – that’s nothing like Spanish paella! Anytime we have a party at home – all my family live nearby so they all come around - I will cook paella for 30 or 40 people. Fantastic! Now is the perfect time of the year to have sardines, they are beautiful and greasy sardines, I make them on the barbecue.”

What would you have for your last supper?

“I don’t know. That’s a very difficult question. I love food, it would be impossible for me to choose. It’s the same with wine. I love Riojas, Riberas del Duero… I love all kinds of Spanish wine.”

Do you drink French wines?

“Yes, of course. Sometimes I drink a French red, sometimes I drink Californian wine, but my palate is more used to Spanish wine.”

Did you start smoking cigars to stop smoking cigarettes?

“Yes, I stopped smoking cigarettes six years ago. I used to smoke cigars occasionally, but when I gave up cigarettes I carried on with the cigars. I am mad for smoking cigars. I love it, I really love it. It’s very nice.”

Where do you buy them?

“At home in Spain. I buy Cuban cigars –

the best, of course.”

What cars are you driving at the moment?

“A Ferrari and a BMW M5. I have had the Ferrari since December ‘98 - I am still in love with it. The M5 is a great car too.”

Do you have a clean licence?

“Yes, at the moment I do. I have not been caught speeding for some time now.”

» Miguel_Jimenez Part 4