Timo Maas has been on a 30-year quest to deliver his musical wizardry to the world, but he also has a passion for cooking. With Christmas only a few days away we caught up with Timo to get his top tips on cooking for family and friends…

“As many of my friends already know… with the same love, I do my music, I also like to stand in my kitchen and prepare food for my family and friends. I started a while ago an Instagram account @timolovescooking, which contains mainly my self-cooked food.

I wouldn`t really say, there is this ONE signature dish, I like to prepare… mostly I`m influenced by my travels. For example, I have recently been on a longer tour of the Americas and spent a week in Peru, where the local food got just voted the best food in the world.

I`m trying my skills to capture the authentic taste at the moment… bought a very good cooking book, and got my Peruvian advice too. Ingredients are sometimes a bit tricky, but thanks to the internet, you can get everything, or at least an equivalently for the right taste.

A few weeks ago I was preparing dinner for friends that contained a bit of Peruvian, Japanese and Chinese dishes.

Tuna Tataki, Salmon Tartare with Dill, Ceviche, Asparagus in garlic & Oyster sauce several Maki Rolls, Kimchi, cold Soba Noodles with spring Onions, Japanese cucumber salad with ginger and lime, creamy crayfish salad etc. I love to have a whole bunch of different tastes… Like in my music, I don`t really play a particular sound/cook a particular style, I try to tell a story.

My challenge is variety and to see the happy faces of my dinner guests… „