Interview: Michelin-starred chef Richard Corrigan

The bushy-tailed nut munchers have apparently gone down a treat with the discerning diners at his eponymous Mayfair restaurant, as he told The Wharf.

"We do our bit to keep the numbers down. We brought in 90 and they've all gone," he said. "The taste is somewhere between a beautiful wild rabbit and chestnuts. It's really good meat and people forget it's squirrel. It's got a lovely nutty flavour to it. But I must say I don't shoot them myself."

Those with an aversion to feasting on their furry friends will be reassured that Corrigan will not be dishing them up when he takes part in the Taste of Christmas show at Excel next month. He will be running a version of his famous Bentley's Oyster Bar instead, although he's starting to wish he hadn't put his name forward.

He said: "It's been giving me sleepless nights. I'd forgotten how much hard work doing these shows can be. But I'm delighted to be doing it really. I took part in the Taste of London in the summer and that was a great experience.

"We'll be doing hot oyster dishes at Excel, things like rockerfeller and tempura oysters. I think people will love it."

Bentley's has a special place in the 45-year-old Irishman's heart as he worked there when he first pitched up in London. He jumped at the chance to buy the venue when it came up for sale in 2005 and he has had no regrets since.

He said: "It's fallen on hard times and I have rebuilt it as it was. I will cherish and love it so that the next generation won't be able to say an Irish boy ruined it. It's very important to me."

Unlike certain other top chefs Corrigan has been keen not to spread his considerable talents too thin, preferring to focus on just the two restaurants.

He said: "I'm a happy-go-lucky kind of guy. I've no plans to open lots of restaurants, I just want to keep what I've achieved already. I've a great team around me. In fact, I'm just the conductor looking after the little things, the business just runs itself.

"If a bus crawled over me tomorrow, although it would have a problem as I'm a big lad, someone else would be able to carry things on just as they are."

Fans of good food will be hoping that doesn't happen, especially with some excellent oysters set to tempt the tastebuds next month.

The Taste of Christmas is at Excel from December 4-6. For tickets, costing from £19 in advance, are available from tasteofchristmas.com.

For a chance to win tickets to the event click here.