For the first time ever, Dozer has agreed to sit down with me for a candid interview to share an insight into his life.
In this explosive interview that took place in his very own home, he spills the beans on what it’s really like to live the Life of Dozer!
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Dozer, it’s been a tumultuous year. What’s your take on COVID and how it’s affected your life in 2020?
COVID? What is that, a new snack? I don’t recall getting any.
Errr, no. It’s that world-devastating-virus, the reason your mum has been at home with you 99% of this year. You didn’t notice?
Oh. I thought that was just because she wanted to hang with me. I really was not complaining that she didn’t travel overseas this year.
Though having said that, I do miss my own vacations at the golden retriever boarders’ place…
OK. Well, let’s move onto a topic you are more knowledgable about. I’m fascinated by this job you do – Official Taste Tester. What are your key responsibilities?
My job is to taste food made by my mum that she is considering sharing on this website, and to give honest, objective feedback.
What an interesting job! Do you have any formal qualifications?
No, it’s something I have a natural talent for, and a field that I have always been very interested in.
I do work hard on self education every day, seeking every opportunity to hone my skills and expand my palette, from breakfast, lunch to dinner, from anyone, anywhere. See?
And do you consider yourself a high performer employee?
[Chest puffs with pride] I’ve been told by my mum that my eagerness is commendable and that my passion for food is unrivalled.
She has also praised me for the speed at which I do my job ie. eating the food I am sampling. I am fast!
Your mum cooks a LOT. Do you get to taste test a lot?
Not as much as I am willing to do, that’s for sure. I feel like my mum is suppressing my ability to do my job to the fullest of my abilities.
I’m not sure what you mean. Can you expand on this?
For example, she makes a roast beef. I am the RecipeTin Eats Official Taste Tester. My job is to TASTE IT. Yet, I get nothing more than a tiny sliver. How am I to determine if it is a good recipe or not without a sufficient quantity to sample??
Well Dozer, word on the grapevine is that you think EVERYTHING tastes good…
Tabloid lies! I have a very sophisticated palette. Like – kale. YUCK! Pork crackling. YUM! See?
Err, yes. Excellent examples. So – moving on.
Low point of 2020?
The Mystery Tummy Pain of 2020. Ooooh, that was so painful, I was hiding in far corners of the house curled up in pain. I’m so lucky my mum got me to the emergency hospital so quickly. They thought it was something scary when they started doing tests on me. It turned out to be….well, just gastro.
Wait – so everyone was super stressed about you being seriously sick and it was just gastro? Sounds like a case of Tummy Man Flu, if you ask me…..
[Sulking tone] It was BAD, I’m telling you. Even the vet thought I was like DYING of something nasty! I even turned down roast chicken. Everybody knows that’s my all time favourite food!
Plus, they shaved me to do scans. My privates were exposed for all the world to see. My mum had to use the Modesty Flowers on my photos for weeks!!
High point of 2020?
That Perfect Day, when I bounded out of bed at 6 am, my mum prepared my home cooked meal straight away, then we went off to the dog beach to play with my friends. Came home to a warm shower, snoozed in the sun to dry off.
Chased birds in the backyard, chatted to my neighbours’ dog through a hole in the fence, rolled around on the grass, played with my toys.
Finished off the day with a swim in the pool followed by a big juicy bone, homemade dinner then off to bed.
Sounds delightful Dozer. And when was this Perfect Day?
Yesterday! And the day before. Wait, and the day before that, and the day before that….. 😇
So basically you mean every day is a Perfect Day. That is Life of Dozer!!
What would you say your greatest asset is?
My looks. I’ve been known to make grown men give up an entire drumstick using just my looks.
And finally, I think it’s fitting to finish with this question: Best food memory of 2020?
That time mum was teasing me, showing me a Custard Tart she made with no intention of sharing it with me. Then she dropped it. #Karma
Ha ha! You certainly seem to live a charmed life Dozer!
Thank you for taking the time to chat to me. We look forward to seeing what 2021 holds for Life of Dozer!
Happy New Year everyone! Usually, I’d see out a year with a post filled with party foods to celebrate New Years’ Eve. But given this year will be (very!) quiet for many of us, I thought I’d do something a little different.
Hopefully it gave you a bit of a laugh!
I’m sure I’m not alone in saying that I won’t miss 2020. We’ve got more challenges ahead in 2021, but surely things can only go one way – UP!
Here’s to better times ahead! Keep smiling, stay safe, and sending big (virtual) hugs to you all!
– Nagi & Dozer xx
Well done Dozer. You are just tooo modest. Of course now you are a celebrity you will be having media chasing you. Beware the false media!!
Look forward to more recipes from ya mum 😉
What a lucky day (for me!) around a year ago when I stumbled across your magnificent website Nagi… every time I see your email has arrived it puts a smile on my face. 😁
Thank you for the sense of connection you have brought me/us this year, your humour, the care, your love of food and the peek into your life. I have been inspired many times and throughout 2020 you’ve been like a joyous ray of hope, distraction and sunshine.
Big love .. 🌈 Pink. London, UK
Thoughts and prayers for you and all in England at the moment. Stay safe mate.
Thank you for your wonderful Dozer interview. I hate to admit that I click on to “Dozer” before looking at your recipe!!
However, I love everything you present – so much so that I usually cook whatever is posted…….the same night.
Thank you and Happy New Year to you and Dozer. Can’t wait to hear from you next year.xxxxx Marg
Absolutely fantastic interview with Dozer brightened up a chilly North Wales, UK morning, and thank you for all your recipes this year, let’s all hope 2021 is a better year for the whole world.
Happy New year to you Dozer and your family.
Hi Nagi
A big thank you for brightening up our life’s with your delicious and impeccably presented recipes and for sharing Dozers enviable life which always makes me smile
Happy new year to you both
Thanks so much DOZER. i am a huge fan of yours🐾
Hope you have a great 2021 and continue to do lotsa sampling☺
That was priceless Nagi. He’s a beautiful dog. Have a wonderful New Year.
That was awesome! Dozer is adorable and so lucky to have a Mum like you!!
Hopefully 2021 is a better year. I’m looking forward to what recipes you are going to send our way!
Love the interview and the magazine-like cover!!! Happy New Year to you and Dozer!
I really enjoy reading about Dozer he is a joy (the recipes are fabulous too) keep up the great work!!!
I LOVED the interview of Dozer. He is certainly a celebrity canine if ever…he reminds me of my GR Jasper, May re Rest In Peace. Am now mini schnauzer owner, but adore Dozers input to your blog! May you both have a much better 2021 than this last one. Your posts have been a highlight for me in a year in which I rediscovered the joy of cooking. Bless you (& Dozer) xxx
Hope you and Doser have a great (quiet?) New years eve
Dozer is the best! Here in the States a humorist wrote the only good thing that happened to us here in 2020 was that no one was killed by our Killer Wasps, bit he added he hoped he was right. Dozer has been the good of 2020. Oh, and the food is delish!
Happy New Year lets hope its a lot better than last year. Love your recipes cant wait to see your next creation
So entertaining! Dozer brings a smile to my face with his antics! You are both lucky to have each other…our fur babies are just the best. Happy New Year to you both ♥️
What an amazing team!
Hilarious & funny that made everyone smiles from the heart .
So lively just like watching ABC news live telecast . This Interview made a good 2021 new year gift
What a darling pair you are. Wishing you both joy for 2021. Keep the lovely recipes coming and Dozer, keep testing. 🤪xxx.
Nagi, the interview was genius! You always put a sparkle in my eye with your delicious recipes, and Dozer always brings a smile to my face with his antics and that beautiful face! I’m so glad that I found your website so full of delicious recipes and the ongoing saga of Dozer. Thank you for taking us away at least for a while from all of the sadness and devastation of this virus. Thank God 2020 will soon be over. There is at least hope now with the vaccines being created and dispensed. I’m just listening to the news of a new and more contagious strain of the virus hitting California so I hope it is short-lived.
Thank you for all you and Dozer do for so many of us!!! Your emails always brighten my day. Happy new year, sweetie!
Loved Dozer and his wonderful life… thank you so very much. You always bring me lots of smiles… Thank you again and again!!!!!
Thank you Nagi (and Dozer) for teaching me how to cook this year. The one positive thing that 2020 has been for me is rediscovering the art of cooking, learning lots of (yummy) new dishes and proving to my boyfriend that I can actually cook! But I could not have done this without your website and your receipts. You rock Nagi!