Toast journeys back to look at a young Nigel; we get a glimpse at what may be the start of Nigel's passion for food. While most young boys were playing with others and getting skinned knees, Nigel admired (in more ways than one) the time he spent with the handsome, intriguing gardener who taught him the glory of freshly grown food that you've tended yourself. Nigel's mother was not a great cook; she preferred to open a slew of cans to get dinner on the table (much to Nigel's horror). He never stopped trying to add a little variety to the family table, though. However, Spaghetti Bolognese was a bit too unusual and "off" for his parents, it all came back to toast.
Nigel lost his mother at a young age, and his father quickly remarried - this time to a woman (Joan Potter) who was a stellar cook. Since Nigel loved food, and heard that it was indeed the way to a man's stomach, he and Joan were locked in a constant battle for his father's affection with their kitchen efforts.
