Food has always had my heart. While I studied fine art and graphic design, and dabbled in advertising and running my own fashion boutique, gathering people to eat and share stories across a table has driven the majority of my life and my career.
So much so, in fact, that my dining-out habit led to a life-long friendship with and mentorship from the late Antonio Carluccio. Under his tutelage, I honed my skills as a chef and since then I’ve collaborated with many more – from Gennaro Contaldo (another dear friend) and Raymond Blanc, to Anna Del Conte and Mary Berry.
I’ve lived in Paris and London, and now the West Country, and as such I’ve cooked in all sorts of settings. I was a food stylist for the weekend section of The Telegraph. I created my own catering company that has seen me cook all around the world and meet the most interesting people. I’ve been head chef at bakeries, cafes and restaurants in and around Bath (from Iford Manor to JAQ at The Provenist). I’ve also enjoyed supporting scores of other food writers over the years by organising the food to accompany their book launches at the iconic Topping & Co bookshop.
These days I run a field kitchen near to my home, where I host foraging lunches and cookery classes, and I’m soon to open another restaurant in Bath.
I’m most well known for my appreciation of Mediterranean and Middle Eastern cuisines, with big flavours, lots of colour, and vegetables taking a starring role. And, of course, my bakes.
My debut cookery book, The Saffron Table: Food for Gatherings, is out this autumn.
