About

My earliest memories are of running around my grandparents herb garden and of fun family meals.  I have always loved food, which certainly helped when growing up in a foodie family. However, my initial career choice was in the corporate world and it wasn't until 2003 that I dedicated myself to cooking full-time. I completed the Diploma course at Leiths School of Food & Wine, becoming a qualified chef.

Travelling has always been a big inspiration, and the food experiences I've had in Singapore, India, Mexico, Egypt and Morocco have stayed with me. Fortunately, the use of fresh ingredients, herbs and spices is nowhere near as determined by wealth or class in these countries, as it so often is in the West.  We lived in Singapore in the mid 80s which was quite an eye-opener for us kids, and soon my love affair with chilli was born.

I have been involved in various ways with Herbie's Spices, representing them in the UK and my biggest achievement so far has been writing over 60 recipes for the Herb & Spice Bible, second edition (called Spice Notes & Recipes in Australia), which has just won it's category at the IACP Awards in Chicago.

I have worked as a freelance chef and home economist before deciding to start Love to Cook. I have also worked at the wonderful Divertimenti cookery school in London.