Kitchen Table Projects On The Road

Next week we’re ditching the office and taking to the road for a foodie adventure! We’re heading off to Peterborough for the NPD Food Conference, to learn all about how products make the journey from kitchen table to supermarket shelf. We can’t wait to learn all about the different practical, legal, and creative elements that come together to get a product out onto the high street, and how to shine and shout out about your product once you get there. The conference will include loads of established keynote speakers from the industry, including Robert Kedzlie, managing director at NPD Direct, Michael Bennett, managing director at Pelican PR, Graham Childs, creative director at childsdesign and co-founder of The Artisan Food Trail, Peter Bennett, partner and head of food team at Roythornes Solicitors, Nicola Berry, supply chain manager at Lincolnshire Co-operative Ltd, and Claire Martinsen, founder of Breckland Orchard. Not only will it be a great opportunity to get some expert advice from some top industry insiders, but it will also make a great opportunity to chat with other up and coming artisans and food producers who love and value the same things as we do. It’s a great opportunity that is bound to leave us with (excuse the pun) plenty to chew over.

Interested in attending? the conference will take place on Wednesday 9th July, 8:30am-2:30pm at Kingsgate Conference Centre, Peterborough. To reserve your place for only £39+VAT, head over here or here. You can find out all the info in this document here. See you there!

Image by Flickr user Howard Walfish

MondayMotivation

We love this quote because we think this sums up what our artisans do everyday- daring to take the plunge to make their dreams possible! 

What's your #MondayMotivation? Tweet us @KitchTablePro

Taste Testing with Ben Tish and Discover the Origin

Some days, Lunch can’t quite seem to come round soon enough. But last Tuesday afternoon, Kitchen Table Projects got to chow down on some tasty treats at a food tasting hosted by Ben Tish from the Salt Yard. The tasting aimed to promote the ‘Discover the Origin’ campaign, a Europe-wide programme designed to raise awareness around five Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) products. The scheme aims to protect the heritage, character and reputation of precious food and drink by ensuring that imitation and often inferior products can’t be reproduced under the same product names. At Kitchen Table Projects, we love to support artisans and their unique crafts- so thought we’d pop along to find out a little bit more about this great programme.

Hosted by Ben Tish, Tapas expert and Head chef at The Salt Yard, we were given samples of Parma Ham and Parmigiano Reggiano (Parmesan to you and I) cheese to try, washed down with tasters of specialist Port, Bourgogne and Douro Wines. Ben explained to us the history of these products and talked us through the specialist nature of their production origins and the different quality standards assigned to each specialist product. He also discussed with us the production processes of each product, and it was amazing to hear how much skill, effort and genuine care goes into making each and every one of these products. And boy do these artisans have something to be proud of! The two types of Parma Ham that we were given to try were much more subtle and less greasy than similar products that you would find in the supermarket, and Ben showed us how the age of the parmesan cheese could really change the uses and flavour of the product.

The session was really interesting and informative, and the samples were really delicious. It was great to get to understand a little more about the heritage and production processes behind these delicious products, and support a worthy cause that aims to promote Artisans across Europe. More than anything, it was great to meet Ben and other like minded foodies who are just as passionate about where their food comes from as we are.

If you're keen to find out a little more about Discover the Origin, then take a little look at their website here. For now, here's a video of Ben appearing at London's recent Taste of London Festival to whet your appetite...

June at Kitchen Table Projects

Goodness gracious great meatballs of fire! What a month we’ve been having down at Kitchen Table Projects HQ.  There’s so much on the burners that we thought we’d give you guys a quick update on what we’ve been up to over the last few weeks.

For starters, we’ve finally launched our new website, YAY!  We’re still working on innovative ideas to make finding your way around as easy as possible so we’d love to hear from you! Take a look around here and, if you’ve got a few moments, drop us an email and feed us your thoughts.

We’ve also been chatting to lots of pioneering people about their cracking new start-ups and the services they offer. We caught up with Neeraj, from Tea People, who is on a mission to endorse the wonderful world of tea whilst simultaneously addressing educational development in Darjeeling- you can read all about it here on the brand spanking new Blog we've been working on this month.

Everyone we’ve been in touch with has been helping us to develop a food hub for emerging artisans and food producers by taking a couple of moments to fill out our short food producer survey. BUT even if you’re not a food maker, but rather a food lover, you can still help us out! We want to hear from you too - just take a look at our lovely Food Lover Survey.

On top of this we’ve also managed to find the time to start scouring London for the perfect place to set up shop. We’re taking our time to look for somewhere which will best showcase the scrumptious products produced by our amazing artisans. If all goes well, we could be moving into a permanent home within the next few months!

So there it is, just a few of the things we've been up to in June. If you'd like to hear more from us, we're always twittering away and we love to write, so why not check out our latest blog posts? Is there anything you'd like to see from us- maybe you're an artisan who love hearing about the latest business buzz, or just a foodie who can't wait to get their hands on a fab new recipe? Either way, we're open to suggestions, so get in touch!

Glastonbury- The Festival With a Big Social Heart?

This weekend, around 135,000 people will descend on the sleepy west country village of Pilton to attend one of the biggest and most famous festivals in the world: Glastonbury. Rockers of all ages will be donning their wellies and rain macs (or flip flops and shorts, if they’re lucky!) and pitching up their tents on the 900 acre site. Because of its huge size, Glastonbury has taken a lot of care to ensure that their festival is environmentally sustainable, working closely with charities like GreenPeace, as well using recycling, energy and water saving initiatives across the festival. But we wanted to find out more about the festival’s economic sustainability; the efforts they make to feed money back into the local community and the kind of opportunities for small independent businesses it offers.

Inside the festival, there are some great opportunities for small food businesses. At each festival, over 700 producers, makers and food stalls will showcase a range of diverse products to a crowd which, at its busiest, can reach 170,000 people. This means that the festival becomes a unique opportunity for small businesses to really make a name for themselves and radically increase their exposure over a relatively short period of time. What’s more, your average festival go-er is always hungry and thirsty, and can be found walking around aimlessly with pockets full of cash, on the look out for cool items to remind them of their awesome weekend. Because of this, trading at a festival like Glastonbury can be a really attractive prospect for many producers. If you’re interested in finding out about more about being a Glasto trader, the festival have teamed up with Le Rac Shack, who will be blogging about their trader experience at the festival here.

Naturally, this huge increase to the local population over the course of the weekend has both positive and more negative reparations. The festival creates over 1,000 new jobs, increases tourism, and in 2007, reportedly returned £35m of its £73m profits back to the local community, with businesses experiencing around a 56% increase in trade. Local businesses are drafted on site for the festival prep too, with Glasto spending £6m in 2007 employing local businesses. The festival also estimates that around £400,000 will be spent on local accommodation (for those who want to remain mud-free over the weekend) and just over £500,000 will be spent on fuel (for making that quick getaway back to work on the Monday morning). While increases in pollution and excess noise can drive residents up the wall, the festival bosses have worked with the local community to make sure that the festival has a positive impact not just over the weekend, but over the course of the year, too. Since 2000, Glasto has donated over £1m to local charities and good causes, including renovations, repairs and rebuilds of popular local structures. Top bod Michael Eavis even employs litter pickers and other workers over the course of the year to make sure the town stays spic and span.

So for some residents, Glastonbury will be the highlight of their year, for others, the thousands of rockers that arrive by the carload will be nothing more than a massive pain in the backside. Sure, the festival might be a disruption, but it's great to know that Glasto makes the effort to support both local businesses and small traders and be really sustainable. Now that's something we don't mind braving the mud for.

Pictures by Flickr users rodrigoferrari and Russ Garrett

Amazing Artisans: Neeraj Agarwal, co-founder and CEO of Tea People

This week, we’ve been catching up with Amazing Artisan Neeraj, co-founder and CEO of Tea People. They’re passionate about all things tea, and believe that it can be a powerful tool for social change. We love their idea- it’s great to meet people with a project that aims to a make a really positive change to the world around them. We caught up with Neeraj to get the low down on all things tea, start ups and social enterprise...

Tell us the story of your business. How did you come up with the idea?

I have been living in the UK with my wife Vishaka and two daughters since 2005. In 2009 during a catch up call with an old friend in our hometown of Darjeeling in India, Vishaka and I came to know about a school that was very poorly funded and was in urgent need of some repairs and assistance. The school served the children of tea garden workers and other impoverished villagers in the area. When we heard the stories of some of the children and their struggles and that of the teachers and community members trying to help despite their limited means, we felt immensely motivated and inspired.  We teamed up with our friend Gillian who at that time was running a charity of her own and had already done some work in supporting children in India. The three of us raised the required funds and provided the much needed assistance.



We could have just stopped there, but there was something that kept niggling us. We had discovered that the scale of the problem was far more widespread than that one school. Having found the entire experience to be hugely satisfying we wanted to do more to help, but realised that fundraising alone was not a very sustainable way of addressing the issue. Over a pot of tea, the three of us came up with the idea of forming a social enterprise. Since Darjeeling is known for its tea and UK is a tea drinking nation, we decided to bring the two together. The idea was to bring the richness of natural, high quality whole-leaf tea to the tea lovers of the world and give them a chance to change the lives of the children and communities living in and around the tea growing areas. This is how the idea of Tea People was born.



What was your motivation for starting your own business?

I grew up in a community that is known for its entrepreneurial talents, and I was very much influenced by the people around me there. It is said that business runs in the blood of Marwaris and almost everyone who belongs to this community has a rags to riches story. Over a hundred years ago, my own grandfather travelled thousands of kilometres through tough terrain from a small village in North India to Darjeeling which was then an upcoming remote hill station that not many had heard of. He started his new life as a bookkeeper at a local business, but very soon saved enough to rent a small shop and start his own garment retail business. The rest as they say is history. All five of his sons followed on in his footsteps and diversified the business further. I started my first business almost immediately after my first degree. Later, on completing my MBA at Cambridge, I was keen to return to the world of entrepreneurship, but spent a few years working in the corporate world before setting up Tea People, to gain some experience in a different environment.

What's the most exciting thing about being an entrepreneur?

Most entrepreneurs are extremely passionate about their venture. They have a very strong belief in their idea and leave no stone unturned to pursue it. It’s almost like raising a child. Seeing that ‘baby’ of yours take its first steps and gradually grow into a successful business is one of the most exciting things about being an entrepreneur. For me personally I am excited about the fact that the business I am building is also going to have a far-reaching impact to improving lives. The fact that I love tea is a also bonus! I always get excited whenever there is a new sample to try or when we have created a new blend.

What challenges have you come across?

Entrepreneurship is not for the faint hearted, and every entrepreneurial journey is rife with challenges. Most new businesses are low on resources and go through a period of financial  hardship before they become  successful. On my own journey, I came across challenges such as resource limitation, where I had a million different ideas about growing the business, but limited resources at hand meant deciding which ones were important to immediately act upon. At first I felt a bit lost on the ground; running the business on a day-to-day basis meant at times getting lost and slightly disoriented about the direction of the business. There have been instances where I have found myself losing sight of the big picture and overall business goals. I also found that with a mountain load of work and things to do, there never are enough hours in a day! It is also difficult to juggle between the various roles within the business, which could range from being a customer services executive at one moment, to marketing manager or accountant the next.

What advice would you give to someone thinking about starting their own business?

Do your homework and write that dreaded business plan (even if it’s something very basic), but don’t get caught up with the idea of perfection. Just take the plunge and go ahead with whatever you have at hand. There will always be the opportunities to further improve and refine your offering, ideas, product and strategy. You should also be persistent and tenacious – It’s very easy at times to get frustrated and give up.

What kind of business support do you want to receive or wish you had received?

In the UK there is a lot of support available for small businesses, but the problem is that there is a bit too much, which sometimes makes it difficult to get connected with the right kind of help or advice for your particular business. If there could be one organisation that would be the first point of contact for all entrepreneurs, pointing them in the right direction depending on their specific needs, I think that would be absolutely fantastic.

What would you like to see in a food hub that showcases new producers?

One thing I would like to see is a diversity of producers showcasing not just different types of food, but also cuisine from various different parts of the world. Being a vegetarian, I would also like to see more vegetarian options, which is something you don’t see much in this country.

What do you think about our big ideas and what we are trying to achieve?

At the moment, there are only a limited number of outlets for small artisan food producers. Most of those outlets are of temporary or of specialist nature, such as a food show or an event. Giving them a space on the high street is an excellent idea. It would not only give an outlet to the producers, but would also give a chance to the normal people to taste some of the amazing products which they would have otherwise not had a chance to try.

If you're interested to find out more about Neeraj's story and his fantastic products, you can find Tea People here on Twitter, or on their website www.teapeople.co.uk

Are you an Amazing Artisan who wants to be featured on our blog? We'd love to hear from you- drop us a Tweet @KitchTablePro with the hashtag #AmazingArtisan or send us a message to hello@kitchentableprojects.com

The Real Stars of Center Court: Strawberries and Cream

Wimbledon is all about tradition. There is no arguing that when the the covers come off the Courts on Monday next week, Tennis (and the hope of another successful year for Andy Murray) won't be the only thing on everyone's minds. The sun comes out, Sue Barker makes a welcome return to our screens, and everyone heads off in search of the tournament’s snack of choice: strawberries and cream. And it’s not just strawberries that get supporters munching during the Tournament. In fact, Wimbledon is the largest annual catered sports event carried out in Europe.

But boy do we love our strawberries; on average 28,000kg of them will be picked, prepared and enjoyed with 7000 litres of cream by around 53,500 visitors to the ground over the course of the Championship. According to the top bods at the ground, the strawberries served are Grade 1 English strawberries from Kent, which is super important, not only because it supports the British economy, but also because pickers can pick the fruit right at its peak, meaning that we can eat perfectly ripe and juicy strawberries at their best time. Wimbledon also ensure that all their products are from LEAF registered farms, a scheme that aims to promote sustainable farming methods that produce food of a high environmental standard. So although strawberries are consumed in their masses during the tournament, Wimbledon continues to adhere to tradition and support British producers.

So the story of the Centre Court strawberry starts on a farm in Kent. The strawberry plants first start to develop in Spring, producing their first fruit around June, when the strawberry experts from Wimbledon come to make sure they have the best strawberries with a good colour and shape. To ensure freshness, the strawberries will be picked the day before serving, arriving at Wimbledon at around 5.30am, where they are inspected and hulled.

At Kitchen Table Projects we think its great to hear that Wimbledon support local British farmers and sustainable farming methods. We might not be heading to Wimbledon to watch the action live, but will definitely be enjoying some fresh, local strawberries to get in the spirit! If you want to do the same, why not check out your local farm shop or PYO to pick up some sweet treats, or if you’re feeling a little more creative (and the British weather forces us inside) then why not try this fab recipe that we love here at KTP. After all, if the British fail on the court, then we might as well take on the kitchen!

Your June Store Cupboard

June is a great time to cook and eat some great seasonal fruit and veggies. The sun comes out (okay, sometimes the sun comes out) giving you the perfect excuse to kick yourself out of the kitchen and explore your garden, local farm shop or independent greengrocer. Trying something new doesn’t have to be fancy, expensive or pretentious- sometimes the best discoveries are the ones we’ve been living with right under our noses.

The Garden Pea is one of the many greens that are at their best in June, but for a lot of people peas are eaten mushy and that’s it. Peas are, however, a really versatile ingredient and make a great alternative to your standard lettuce in a salad. Here at Kitchen Table Project HQ, we can’t wait to try this recipe with our roast chicken for a summery take on a Sunday Roast.

Another great green to try in June is the Broad Bean. Like the pea, this tasty little legume makes a great starring role in lots of dishes, and is super easy to grow if you do fancy embracing your inner Alan Titchmarsh.  We think that this broad bean and chorizo risotto would be just the thing for a satisfying friday night sups.

June is also a great time to be eating Courgettes, another green that has been getting a fair bit of attention recently for its fantastic health benefits. It may be super healthy, but we can’t resist a brunch plate piled high with these amazing Courgette fritters. These little beauties are just calling out for fresh coffee, salsa and sunshine- the perfect weekend treat! And if you’re feeling extra indulgent, finish off with a slice of this Courgette Loaf Bake- sounds weird we know, but the courgettes make the mixture super moist, plus it's super easy to make. Trust us, you won’t be able to pass on a slice!

Asparagus is another green that is great when picked and eaten in June. For us, there is no better way to enjoy it then grilled in a bit of butter and then used as a replacement (or an addition!) to your egg and soldiers.

Fruitwise, it can’t be denied that June is the month of the Strawberry. Without it, Pimms wouldn’t be the same, scones would feel naked, and the spectators at Wimbledon would be sure to have a bit of a breakdown. Strawberries are delicious on their own as a summery snack, but there are tonnes of delicious recipes around for you to try. This Strawberry Pavlova looks far too tempting to resist!

Another great but underrated June fruit is the Gooseberry. Gooseberries can be quite hard to find in the supermarkets, so it’s best to look for them in your local greengrocer or independent market. If you do manage to get hold of them, we recommend having a go at this yummy Gooseberry Custard tart. A bit more technical than your standard pavlova, but we guarantee it will be worth the effort!

What have you been eating this month? Tweet us @KitchTablePro with the hashtag #EatFresh

Forget the Football- The Brazilian Food Festa Right Here in London

Its official- England, along with the rest of the world has entered in to a state of football frenzy. This June thousands of people will be flocking to the Southern continent to cheer their country to victory, but you don’t have to venture halfway around the world or even be a football fan to enjoy the festa. In fact, as Kitchen Table Projects have been discovering, there’s plenty of ways to experience a taste for Traditional Brazilian and Latin American culture right on our doorstep here in London.

It is no secret that Londoners love South American food- not just eating it, but cooking it too. Whether it be the battle for the best Burrito in London (for us, its got to be Daddy Donkey near Farringdon- Lunchtime in the office regularly leaves us dreaming of the Carnitas Daddy D) or the newest exciting Brazilian street food stand- If you’ve got a hankering for some salsa and some spice, London pretty much has the answer.

After a more traditional taste? There is a whole bunch of really great independent deli’s, markets and Latin American grocers across London that source and sell traditional, specialist Artisan products. Our favourites have to include Empório São Paulo (Parson’s Green) and La Bodeguita (Elephant and Castle). Here you might pick up some traditional Brazilian Requeijão, a ricotta-like cheese with a creamy taste that’s great in salads, or Linguiça, a cured sausage similar to Chorizo. Or jump on the Victoria Line and head north to the Seven Sisters indoor market, where you can find an abundance of traditional Latin items produced by local native foodies and crafters. Be warned, this is not your average fruit and veg market; the Latin Salsa music blasting and the smells of spices and amazing food cooking will leave you wondering whether you really did make it to Brazil.

A taste of Latin London with be incomplete without a visit to one of the many independent Latin American restaurants across the capital. You can expect to be served anything from a huge variety of dishes; from Feijoada, a stew made from black beans and cured meats that has widely been considered to be Brazil’s national dish, to flavour fusions that mix Traditional British food with a Latino twist, London pretty much has everything.  We love the menu at Prima Dona in Brixon, which is based on traditional Brazilian street food (plus its right next to the Kitchen Table Projects office so its a perfect lunchtime treat!) We also think that it really great how John Rattagan, the chef at the Buen Ayre (Hackney) draws on his experiences living in Buenos Aires and uses the techniques in his cooking that he learnt whilst living there, such as the art of the asado (the Latin equivalent of a BBQ). Camden has its own quirky offerings; both Coco Bamboo and Made in Brasil offer great menus as well as a tasty take on the Brazilian favourite Caipirinha Cocktail. But if you seriously know your cocktails then Cocobananas, a Brazilian Beach shack in the South of London, is the place for you to head- plus they’ll be showcasing the football live from huge screens if you’re keen to stay updated on all the action.

There’s also some great one off events happening around the city as well. Another great place to enjoy the party is at Boteco Brasil in Soho. This gigantic party  will immerse you in Brazilian culture by not only showcasing the football, but will also host cookery and cocktail classes, Brazilian martial arts and samba demonstrations, as well as live music. Or if you’re really serious about getting into the Brazilian spirit and learning about their culture, then why not book yourself into one of Jenius Social’s special World Cup cookery classes and learn to cook, as well as eating, great authentic Latin American cuisine.

So whether you’re a football fan who is keen to embrace the spirit of the event, or just someone looking for a slice of Latin culinary culture, make sure to support these great independent artisans, makers and producers to experience food which not only tastes amazing, but tells a great local story, too.

Kitchen Table Projects Visit the South of England Show 2014

This weekend Kitchen Table Projects headed down to the South of England Show in Ardingly, West Sussex. Despite some initial doubts after a morning downpour that left us reaching despondently for our wellies, by the time we arrived at the showground the sun had made a welcome return and left us with smiles on our faces and ready for the day ahead.

And what a beautiful day it turned out to be! Not only was the weather perfect, but the show was really fab and it was great to see so much support for British farmers, makers and produce. Giving makers and producers the opportunity to attend shows like this really gives them the chance to tell their stories and shout out about how fab their products are. It was wonderful to see so many people passionate about such a variety of produce. The showground was huge, showcasing a huge variety of produce, products and animals. From pigs to pygmy goats, bees to handcrafted beer- you name it, they had it!

There was also loads of events that took place throughout the day, and as we visited the show on the last day, we were lucky enough to see the final prize winning breeds and meet their farmers. My favorite had to be one of the prize-winning Highland calves; how can you not fall in love with this little guy!

Other noteworthy events that took place during the day included sheep shearing and horse shoeing demonstrations, as well as a number of horse trials, including a Shetland Pony Grand National (don’t be fooled- they might be small but they sure are fast!)

Nor did we leave the show with empty stomachs. With two huge food halls and markets, there was a huge variety of treats to satisfy even the most diverse foodie tastes! There was plenty on offer to taste and purchase; shout out to the man on the Wrights Original Stall selling the delicious lemonade and ginger syrups- you were so friendly and enthusiastic, and it was lovely to see someone put so much passion into selling their products.

By 6pm the crowds were thinning, the sun was beginning to disappear behind the South Down, and it was time to make our way home. We had such a fantastic day...we’re already looking forward to next year!

Amazing Artisans: Benjamin Bonetti

This week we got chatting to Benjamin Bonetti, an established self-help author & hypnotherapist, fitness, nutrition and well-being coach. He launched his Pro Raw Chocolate Bar this April, a healthy chocolate bar that is made using Whey Protein powder combined with  80% stone ground raw chocolate. The chocolate is Fair Trade and aims to promote a healthy lifestyle based on eating foods in their nutrient dense, more easily digestible raw state. We caught up with Benjamin to chat about his experience in the world of start ups.

How It All Began...

Benjamin said that he saw a clear ‘niche in the market’ for his healthy chocolate Bar. His inspiration to develop this kind of product came from his own ‘passion for health and fitness’; a combination of the three naturally drove him to the development of the chocolate bar that exists today. For him,He said that his product is ‘something that everyone wants but no one can buy’, tapping into the popular health food market and aiming to make a product that is desirable and accessible.

Why Did You Want To Start Your Own Business?

Benjamin said that having ‘been an entrepreneur for the last ten years’ the main motivator and the best thing about being an Entrepreneur and starting his own business was ‘the freedom to do as I please.’ He says that he has a ‘no nonsense approach to business’ and his products.

Spreading the Word

Spreading the word about his products came predominantly through online channels that targeted his existing customers. Benjamin said that using social media played a large role in his market strategy, with ‘80% of marketing spent using social media channels.’ He said that for his business, this was the most successful way to target his demographic, as ‘it provides geographical and consumer specific targeting, which minimises the cost-to-delivery.’

Challenges

On being asked about any challenges he faced during his product’s journey from conception to production, or if he now knew anything that he wished he knew before he started, Benjamin replied that ‘Everyday something new has to be learnt; it’s the understanding that nothing is static which produces true entrepreneurialism.’ We have to say we agree- the world of start ups is a fast-paced and ever-changing place to work!

What Do You Plan to Do Next?

‘It’s a secret…watch this space!’

We look forward to finding out more!

If you’re interested in following Benjamin’s independent foodie adventure then you can find him here on Twitter, or on his website, http://www.benjaminbonetti.com. His Pro Raw Chocolate Bar is available to purchase here.

Are you an Amazing Artisan who wants to be featured on our blog? We'd love to hear from you- drop us a Tweet @KitchTablePro with the hashtag #AmazingArtisan or send us a message to hello@kitchentableprojects.com

Meet the Team: Nicky

Hi everyone, my name is Nicky.

Having recently graduated, I really wanted to do something creative. As an editor of my University paper, I was really interested in independent ventures. I knew how important it was to give independents a voice, something that might otherwise be lost next to huge multi-national businesses that don’t leave much space for the little guys.

Kitchen Table Projects really interested me because I’m mad about indies and I’m mad about food. I’m a massive foodie - I love Mexican if I’m eating out and I’m a bit of a dab hand at meatballs if I’m cooking at home. When I’m not busy cooking it, eating it or sharing it, I love writing about it too. I’m also bit of a nerd… On a lazy Sunday afternoon, you’ll probably find me curled up on a sofa with a cup of tea and a good book or walking around the National Gallery. I love to travel, next on my list are Australia, China and Japan – but I’m just as happy with a weekend away in Cornwall too.

So that’s pretty much me! I’m really looking forward to properly sinking my teeth (if you’ll excuse the food pun) into everything – I’ll be in charge of the Kitchen Table Project blog, so watch this space!

Fun Fact: When I was 9 I won a Blue Peter competition by drawing a picture of the queen for her Jubilee- and I got to meet Quentin Blake!