I remember my first cooking demonstration at Aylesford Farmers’ Market back in 2015. I didn’t know which direction I would be heading in career wise at that point, but I knew I liked being part of the cookery theatre, of being on stage and seeing people get involved with what’s going on.
That first demo I made a one pot chicken dish using products, including the chicken, that I bought at the Farmers’ Market. This is a tradition I have maintained where possible and there is ALWAYS an element of ‘Ready Steady Cook’ to my recipes. I sometimes see what’s left in the fridge at home and top up the ingredients directly from the market. It works for me and I haven’t had any disasters to date.
The young man with me in this picture is Matthew Kearsney-Lawson, from Kent Fine Foods. I love being on stage with him and we get a lot of interaction from the audience as well as being able to eat whatever’s cooking.
There is something charming about going to a local Farmers’ Market and buying local produce. I always end up buying a fair amount of my groceries for the following week, ready to play that make it up as I go along cooking game in the comfort of my own kitchen. Good food doesn’t have to cost the earth, and it doesn’t have to be complicated to be enjoyed. Simple cooking using quality ingredients is becoming more and more important in my own kitchen.
