For many years, friends and family have been encouraging me to put to paper my life story - one of adventure, triumph and disaster, international cuisine (including cooking for everyone from the late Queen to the homeless), roaming North America and Europe, particularly France and Italy along the way finding out about people, places, cuisines and most of all myself!
This is my story!
This is my book. Through food, people and places, I have tried to capture my journey. It has taken me 15 years to write but during that time I have actually had two of the best jobs in the world
- one involved cooking for the homeless at The Upper Room https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gewFbUa8FYE
- the other for a classical musicians seminar in Cornwall.
These and many others made me the person I am, although I knew from an early age that I had a different connection with people irrespective of their background or circumstances.
My book is scheduled for publication in late July 2025. Publication details will be posted shortly. Meanwhile, if you want to get in touch please email me at this address
Buy the book and see the recipes!
“They would have blockaded us a few miles later with guns drawn!”
We set off towards the setting sun into New Mexico and continued our journey to LA through the Arizona desert. We were flagged to stop for speeding by the State Police outside Phoenix, Arizona. We ignored them for some miles and finally had to stop when another Police car ca
“They would have blockaded us a few miles later with guns drawn!”
We set off towards the setting sun into New Mexico and continued our journey to LA through the Arizona desert. We were flagged to stop for speeding by the State Police outside Phoenix, Arizona. We ignored them for some miles and finally had to stop when another Police car came from the opposite direction on the Central reservation with all lights flashing.
“I now realised I was in trouble.”
On Thursday 2 November, I stayed at work a little later than usual to help the sous chef clean up in the kitchen after a busy lunch. I could see there was more chaos to clear up than usual. At about 3.30 pm a woman and a man entered the kitchen and showed me their ID, saying they were RCMP - Royal Canadia
“I now realised I was in trouble.”
On Thursday 2 November, I stayed at work a little later than usual to help the sous chef clean up in the kitchen after a busy lunch. I could see there was more chaos to clear up than usual. At about 3.30 pm a woman and a man entered the kitchen and showed me their ID, saying they were RCMP - Royal Canadian Mounted Police – aka the Mounties - although they didn’t have their horses! They were from the immigration section and asked to see my ID.
“I saw to my horror that I’d left the saucepan with the Smokie on the flame”
In 1981, I received a phone call from Doki, a good friend and colleague from Fingal’s Bistro days. She had recently been hired as the full-time chef for Princess Anne at her home at Gatcombe Park in Gloucestershire, UK. She asked me to come down for a long weekend
“I saw to my horror that I’d left the saucepan with the Smokie on the flame”
In 1981, I received a phone call from Doki, a good friend and colleague from Fingal’s Bistro days. She had recently been hired as the full-time chef for Princess Anne at her home at Gatcombe Park in Gloucestershire, UK. She asked me to come down for a long weekend in late November to help her cater for the Queen, who was coming to stay for her annual visit. I said I would be delighted, and Doki put the wheels in motion for me to be vetted by Royal security.