Sometimes there are things in life that you should say ‘yes’ to without thinking, rationalising or worrying over. With every action we decide to take there is a chance that things could go wrong. But there is also the possibility that it could be amazing. Going to work at In Sabina in 2014 was definitely a decision to be taken quickly before my brain reminded me that I don’t speak Italian, I’m not a natural traveller and two months is a long time to be away from the husband and guinea pigs. But when someone asks if you want to chef at a vegetarian yoga retreat an hour from Rome, it would be ridiculous to say anything but ‘yes’.

Whilst discovering my true creative passion in Italy, I met some wonderful people, Rachel Bonkink being one of them. A yoga teacher who brought several groups to the retreat, I had the pleasure of feeding her and her yogis and as well as following some of her classes (when you could drag me out of the kitchen). She has given me the opportunity to go on and chef with her in other venues around Europe and Morocco, exploring and developing my love of vegetarian cooking.

With a little break from the travelling side of things for a short while to have a baby, I’m looking to continue my creative journey in the future with plans to chef at a monastery in Wales with a local yoga teacher in 2019.

I went out with some mummies last night to @beththefreerangechef Pudding Night and one of the mummies piped up and asked me ‘so what are we having tonight’ Puddings I said and puddings we did get! And lots of wine and giggles! A marvellous idea and brilliantly executed by Beth who by the way has a 4 month old breastfeeding baby Esme. Her husband just brought her along to the evening and took her to her Mummy when she needed a feed! You should be proud, it’s bloody hard work and you nailed it. We women are something else! 💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻 if we want to and are determined enough we can have our cake and eat it 🎂🍰 Follow her to join her for her next pudding night.

Ping Coombes

It was SO difficult to chose a favourite. Everything had just the right balance, nothing was too sweet and I did’t leave feeling like I’d been overdosed on sugary treats. There were take away boxes to use but I have to say my friend and I cleared the LOT! Read the full review here…

Emma aka The Happy Wise Owl

” Great night out with friends. Amazing cakes and a fab atmosphere.’

” Loved the marathon of cakes and puds. Much more interesting than your standard desserts.”

” Excellent presentation and use of great quality ingredients.”

” Loved the ability to take bits home. Final dessert was the best!”

” I would come again and recommend to friends. Very generous portions leaving you very happy and full.”

” Couldn’t possibly give a favourite pudding as they were all amazing. Couldn’t believe some were gluten free and dairy free.”

” Your sensational culinary skills have sent me to my happy place! ”

” Lovely mixture of flavours on each platter. Profiteroles and treacle tart were stand out triumphs.”

” What a treat for a school night. See you next time.”

APRICOT DATE & ALMOND
Vegan & Gluten Free
9”x9” tin lined
Oven on 190/GM5
Handful of apricots sliced and layered in the tin
Mix together with electric whisk
- 200g fat (coconut oil/rapeseed oil)
- 150g date syrup
- 2 tbsp ground flaxseed mixed with 4 tbsp water and left for 10 mins - 100g whole almonds, toasted then coarsely blitzed
- 100g gf doves farm plain flour
- a few splashes of almond milk to loosen up the batter
Bake for about 25 minutes in the middle of the oven. Allow to cool in the tin for 10 minutes before gently turning out and serving warm, perhaps with a dollop of yoghurt and some rhubarb compote🙏
Pic @alicewhitby

From the Retreats…

“⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Wonderful retreat chef whose smile and energy fills our kitchen from the moment she arrives. Always happy to host her at our place in the Belgian Ardennes.”

” It is so hard to choose favourite dishes because there wasn’t one I didn’t love. In N.Y we are surrounded by Italian restaurants but your Parmigiana Melanzane was the best I ever had!”

” I just love your food. Please can I take you home?! I never imagined that vegetarian food could be so great.”

” Thank you so much for making non-dairy food non-boring. I really appreciated all the variety you gave us all and also the inclusiveness of making non dairy/non gluten food and desserts.”

” It was healthy but very very tasty. Every day another meal, inspired by another country. And your singing, your passion and the colours of the food made it complete.”

” Beth, I’ve had the best week of food ever and have looked forward to every one of your culinary delights. You are like a fairy with all your sprinklings of goji berries, nuts and chia seeds.”

“Your food is amazing. Don’t you ever stop cooking!”

For Cakes & Sweet Treats…

This is a big thank you for the macaroons you provided for my wedding. They were delicious, looked so so good and were a huge hit! So many compliments and wanted to pass them on to you.

Beth makes THE most delicious cakes with the best ingredients! I have ordered a number of cakes, including my daughters fabulous christening cake, which tasted divine and everyone loved! Beth also has incredible customer service and will always go above and beyond!

Beth made the most incredible traditional white wedding cake for me. I could honestly not have been more delighted!

I got married at Bath Abbey, during which Beth worked diligently and swiftly with the florist to set up the cake at the reception venue. When I arrived I was stunned by how perfect it was. Just so clean cut, classic and superbly decorated. Exactly everything I had hoped for.

Most importantly, it tasted divine! I am gluten intolerant and the fruit cake Beth made had the most incredible flavour and so moist. The cake didn’t fall apart when it was cut, and the icing wasn’t too thick. My friends and family couldn’t believe it was gluten free.

Considering how popular it was, the cake was never-ending. For such reasonable prices, the size and quality of this wedding cake was not compromised one iota. I’m very grateful to Beth for her fabulous and friendly service.

For Wedding Catering…

Thank you again to you and your team for providing such superb foodand brilliant service on our wedding day – we can’t thank you enough! It ran so smoothly and all the staff were extremely helpful, goingabove and beyond for our guests. We are really happy with how theday went and everyone commented on how amazing the food was; best food they’d had at a wedding, such nice vegan food, expectingbuffet food to be sausage rolls etc and so pleased that it wasn’t, but instead something different and very yummy.Dave and I are so so glad my mum poked her head through the windowlast summer to say hello!

Jessica & Dave May 2018

From the outset, Beth was totally on board with our 1970s retro festival wedding vision and designed a funky menu to suit. Beth was a breeze to work with and the food tasting session she did for us was incredible, so much so that we asked her to make our wedding cake too! For the day itself, we were astounded by how she catered for 130x guests plus present a trio of stunning wedding cakes in what was one of the hottest week’s on record! The quality of the food was excellent and all tasted delicious. Beth and her catering team worked so hard on the day and went above and beyond for our wedding. We couldn’t recommend her more - a very talented lady. Thank you Beth.

Lou & Rob July 2019