I live in Surrey, UK, with my wonderful partner Simon, my mischievous cat Pippin and my unashamed love of both crime fiction and musical theatre. And don’t even get me started on my Victoria Wood collection or my Golden Girls box sets!
In my professional life I am a Maths teacher, and now a Food teacher, having taught for almost 30 years. Teaching remains both exciting and rewarding for me and as a teacher I love to learn, especially with my cooking.
Cooking has always been a significant part of my life, inspired by my gran and my mum, so to have been chosen as one of the 10 contestants on BBC1’s Britain’s Best Home Cook was an honour. You can read all about my fun exploits on the programme here.
I love all cooking; for me it is the best way to lose myself in a very happy world. In the world of cooking, though, baking epitomes total comfort for me; it’s possibly also a form of therapy for me -and it is certainly my “go to” when I want to relax.
My world of food: often retro-inspired, but with an updated take
While I love to cook anything, I certainly have a soft spot for “retro” food, but I am also inspired by current trends IF the end result is a great plate of food that is not overly fussy.
Basically, if it tastes great, regardless of the era from whence it came, then I want to know how to make it!
Give me a vol-au-vent bursting at the seams with a full-flavoured filling or a generous slice of a good Black Forest Gateau and I am a very happy boy.
While any of these might be considered somewhat naff, they really doesn’t deserve that reputation.
Reviving dishes that have either fallen out of fashion or are all but forgotten, is of great interest to me, and I always get joy when I research such dishes and make them at home.
That said, a full-on roast dinner with all of the trimmings (great veg dishes, sauces and condiments) ticks every box for me any day of the week!
Putting my twist on favourites
I love to put my own stamp on food, whether incorporating a subtle twist or going all out with a full re-working. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t – but that is all part of the fun of cooking.
My kedgeree-inspired tarts, which were selected by BBC Good Food Magazine as their Readers’ Recipe in their 25th Anniversary issue, are are my affectionate homage to that great dish. My recipe for these tarts can be found here.
Humble ingredients, great dishes
I love how just a few humble ingredients can often be turned into something quite majestic. Using ingredients that are lying around the kitchen cupboards and the fridge, and without needing to spend hours in the kitchen, can result in great dishes. Nothing needs to get wasted in the kitchen, and this approach is one of the driving forces in my cooking.
The dishes in the photos below were all made quickly using just ingredients I had to hand.
Anyone for nibbles?
Buffet-type food has always excited me: there is something wonderful about grazing on a plateful of goodies and then going back for more! I love to prepare and eat food you can nibble on: canapés, platters and Afternoon Tea treats.
I would actually forego a full meal for a selection of good nibbles – as long as they keep coming!
Afternoon Tea is actually one of my foodie hobbies, and I try to fit in at least a couple each month, as well as preparing it for others. It is always a great opportunity for me to indulge in my creative side. My recipe ideas on Afternoon Tea can be found here.
Cooking with the seasons
Making use of seasonal produce is an important part of my approach in all of my cooking and I particularly love the challenge of finding new dishes with the produce.
We are fortunate to have an allotment which is a great haven. In any month of the year there is produce that can be made great use of in the kitchen – and that never fails to both excite and inspire me.
Ambitions!
I have many ambitions and wishes, which I appreciate are more like wild dreams. That said, one of my greatest ambitions – to cook on television – came true this year when I was chosen to participate in Series 1 on Britain’s Best Home Cook.
Being on Britain’s Best Home Cook was hands-down the most exciting thing that has ever happened to me.
I enjoyed every moment of my time on the show, not least getting the opportunity to cook for Mary Berry, Chris Bavin and Dan Doherty. And to have Claudia Winkleman, one of my idols, bouncing around the kitchens and being a terrific support, was a real thrill.
It is probably greedy to have other ambitions after this, but I will allow myself a moment of greed! My other ambitions include:
- To publish a cookery book: I create recipes all the time, of which only a small proportion are on this blog, and I have so many book ideas drafted.
- To run more cooking demonstrations.
- To write about food professionally.
- To have my own tea shop, serving quality Afternoon Teas: great sandwiches, scones, pastries, cakes, savoury items……mind you, pop-up Afternoon Tea events is right up my street!
- I have a weakness for Reality TV and to dance on Strictly or go in the jungle are also mad dreams of so many years. Essentially a way to lose weight!!! If only they let one non-celeb person each series participate…….
All insanely daft dreams, but it is fun to dream!
Contact
Please feel free to get in touch, as I love to chat with others. I can be emailed here or contacted on social media by clicking the relevant buttons on the top right of this page.
Some useful book recommendations in here. Now I’m following your blog I hope to pick up more book tips as you find them!
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Thank you. I am currently getting stuck back into Donna Hay’s “Modern Classics” – so hard not to cook from it. Similarly I have just re-visited Nigel Slater’s “Real Food” – a joy of a read with such a warm writing style.
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Hi Philip,
Thank you for following my blog. I’m glad to have discovered yours as well! 🙂
Ronit
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A pleasure, Ronit. I am loving your blog
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Likewise! 🙂
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I am happy to have discovered your blog because i love baking. The aroma of freshly baking bread in the oven is awesome.
Please do check my blog http://www.aromasandflavours.com which has a few attempts at baking..
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Thank you. Yes freshly baked bread smells wonderful; there is nothing quite like it . Just made your coffee brined chicken from your blog – was gorgeous!
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Thank you for trying.It really turns out good…
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Thank you Philip, you are a true artist and a fantastic teacher. I am enjoying your blog and baking bread….again. You are a poet.
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Thank you so much for your kind words
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Philip,
I recently read your advice and description on the macaron making process. I just want to say you ought to be congratulated for the time and effort you would put in to help make it easier for others to learn from your own trials and errors. Fantastic writing skills! Great site!
Thanks Alvin (Perth, Australia)
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Thanks Alvin, very nice of you to say so.
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Philip, thank you so much for your blog. It has become something of a guilty pleasure for me. I don’t know how you find the time but I am glad you do. Keep up the great work. Rhiannon
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thank you Rhiannon. It’s always a pleasure to bake and to post, and it always does seem to fit in….somehow. Thankfully!
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I found your blog from a picture on Google images and ice just spent two hours reading through. I want to read more but I’m off to the kitchen first! I love baking for friends and family and cheerfully admit I do so excessively and is about to get much worse! I live in upstate NY now and miss the bread in England especially as bad here is quite vile. I can’t wait to try some of your recipes 🙂
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Hi, thank you for following the blog and welcome. I am glad you are enjoying reading through it. Yes, baking for others can be something of an addiction! New York is one of my favourite cities in the world (a close second to London for me!) – always an exciting place to visit, not least for the theatre (a huge love of mine) and some wonderful restaurants. Philip 🙂
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Philip, your love for life and everything kitchen shines through each paragraph of your entertaining and informative blog !! So nice to have found you via a friend in Australia 🙂
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thank you for your very lovely words, Anna, And you are most welcome to the blog. Kind regards, Philip 🙂
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Philip, your bakes do look majestic. I suspect plenty of inspiration coming my way after the discovery of your blog. Nothing makes me lose my breath as looking at these magnificent creations. Thank you. Irena
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That is very kind of you to say so Irena. It is always nice if fellow bakers are inspired by something on the blog. Regards, Philip
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Every time I visit your delicious blog, I am in awe. You are quite talented and I am envious. I have to visit more and learn from you. 🙂
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Thank you Fae. That means a lot, especially coming from you 😀
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I’m so happy to have stumbled upon your blog!! It’s a beautiful collection of food and photos 🙂 very inspiring, I hope to start my own some day soon. All the best – Amy
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thank you for your kind words, Amy. Yes, it is great fun to start up a blog and a wonderful hobby/passion
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Loved reading your About page! (and no, I did not get your blog as assignment this month, so it’s a real innocent visit)
😉
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Innocent visits are to be highly encouraged 🍰
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I love your blog! Full of fantastic tips and recipes, clearly written and so inspiring! Its book marked and will become a definite ‘go to’ for sure! Thank you so much
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Thank you so much Angela, and a very warm welcome to my blog. Best wishes
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I’ve literally found your blog and website, it’s simply ‘fantastic’!
As a fellow teacher, your instructions are perfect, many thanks for sharing 😊
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Hi Nat, thank you very much. And it is great to “meet” another teacher on here
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Hi Philip. Love your recipes and your photography is awesome.
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Thank you very much, Sanjeet. Best wishes
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I’m so glad to have found your blog/website. Recipes are great and well explained. Goodluck with your bucket list of ambitions. I’m sure you will be achieving them! Please let me know when the cookbook is available – would definitely be adding it to my collection!
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thank you Lorna. If I ever am fortunate to get a book published I will let you know. Best wishes 🙂
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I only found this bog today and I love it! Am going to try find your show / season as soon as I get back from work and I’m sure I’ll have a cry if you didn’t get first place (no spoilers!).
Seriously though, I hope you’re still planning to publish a book because I would definitely order it – Thank you for sharing your recipes!
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Hi thank you for your lovely words. Yes, the programmes are on YouTube: great fun to watch
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