chef fiona nz - private chef cornwall

awards, achievements and accolades

So to my credentials…I have been cooking for most of my life and started learning by cooking alongside my mother from when I was tiny. One of my favourite things was to eat uncooked biscuit or cake mix. I know I am not alone with that one! I was 7 years old when I started cooking the Sunday roast for my family and baking bread. I was definitely hooked.

I am classically french trained and completed my culinary degree in New Zealand, in Christchurch, but I absolutely love food from all over the world, especially Asia! I became so focussed on being a highly skilled chef, that I was the first student at college to get 100% in the professional cookery diploma. I worked in a few kitchens while I was completing my rigorous training. I used to help New Zealand celebrity chef MIchael Lee Richards with his cookery demonstrations and parties, which I absolutely loved. My first professional cooking job, once I had qualified, was at the prestigious Canterbury Tales Restaurant at the 5 star Park Royal Hotel in Christchurch New Zealand (which was sadly destroyed in the earthquakes of 2011).

At 23, I had my first head chef role, looking after a brigade of 12 in a 60 bedroom hotel with a bustling bistro and wood fired pizza oven in the centre of Christchurch. I desperately wanted to travel and learn more so I moved to Auckland where I worked at top restaurants in Devonport and Parnell to save some money before heading for the UK.

Through my culinary journey in the UK, I have held Executive and Head Chef positions at a number of Cornwall's most prestigious hotels and restaurants, including being the Training and Development Chef at Jamie Oliver’s Fifteen Cornwall, in its inaugural year. I managed to pick up a few accolades on the way including being named as one of the top 10 female chefs to watch in the UK, in The Independent on Sunday and some AA rosettes too

FOOD WRITING

Several publications have been kind enough to put me in print including Yes Chef, Her (NZ), Food Magazine, Flavour, Cornwall Today, Inside Cornwall magazines, the West Briton and not forgetting Four Lanes' Starling News. I have also dabbled in food writing, with feature articles for the Western Morning News and Home Farmer Magazine. With featured recipes in the Great Cornish Food Book and the Great Cornish Fish Book. 

I am lucky enough to often cook for guests staying in many of the exceptional houses, managed by Perfect Stays which is always such a joy! https://www.perfectstays.co.uk/blog/luxury-foodie-holidays-devon-and-cornwall I am delighted to be featured in the Perfect Stays Blog. See here for the lowdown…I am also in their latest promotional video!

Check out an interview with Cornwall Cottages https://www.cornwallcottages.com After one of their guests mentioned my services, they contacted me for an interview, which can be viewed here

FORBES

I recently contributed a piece to Forbes regarding food trends for 2023. Previously they picked up my views on food trends for 2022

A REVIEW IN THE TELEGRAPH

Very happy to get a mention in this review by the fabulous Nicole Mowbray of Telegraph Luxury about Shun Lee in St Ives where I cooked before Christmas. What a great start to 2019! Click here to read the full article

There have been the odd appearances on TV, including cooking native oysters with Matt Baker on Countryfile…

Cooking demonstrations

I have demonstrated at various food festivals in Cornwall including the Great Cornwall Food Festival, Falmouth Oyster, Boscastle, Porthleven and Newlyn Fish Festivals, as well as a number of corporate events. I have been lucky enough to be involved with recipe, menu and staff development for various hotels and restaurants across the southwest. I have designed many recipes for other companies such as St Ewe Eggs, Fal Fish, Cornish Duck and some leading supermarkets.

Looks like I have been pretty busy over the years. My next chapter will involve developing a Chef Fiona NZ Blog, which is coming soon…watch this space!