When I left school, I really had no idea what I wanted to do. I went down to London and did the 1year cookery course at Leith’s School of Food and Wine. I think my first ‘Aha’ moment was in the first week, because I discovered something that I really enjoyed and was good at. My whole career has stemmed from there.
After graduating, I worked as a private chef (or freelance cook as it was in those days) here in Scotland, Canada, USA & France, before coming home to work in a restaurant in St Andrews for 18 months. I then started my own restaurant and Scottish Food & Craft Centre with my husband, which we developed and ran for 15 years.
I took a break to raise my 2 children and when they reached school age, started thinking about what I was going to do next. There was a new cookery school opening in Edinburgh and my 2nd ‘Aha’ moment was born then. I could do that! Courses for Cooks was launched from my home kitchen, has now been established for 13 years. My private cheffing is run alongside.