Where it all began
It all started with a pipe dream … an ambition to write and publish a best selling cook book. Now that hasn’t happened yet, but we are on our way. I am Lottie, and I started this business in my tiny kitchen at the beginning of 2020, the year we cannot explain. But the story starts a long way before that.
As a child I grew up on a farm with my family. Most relevant to this is my Mum, she’s an excellent cook. I spent weekends with my Nana cooking all sorts for the poor gardener, who would always tell me it was the best cake he had ever eaten. The cakes turned in to quiche, and my repertoire grew. Mum always fed us the best food, we were totally spoilt (and I do not mean with junk food). There was not a nugget in sight. She hosted fabulous dinner parties, and spent the day cooking up a storm, and I was entranced. Really that has not changed, she is still a fabulous cook, and still I call her now for advice when something does not quite work. And now I am a guest at the dinner parties, even if quite often I am roped in to help with the cooking these days.
I spent my youth at great schools, all with excellent home economics. My favourite subject. Immensely proud of my 100% practical GCSE, shame about the coursework. During sixth form I was a day girl and would always find time to be creating some form of baked masterpiece over the weekend. I even hosted my first dinner party when I was 17. Parents out for the night, brand new driving licence in my purse and what do I do … throw a dinner party!
Having completed A-levels I set off to Switzerland, Verbier specifically. I got my first proper cooking job! Eeek! I was given a chalet that slept 6 guests to look after, feed them mainly, also clean (I still hate changing bed sheets)! Cooked breakfast, afternoon tea and a four-course dinner! I was in heaven. Even better, I was paid to do it, skied in my spare time, and lived in the heavenly setting that is Verbier. I look back on this as one of the happiest times of my life.
Week two in Verbier … I get promoted! Super excited, I now have a 16 man chalet, an assistant and 2 cleaners. It was the flagship chalet for the brand, and it was epic! Sauna, Hot Tub set into the snow, beautifully decorated including my marble kitchen!
I literally just had to cook. The budget was vast, the guests were filthy rich, the wine flowed, and I loved every second! If I had not fallen in love with food and cooking before I certainly had now!