Italian week on my Leiths Plant-Based Cooking course brought homemade tagliatelle with basil pesto, crespelle alla fiorentina, vegan ‘Parmesan’ and quite possibly the nicest cake I’ve ever made. From hand-cut pasta to discovering nutritional yeast – and one vegan cheese I definitely won’t be rushing to use again! – there was plenty to learn this week.

Back in the kitchen and learning again with week one of my Leiths Plant-Based Cooking course. Brunch brought smoky beans, carrot ‘bacon’, beetroot fritters and blueberry pancakes – along with a caramelised banana disaster and a sink full of chaos. Not everything went to plan, but that’s all part of learning!

A family day at Hampton Court Palace Food Festival, filled with Korean food, live music and a few delicious discoveries. From finally trying a HexClad pan, to finding the most delicious cherry liqueur and dreaming of our own choclate kitchen, there was plenty of foodie inspiration to bring home.

From lockdown loaves to sourdough, bread making has become a skill I keep coming back to. After losing my confidence with my handmade loaves, a day at South Downs Sourdough gave me the knowledge, tips and inspiration I needed to start experimenting again — while still appreciating the convenience of my trusty bread maker!

Six months, 133 uploads, countless new skills and one Leiths certificate later. From homemade pastry and fresh pasta to filleting fish and baking bread, this course pushed me well outside my comfort zone and completely changed the way I cook. Looking back at these dishes reminds me just how much can happen when you keep saying yes to learning.

An easy summer lunch on the boat with homemade focaccia, whipped feta, pasta salad, chilled Crémant and friends. Sometimes the simplest afternoons become the ones you remember most.

A day filled with local food, family fun and unexpected discoveries. From children’s cookery classes and artisan producers to a delicious new cocktail inspiration, the New Forest & Hampshire County Show proved to be the perfect summer day out.

Another cookery class, another reminder that learning is about so much more than recipes. This cinnamon roll workshop was full of practical tips, lovely people and one very delicious reward.

A family holiday to Croatia became so much more than a chance to relax. From elegant breakfasts at Palace Elisabeth in Hvar, to beautiful beach club lunches, I returned home inspired by the country’s creativity, presentation and genuine love of great food.

Curries are my favourite food (we even had a local Indian takeaway cater our wedding!), so a morning spent at Chewton Glen Cookery School learning to master curries, spices and pastes felt like the perfect treat. From practical kitchen tips to a delicious lunch overlooking the gardens, it was an inspiring experience that left me feeling more confident, creative and already planning my next cookery course.

An evening of Korean-inspired dishes, new discoveries and shared experiences was another reminder that the best food isn’t just delicious - its the food that brings people together.

My final week of Leiths Cookery School coincided with a weekend full of celebrations, giving me the perfect opportunity to put my new skills into practice. With family gathered around the table on a sunny afternoon, the menu featured slow-cooked lamb shoulder, silky pea and watercress soup, crispy potatoes with black garlic mayonnaise and a panna cotta that taught me a valuable lesson about getting the perfect set.

Cocktails, cooking demonstrations, flower arranging, champagne and an unexpected stint as a promotional model — my day at the BBC Good Food Show Summer was full of surprises. From mastering Princess Cruises cocktails with Andy Clarke to discovering artisan food producers and creating a beautiful summer bouquet, it was a day packed with inspiration, laughter and lots of champagne!

Two cocktails, two giant Kilner dispensers and a surprisingly brilliant handheld foamer. After plenty of taste testing and recipe tweaking, we created the perfect cocktail station for a very special 40th birthday celebration. 🍸✨

A weekend of chilli-making, cocktail testing and party prep is well underway as we get ready to celebrate a very special 40th birthday. After accidentally turning my vegetarian chilli into something resembling a fire-breathing dragon thanks to HOT smoked paprika, I’ve managed to rescue it just in time. Now all that’s left is to keep the cocktails flowing and hope the birthday girl has the fabulous celebration she deserves. 🍸🌶️🎉

As I near the end of my 25-week journey at Leiths, this week’s gluten-free baking lessons reminded me how much there is still to discover. Stepping outside my comfort zone with gluten-free bread and chocolate roulade led to some surprisingly delicious results.

A fantastic family day out at the Cheese & Chilli Festival in Winchester, filled with amazing food, passionate independent producers, plenty of laughs at the chilli-eating competition, and inspiration that followed me home into the kitchen

A girls' trip to Cherbourg led to a charming vintage shop discovery, beautiful glassware finds, and memories that will last long after the journey home.

My first camping trip since selling my campervan took me back to the New Forest for a weekend of sunshine, outdoor cooking, and quality time with friends and family.

Welcome to Finding My Table, a place where simple recipes, wine discoveries, entertaining inspiration, and stories from everyday life and learning come together.