A self-taught cook from West Wickham is embarking on a unique new business venture teaching adults and children to create food from scratch out of a shed in her back garden.
Food lover and mum of one Regan Anderton was keen to recreate the relaxed feel of a family kitchen when she officially opened the Cooking Shed on Saturday.
With the help of two ex-soap stars, Kierston Wareing from Eastenders and Fabrizio Santino from Hollyoaks, she offered a taste of what’s to come with demonstrations, such as making fresh focaccia bread.
The 38-year-old has been running a food blog for the past eight years where she creates her own recipes as well as reviewing restaurants.
L-R: Jane Kerr, Emma Deenie,Regan Anderton, Sidney Anderton, Fabrizio Santino, Leanne Peto, Sam Watts.
After the birth of her son Sidney two and half years ago, she discovered a lot of new mums and dads who were relying on ready meals because they didn’t know how to cook from scratch.
Inspired by the idea of teaching others to cook, Mrs Anderton was giving lessons from her kitchen to friends when they suggested expanding her love of food into a business venture.
She told News Shopper: “The first time I was inspired by cooking was in primary school.
“We had a talk on Caribbean food and I tasted things I’d never tasted before.
“For me it’s just something that has always stuck in my mind.
“It’s the first time I felt really inspired by food.”
And with the expansion of their garage already in the works, Mrs Anderton decided to save the costs of an outside premises and set up shop from their back garden.
She said it was important to create a place where people could enjoy cooking together and replicate the techniques at home.
The Cooking Shed will offer a variety of classes each week from their West Wickham base, as well as the opportunity to visit people’s homes for lessons and dinner party preparation.
For the kids as young as three, the family cooking classes will not only teach them how to cook but also discover the culture behind the food.
Mrs Anderton said her own son has a wide range of tastes for a toddler, something she believes is down to being involved with food from a young age.
“I think it definitely helps for children, not just understanding about food, but actually to try new things,” she said.
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