… my name is Wendall and I spent many years not cooking. I had a typical single girl lifestyle – I worked and travelled and ate out at restaurants. I only started to cook when I picked up a random cookery book and became engrossed. Admittedly, Larousse Gastronomique isn’t perhaps the first book you would think of as a cookery primer but it was interesting. Who would have thought there were so many things you could make? So many things to taste? I thought that I would give it a try. There was nothing to lose, was there?
This was not like the awful cookery lessons I was forced to attend at school, this was my chance to make something people actually wanted to eat. Strangely, it seemed to work. The more I cooked, the better I got. Oh, there were failures but they grew less and the successes increased. What began as an interest became an obsession – if I travelled, I would head into food stores and supermarkets to see what ingredients I could find to take back. When I was at home I would obsessively practise a recipe until I got it right. For five weeks I spent every Friday night making pastry with a copy of Harold McGee at my side.
My life was full – I had friends, work, travel and cooking. I lived in a small village in the north of England. Life had its ups and downs (and some of the downs were positively subterranean) and through it all was the cooking and that made things good. But there’s only so much food a single person can eat and only so many times that friends could come to dinner. What I needed, I realised later, was a hungry accomplice who had lots of friends that I could start to feed.
Then, one day, I met someone who loved cooking and eating as much as I did. Who read the same books. Who, on the first meal he cooked for me, made souffles. Who loved everything I cooked and, as an extra plus point, had lots of hungry friends. The Bear had entered my life.
Suddenly life, as I knew it, changed – my world shifted on its axis. Redundancy meant my work came to an end but on the plus side I now had something else to focus on. I moved to another part of the country to be with the Bear and my cooking moved up a gear. I was no longer a successful professional with all the trappings of a corporate life, I was working as a temp in an office. I was cooking with greater regularity for greater numbers. I cooked formal meals and casual meals. I had successes and disasters and throughout it all, the Bear ate everything and encouraged me to continue.
So, five years later, I am settled in a new city, living a completely different life. I cook, I try new things and I still read as much as I can about food and techniques.
This blog is a record of what I’m reading, cooking, serving and eating…..the pictures are all taken by me using either my phone or my camera, usually as I stir or pour with one hand. I’m not a professional cook or photographer, so what you see is an amateur’s attempt. Bear all that in mind and join in.
Oh, and The Omnivorous Bear? Reader, I married him.
Hi Wendall, looking good!! can’t wait to try your recipes and read your blog. xxx
Wendy, well done on an amazing site, look forward to trying some more of your delicious recipes xx
Wendy, great blog! I will certainly try to make your pie, looks delicious.
I prefer this to Facebook 🙂 !
Fantastic Wendall
I look forward to your frequent updates and hope they spur me in to cooking.
x
Excellent! I’m glad you like it – I have spent hours (as has that Bear) setting this up.
Sanja, if you don’t mind, I might try making your delicious cheese pie one day and putting the recipe up? (Sanja made THE most delicious cheese pie, a Serbian recipe, for us once….)
Oh my word, I think I might want that cheese pie recipe!
I shall send it to you then!
What a marvellous job you’ve both done here. I love it! It is great!
Well I made the no knead bread today and it was a success. Delicious. Thankyou Wendy. Tomorrow I am doing the lamb dish.!!
Wendy
Even thro we are coming into summer right now ( Australia) I will try your cheese pie.
For heaven’s sake. Youy’re making me want to make bread! Stop it. Now. x
Seriously, beautiful blog, well done.
This is fabolous stuff Wendy. Will try it!
Thank you! You have no idea how happy I am that you all like this!
i dont like this SORRY
Well thank you, Adam, for taking the time to log in and tell me anyway!
Anything in particular? Or is it just this page?
Well done! Haven’t you done well for a poor little girl from the north!!! Little did I know when I taught you everything that you know about cooking that you would turn out to be so fantastic. See you at Xmas.xx
… whatever would I have done without you? LOL… All joking aside, I have to say our school cookery classes didn’t inspire anyone, did they?
O.M.G wow wow wow wow
think this is the closest too heaven ill get before i die …….Lemon Glazed Cake …….. THANK YOU WENDALL
Hey Wendall!!
I was missing the food parcels so I made the blueberry cake! Is so easy to make, I don’t think mine will make it to the office though!
Oh Dan we miss you two such a lot! You will have to call in when I next bake! xx
I can just imagine you and P NOT being allowed to watch the TV whilst eating supper…… but I am sure the Volvo managed the N.Yorks run to your grandparents…… “and don’t spill on the mousy thompson!”
Hi Wendy,
I’m currently working for ITV on the 4th series of Britain’s Best Dish – a national cookery programme that looks for really good home cooks to come and compete with the chance of winning £10,000. We’re gearing up for our auditions again and I’m looking for some fantastic foodies to represent the Midlands in May.
Your food looks wonderful so if this is something you think you might be interested in or would like to know more about please feel free to email me or you can apply directly to bestdish@itv.com or call on 0871 62 66 222.
With kind regards,
Christina Chung
Hi Wendy,
Firstly, thanks for your nice comments on my blog. I am glad you have nice memories of your trip to India. Rasam is indeed an awesome dish !!
You have a lovely blog and very nice way of writing… the photos r great… am sure u r making the best use of the redundancy! 🙂
Cheers
Veena
Hi,
We’d love to publish the photo of your grandmother’s copy of Beeton’s in our magazine’s special issue about Downton Abbey. Will you contact me, please?
Thanks much,
Karen
Greetings from West Sussex, where I have almost finished writing a book, “Eating the Alphabet,Characters and Curiosities from the World of Food; recipes too.” I would very much like to include some of your piece on Sambal santan udang. May I?
Very best wishes,
Robert B.
Of course, Robert… Did you get my email?