Let’s hear it for New York – London, Belfast and …..

Looking back through old blogs, and reflecting upon the thousands of words scribbled here, I’ve begun to realise something. There are two recurrent themes in my writing: food and travel. These, one could argue, are your most basic human imperatives. I might complain about it, but I’ve always felt the need to go exploring, to discover new worlds – brave or otherwise.This urge gives my life a strange, often frustrating propulsion: I get twitchy if I stay in the same place for too long, yet I get homesick when I’ve been away for too long. And I’m away from home a lot.

Of course, the reason that I find myself in a state of perpetual motion is because of food and kitchen appliances. If I had never chosen the profession in which I am now ensconced, I sorely doubt that I would have trotted as much of the globe as I have. People all over the world need food and kitchen appliances, and in most instances they like their food to be tasty and not too much hassle to prepare. It’s that need which has led to me demonstrating cooking techniques from Land’s End to John O’ Groats, and from The Great Wall Of China to Toronto’s CN Tower.

One Man Went To Demo

Who said that men can’t multitask?

Whoever came out with that scathing observation has evidently never been to a cookery demo before – or, to be specific, one of my demos. If you haven’t attended one, and are also of the opinion that men are pretty inept around the kitchen, it involves me cooking a lengthy and varied menu whilst explaining the manifold benefits of an Aga or Rayburn. These are premium, world-renowned products, so I have to be professional – but I also have to be entertaining. I would describe what I do as being pitched somewhere between an informative lecture and a jolly good night out. The crowd will comprise all different kinds of clientele: some are recent buyers looking for tips on how to get the best out of it, some have always had one in their family kitchen, and some are thinking about installing one in their home. They get to enjoy a glass or three of wine, a meal afterwards, and the pleasure of my company for two hours.