Philippa James
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Philippa James
always loved cooking, even as a child, with some early ‘Vicar of Dibley’ style experimental sessions in the family kitchen! After a
successful career in Sales and Marketing, Philippa turned her attention to
her passion for food, opening a Deli, and Tea Room.
After a few jaunts to the Caribbean, cooking on yachts, major life changes
forced Philippa into becoming a carer, leaving her isolated, at home. She
started cooking for one local
farmers’ market; her
infant business took off at once. She went on to win many prestigious awards, including a 'Producer
of the Year Award' sponsored by Booths and a 'Gold' at The Great
Taste Awards, considered the Oscars of the food industry for 'Philippas Lancashire Tea Bread'.
Philippa started to teach, in a range of scenarios, from Gourmet Cookery, to
a 'Cook and Dine' programme for people with disabilities; a 'stretch' at
'Her Majesty's pleasure' followed, where Philippa tutored the lads in
'Cookery', 'Healthy Living', and basic 'life skills'. Philippa has the knack
of getting complete novices to brave the kitchen! However, it did cause
alarm, one day, when the whole class joined her in a unique rendition of,
'Summertime', where the officers thought a riot was about to start!
Philippa has her own 'bijou' Cookery School, small, friendly, and set out like a domestic kitchen. The ‘Back to Basics’ full day’s course has been so popular, that there is now a 'Back to Basics 2', for clients who are keen to learn even more!
Philippa offers bespoke courses around individual requirements, with a very flexible range of choices. Group bookings are possible, during summer months, but the cookery school courses are limited, at this time, due to a busy schedule of agricultural shows, and events; bookings are already in the diary for summer 2010!
In 2007 Philippa became a UKTV Food Hero, reaching the final six, for the north-west region, with Gary Rhodes and Simon Rimmer getting the chance to sample her own recipe Tea Bread and delicious preserves. Woman and Home magazine got to hear about Philippa, and they ran a feature about her mid-life change of direction.
In 2008, Roger Borrell, the Lancashire Life Editor, approached Philippa and asked if she would like to do, "A bit of writing for the magazine?" based on what he described as, "Her hilarious e-mails to him!" after he featured her in an article in Lancashire Life. This transpired to be an offer to take on the position of Cookery Editor, where Philippa has rediscovered another of her life's 'passions', that of writing; she has her own, monthly column with the magazine, where you can follow her antics, from interviewing a sexy Lancashire farmer, to some very 'hot' firemen! If you've missed any editions, you can now catch up online...the food section is always towards the back!
http://www.lancashirelife.co.uk/digital-archive--198736
In 2008, Philippa 'headlined', at the Lancashire Food Festival, with the Hairy Bikers; she met them at a couple of functions, although they were seen, trying to 'run away' at one dinner, with Si shouting, "Keep going Dave, I don't think she's spotted us!"
Returning to the LFF, again, in 2009, with cookery demonstrations, and kids'
cookery workshops, Philippa created ‘old favourites’, as well as
bringing innovative, new ideas to the festival, using locally sourced
ingredients, and demonstrating how to make 'fast and furious, family meals', in minutes,
without the use of a safety net…or a microwave! Gino D'Acampo was billed
alongside Philippa; he was believed to be in 'rehab' for three days,
afterwards!
Philippa takes her cookery workshops to various schools, and educational venues, including a fun day, 'Girls' Allowed', at New Era, Accrington, where the girls (And a few brothers, who managed to sneak in!) got to make their own pizzas, chocolate pears, and Thai noodles! Philippa's new 'right-hand man', (And walking 'buddy', although he's more like a Sergeant Major, on a route march!) Ken, showed the kids how to make 'smiley-faced' pizzas, and everyone had, "A brilliant time!"
Philippa is a food consultant for Booths,
where she has helped put award-winning
staff training packages in place.
Philippa loves being a regular guest, and consultant, on BBC Radio Lancashire, where she is seen as an 'Ambassador' for the region, and its farmers and producers. She has done all sorts... from cooking black, 'Goth' sprouts, and discussion live on air, to sitting in a paddling pool of gravy, to raise money for charity!
Philippa works with the Lancashire and Blackpool Tourist Board to promote the region, and she has recently teamed up with Waterways NW, demonstrating at the edge of the Lancaster Canal, and helping to 'show off' our wonderful waterways!
With no two days the same, Philippa's latest ventures see her taking World War 2 reminiscence projects, and cookery demonstrations into retirement homes, as well as taking cookery sessions into the work place, by way of 'Team Building' for staff members to get 'hands on', and cook their own lunch!