Cookery – Bakery – Consultancy
An experienced Home Economist for all your culinary needs
Hello I’m Jane! As a trained Cordon Bleu chef, specialising in baking and patisserie, my expertise lies in recipe development, testing and menu creation. I can offer you a wide range of professional consultancy food services, whether you are a small bakery or a large manufacturer. Savoury or sweet dishes, I can help!
As a trained Cordon Bleu chef with over 15 years of experience in the restaurant and bakery industries, I bring extensive knowledge on cooking techniques, cuisines, baking and patisserie to the table.
Expert food services for an ever-changing industry
As a creative food consultant I support organisations with an array of services.
I provide expert, tailored advice and guidance on home economist projects, food styling, recipe testing and profiling, menu development, retailer advisory projects, alongside running corporate workshops and cookery lessons. I am available for freelance and short-term contracts, across the UK.
My diverse range of skills and extensive culinary experience allow me to adapt to your needs and exceed your expectations. Your culinary vision is my priority, and I’m committed to helping you achieve it.
If you have a specific project in mind or a bespoke brief you’d like me to assist with, please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
Recipe Writing and Creation
I write recipes for various types of organisations, for web, packaging and also promotional usage.
Recipe Testing and Proofing
I test and proof recipes for recipe books, magazines and other marketing and advertorial work.
Bakery and Patisserie Specialisation
Specialising in bakery and patisserie, I am able advise on multiple product specialisms, to include recipe formulation, ingredient analysis, scaling recipes.
Menu Development
I have a keen understanding of flavours, textures, and food presentation and I love to plan menus! From smaller cafe menus to larger restaurants, I can tailor menus to suit your specific needs.
Food Styling
My expertise in food styling can help to ensure that your culinary creations also look visually stunning. My creative flair is apparent when styling and I can work confidently with your food photographers.
Food Branding and Marketing Support
With a fusion of culinary knowledge and insights, along with my specialised branding and retail experience, I can help your message connect with your target audience.
Corporate Workshops and Cookery Lessons
I can deliver corporate workshops on food; offering various themes such as food for health, food for family and food for celebrations. I can also offer cookery lessons.
Large Scale Catering (Baked Goods Only)
Let me help with your events! I can bake gifts for your clients, for customer events or for special occasions. Corporate branding is also available. Please contact me for further information.
Tailored Food Projects
I enjoy working on tailored food projects, such as the development of community-based food projects; those in collaboration with local authorities and community centres.
From homemade delights to industry expertise
My culinary journey is deeply rooted in a passion for food! My love for cooking and baking was apparent from an early age, as I followed my cherished “How to Cook” volumes by Delia Smith.
A little bit about me...
I had always loved cooking and baking growing up, following Delia Smith’s “How to Cook” volumes religiously, so it was a given that I would forge a career for myself within the food industry. Studying Business Management at University I then entered the world of FMCG, working for Arla Foods in sales and marketing and with brands such as Lurpak and Cravendale. In 2011, an advert for the Gordon Ramsay’s Tante Marie Culinary Academy in Surrey caught my attention, so I moved from Yorkshire where I studied to be a Cordon Bleu chef and gained my Confederation of Tourism and Hospitality Level 4 Diploma in Professional Culinary Arts. An absolutely incredible experience which led me to London where I worked for various restaurants including Claridges, The Table and The Chancery.
My chosen route was bakery and patisserie and by that time my thoughts were focused on building a high-end bakery brand in Yorkshire, one centered on using only quality ingredients and made following traditional baking methods and practices. Tarte & Berry was formed in 2014, an artisan bakery business, which I created with my sister Lucy, a specialist in marketing and PR and chief taster of my creations!
Starting off baking at home in a small domestic oven we began to sell our bakes at local food markets and shows, along with supplying weekly to cafes and coffee shops. Our business grew and within 14 months we moved into our first bakery unit, in Farsley, Leeds, manufacturing luxury traybakes; mainly to achieve efficiencies and economies, along with ease of delivery. In 2017 we won a contract to supply Selfridges Food Halls across the UK which enabled us to move into a bigger site; designing the space to SALSA accredited standards.
With customers now spanning the UK, we supplied our treats to many retailers, coffee shops, farm shops, delis and restaurants across the country and also sold our lovely treat boxes direct to customers via our online shop. Harvey Nicols and Fenwick were also some of our regular customers, along with HRH Princess Anne, who visited our bakery in 2018 to celebrate our contribution to local commerce and for the job opportunities we had created in the area. A surreal but incredible day I won’t forget!
In 2020 we decided to move away from the business, mainly to focus on having families of our own. My skills are now being put to use with advising, consulting and helping businesses, from large ingredient-manufacturing corporations, to smaller independents and I love it! My breadth of experience encompasses all cookery and bakery applications so do please get in touch if you feel I can help to grow your business.
Companies I’ve had the pleasure of working with…
The benefits of
using a professional Home Economist
When you choose my Home Economist services, you can experience a range of advantages. From recipe development to menu creation, food styling to consultancy, I can offer comprehensive solutions to meet your needs.
Expertise
With over 15 years of experience in the food industry and a background in Cordon Bleu culinary arts, I bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise to every project.
Creativity
I pride myself on my ability to think outside the box and create unique culinary experiences. To find out how I could help your food business then please get in touch.
What people say…
Blog
The Launch Of My New Website
July 2024 I am thrilled to unveil my brand new website! Cooking and baking is my lifelong passion. Since the days of running my bakery business Tarte & Berry I have been yearning and planning hard to get back to it. I am so excited to be able to share my knowledge...