When I saw a post on Facebook promoting Scone Baking Demos with the chance to learn how to bake the most delicious scones possible, followed by the opportunity to indulge in a traditional English afternoon tea, I was intrigued and wanted to know more. What I discovered when I visit chezbeccy.com is that Beccy Hunt is a lady who has a passion for baking, and I decided it was time to have a chat with her to find out more.
Beccy lives in Bampton, between Witney and Faringdon and her home kitchen is the place she loves best. Establishing ‘Chez Beccy’ has given her the opportunity to indulge in her passion for cooking and sharing delicious food with friends and loved ones and those who take part in her Scone Baking demos. Held once a month over June, July and August, you can book your place by visiting chezbeccy.com/collections/baking-demonstrations but be quick, places are limited and are extremely popular!
So, what is the story behind Beccy’s love of food and particularly baking?
“Food has always play a significant role in my life. My Mum is an exceptional cook with a food philosophy based on using the best possible, seasonal ingredients, either homegrown or organic and free-range with minimal preservatives and additives. However, Mum has never been a baker and cakes and desserts were a rare treat. Growing up in the 1970s, like many other children at the time, I developed a love for cake and chocolate. Yet, the cakes available in England at the time were mostly overly sweet, filled with synthetic cream, covered with usually pink icing!”
“A pivotal moment occurred however during a childhood family holiday to Cornwall when I discovered the delights of Cornish clotted cream and the joys of delicious afternoon teas, complete with freshly baked scones. I have been hooked ever since. When I left home at the age of eighteen, my culinary horizons expanded significantly when I went to work in a Swiss ski resort in a 5-star hotel. Here I experienced the most amazing cakes and desserts. On my days off, I would visit the local bakery indulging in heavenly hot chocolate drinks and decadently creamy gateaux. To this day, I have yet to find a Tiramisu as exquisite as the one served at the Schweizerhof Hotel in Lenzerheide!”
“This experience marked the start of a decade of travelling adventures across the globe, each filled with fascinating food experiences, some delightful, others not so much but even more memorable for it. Travelling around Europe, I had the pleasure of sampling incredible cakes and pastries in France, Germany and Austria – all were unlike anything I had eaten in English bakeries at the time. On one trip, I stumbled upon an amazing baking cookbook in a German bookshop which I still treasure and use. Chocolate, raspberries and fresh cream became staple ingredients in my baking repertoire. One of my favourite recipes which is featured in my new cookery book ‘A guide to hosting Afternoon Tea’ published in June (ISBN:9798323567942), is a ‘Vertical Layered Chocolate Cake’ which is inspired by the treats I encountered whilst travelling.”
“After nearly ten years of travelling, I found a job as a travel agent which seemed like a logical career choice. But during this time, I realised that I craved pursuing a creative career, so I enrolled in art college, completing an art foundation course followed by a degree in graphic design at Nottingham Trent University. My first job was as a greeting card designer which built the foundations for me eventually designing a range of kitchen textiles.”
“I established Chez Beccy back in 2013, with the intention of developing my kitchen textile brand into a lifestyle brand, inspiring people to enjoy their kitchen whilst creating good food and connecting with friends, both old and new.”
“In addition to running the Baking Demonstrations with Afternoon Tea events, I am also out and about at various food events this summer. I am also working on more cookbooks created for both seasoned hosts and bakers as well as novices in the kitchen. I hope to inspire people to embrace the spirit of afternoon tea and make it their own. Whilst there can be a lot of etiquette associated with afternoon tea, just have fun, bake some delicious food and enjoy it with your friends.”
To find out more about Chez Beccy, visit chezbeccy.com
