William Alldis

Hi I’m William Alldis. I was dragged up on my family’s farm in Essex and have spent most of my life outdoors; foraging around in hedgerows, climbing trees, shooting game, fishing for all sorts and generally doing what boys should do.

Now I’m a commercial beekeeper, photographer, shooting instructor, chef, writer and designer. My summers are spent working my bees and the winters doing all that other stuff.

It was my grandmother that switched on my mind to food; she introduced me to the old family recipe book and Mrs Beaton (and other such books). My mother took on the mantle, trying to get her fussy child to eat as much as possible. Once I opened my mind to trying new things, it was like the flood gates had opened, and I haven’t stopped gouging since.

Most of the recipes you’ll find here are made by what’s in the fridge or what’s been shot during the week. Suitably unplanned, some are variations or slightly borrowed, others are completely off the top of my head. The reason it has taken me so long to start to put my ideas down is that, until now, I just have not had the discipline to take notes of what I am throwing in the pot and in what quantities - it has all been a pinch here and a handful there. But Abby, my wonderful new wife, has simply fixed my head and made me think a little more.

This little change in life - getting married - has made all the difference to me thinking about food again in a passionate and creative way. I now consider every shot I fire as a potential recipe - what could I make with that? What will the next recipe be? How will I write it? Thankfully, for you chaps out there on the internet, the wife is a national magazine editor, so my dyslexic scribbles should be vaguely legible. If there’s any ingredient you want transformed into a delicious dish, do email me at [email protected] with your recipe challenges.