HELLO - AND WELCOME TO THE EPICUREAN SAILOR!

My mum inspired an absolute love of cooking from a very early age, underpinned by the wonderful Prue Leith and her comprehensive magazine part work "Confident Cooking" - I still have all four recipe and technique binders! A stint back in 2008 at the well-respected Ashburton Cookery School in Devon helped finesse my culinary skills - followed by professional Chef Skills training with the world-renowned Leiths School of Food and Wine in London. In 2023 I returned to Ashburton for some additional advanced patisserie training to help me create truly show stopping desserts as the grande finale for your special dining event or occasion. As a chef I'm always hungry to learn new techniques or ways of working with different ingredients and food styles - I find it impossible to say what my favourite cuisine is but I do love working with our fantastic Isle of Wight produce as much as possible. I am totally blessed to live on an island and have access to the freshest fish, pasture-fed animals, dairy, cheese and locally-grown, award winning fruit and veg - I defy anyone not to be inspired browsing any one of our well-stocked farm shops or food festivals!​

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As a former RYA Yachtmaster Instructor, I've worked as a skipper, first mate and yacht chef on both sailing and motor yachts, logging over 45,000 nautical miles including two Atlantic crossings, countless hops across the Bay of Biscay, a luxury yacht delivery from Barcelona to Southampton and 8,000 miles on board a private motor yacht sailing around the Mediterranean. 

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I've provisioned for yacht rallies, run supper clubs, catered for pop-up dining events and prepared food for parties for up to 125 guests - basically any excuse to cook and feed people!

 

With my love of food and sailing and a passion for inspiring as many people as possible to either get out on the water or get in the kitchen, in 2021 I finally made the decision to follow my heart by combining food and sailing as a career and so The Epicurean Sailor was born.

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I now work as a private chef here on the beautiful Isle of Wight offering Michelin-style fine dining, and also host regular themed Friday Night Feasts from autumn through to spring - a chance for me to indulge in my love of food from the Middle East, Greece and the Mediterranean. Come alone or with friends - everyone is welcome!

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New for winter 2025-26, I've teamed up with award-winning drinks writer, broadcaster and educator Helena Nicklin (aka HelenaSips) to run our new Corks & Canapé masterclasses - themed wine & spirits events with perfectly paired canapés prepared by me. Get in touch if you'd like us to create a bespoke Corks & Canapés event for your party or workplace too!

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Zoë - AKA The Epicurean Sailor

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"What can we say, other than your culinary skills are exceptional in every sense. Definitely ‘on par’ and better than many Michelin Star restaurants. You are 100% MasterChef material"

Sian and Michael Shepherd, 18 February 2023

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