LOOK WHO IS JOINING US IN 2025 AT

The Cook’s Companion with

YOUR HOST

Ellen Manning

Ellen Manning is a journalist and food writer, food judge and award-winning blogger. She writes on food and drink for publications for national newspapers and magazines and also writes the award-winning food and travel blog Eat with Ellen.

Ellen is a longstanding judge on the Great Taste Awards, Regional Chair for the Class Bar Awards and has also judged previously on the National Fish & Chip Awards and the Quality Food Awards.

Atul Kochhar
Atul Kochhar
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Atul Kochhar
Clare Andrews
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Dipna-Anand
Dipna Anand
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Emily-Leary
Emily Leary
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Judy Joo
Judy Joo
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Atul Kochhar

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Atul Kochhar is the pioneering twice Michelin-starred chef from Jamshedpur in north India, who has changed the way people perceive and experience Indian cuisine in the UK From leaving his role at The Oberoi Hotel Group in India to move to the UK in 1994, Atul has been at the forefront of the culinary industry for over 25 years. Taking inspiration from his native India, Atul has continued to invest in researching regional dishes; his award-winning cooking a unique melting pot of traditional culinary techniques, the very best spices and ingredients from India combined with the best of British.

Clare Andrews

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Clare Andrews, was gifted an air fryer early in the lockdowns of 2020. Unsure of what to make (other than chips!) keen home cook Clare started exploring the possibilities of her air fryer. She began sharing her quick and delicious recipes on Instagram, soon amassing a dedicated following looking to share her expertise. She now has more than 110k followers on Instagram, and her first book The Ultimate Air Fryer Cookbook is a number 1 Sunday Times bestseller.

Clare, has co-presented five Channel 5 air fryer cooking shows, alongside Alexis Conran. Clare has also appeared on C5 and ITV news and numerous BBC National Radio shows. Clare has partnered with leading brands including Robert Dyas, Tesco, Nestle, Hello Fresh, Ocado and Ninja. Clare frequently contributes to leading publications including The Guardian, The Times, The Sun, The Telegraph, The Mirror and OK Magazine.

Clare’s third cookbook was released in November 2024, The Ultimate Air Fryer Cookbook: One-basket Meals. With a fourth book currently in the making!

Dipna Anand

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Dipna Anand literally grew up in the kitchen of one of the UK’s most well-known, original and authentic Indian restaurants. The family restaurant, aptly called ‘Brilliant’ was truly exceptional and the go-to for so many of the country’s south Asian community. Cooking is in Dipna’s blood and over the past few years she has taken her heritage, contemporised it for modern Asian and western tastes and is now bringing it and the stories that inspire her creations to CarFest.

Emily Leary

CLOSE

Emily Leary is a multi-award-winning food writer, chef, presenter, and photographer, best known as the creator of the popular blog A Mummy Too. Launched in 2011, the blog offers over 600 family-friendly recipes, cooking tips, and video guides designed for busy parents and curious kids.

After a 12-year career in digital marketing, Emily transitioned to full-time blogging in 2013, combining her passions for food, family, and photography. Her debut cookbook, Get Your Kids to Eat Anything, published in 2019, became a number one bestseller and introduced a five-phase program to help families expand their children's palates.​ Emily's work has garnered recognition in the blogging community, with A Mummy Too consistently ranking among the UK's top food blogs.

Judy Joo

CLOSE

Judy Joo is a celebrated Korean-American chef, author, and TV personality whose bold culinary voice bridges East and West. Judy graduated from the French Culinary Institute in New York with a Grand Diplôme in Pastry Arts. Her culinary journey led her through elite kitchens, from London’s Claridge’s and Pétrus to The French Laundry, The Fat Duck, and Nahm.

In 2011, Judy became the only female Iron Chef UK and later starred in Iron Chef America and Korean Food Made Simple, establishing herself as a global ambassador for Korean cuisine.

She’s a regular face on both sides of the Atlantic, appearing on The Today Show, Good Morning America, Saturday Kitchen, and more. Her third cookbook, K-Quick: Korean Food in 30 Minutes or Less, launches in May 2025.

Judy opened her first restaurant, Jinjuu, in 2014, followed by her hit fried chicken concept, Seoul Bird, now with locations across the UK and US, including Las Vegas, Brooklyn’s Barclays Center, Citi Field, and Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. A champion of flavour, culture, and creativity, Judy continues to lead the charge in modern Korean cuisine—with her latest TV show, House of Knives, debuting on Food Network in March 2025.

Kate-Quilton
Kate Quilton
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Lucinda Miller
Lucinda Miller
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Michael Caines
Mark Tilling
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Molly Robbins
Molly Robbins
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Ping Coombes
Ping Coombes
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Kate Quilton

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Kate Quilton is widely recognised as the presenter of Food Unwrapped, a role she has held since 2012. Her TV career began while she was still a student, landing her first reporting job at ITV West. Between university lectures, Kate would rush out to film segments on the local football team. After graduating, she spent a year presenting a live science show for young audiences as part of the Faraday Lectures for the Institute of Engineering and Technology. Kate then transitioned to broadcast journalism with the BBC in Somerset, where she immersed herself in the world of farming and culinary delights.

Lucinda Miller

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Brilliant Food for Brilliant Brains with Lucinda Miller, NatureDoc

As clinical lead of the NatureDoc team, with over 25 years of experience as a naturopath and Functional Medicine, Lucinda is the triple bestselling author of The Good Stuff, I Can't Believe It's Baby Food and Brain Brilliance cookbooks. She is a popular podcast guest, nutrition lecturer and public speaker and loves to cook healthy food that kids and teens will actually eat.

Mark Tilling

CLOSE

Mark Tilling is a world-renowned pâtissier, chocolatier, and teacher with over 25 years of experience in the industry. His passion for pastry began at an early age, inspired by his grandmothers and nurtured during his first job at just 16 in a local hotel pastry kitchen. Since then, Mark has built an illustrious career, working at prestigious establishments including The Lanesborough in London, Lainston House, and the Pave D’Auge in Normandy. Mark is a decorated chef, having won multiple gold and silver medals for his intricate desserts, petits fours, and chocolate showpieces. He was crowned UK Chocolate Master from 2006 to 2008 and proudly represented the UK at the World Chocolate Masters, placing 12th in 2007 and 7th in 2009. In 2016, he and his team won the BBC Two series Bake Off: Crème de la Crème, earning the title of Britain’s Best Team of Pastry Chefs.

A passionate educator, Mark teaches at the UK Chocolate Academy in Banbury, Squires Kitchen International Cookery School, and Season Cookery School at Lainston House. He’s a UK Callebaut Chocolate Ambassador and the author of three books, including Mastering Chocolate. He has also been featured on Channel 4’s Extreme Chocolate Makers and continues to inspire new generations of pastry chefs through his classes, media work, and incredible chocolate artistry.

Molly Robbins

CLOSE

Molly Robbins, also known as Molly Makes Cakes, has been a cake artist for 12years. Trained as a special effects artist, Molly is known for creating impressive 3D illusion cakes, from hyper realistic food to life-size animals, and best known as the star of Channel 4 and Netflix series Extreme Cake Makers. With a life-long career, Michael has built his reputation on a highly personal and distinctive Of all the events Molly is involved in, CarFest is her absolute favourite. ‘’The sheer scale of the festival, alongside the variety of activities and special guests, is so impressive and enjoyable. And the fact it raises so much money for charities is just the icing on the cake!’’

Ping Coombes

CLOSE

Ping stunned the MasterChef judges with food inspired by her Malaysian heritage to become MasterChef 2014 Champion. She took the famous trophy home again, winning BBC MasterChef Champion of Champions in 2022, becoming the first double MasterChef Champion.

Growing up in Ipoh, Malaysia surrounded by amazing food, Ping was inspired by her mother’s cookery. Now living in the UK and travelling globally, she draws inspiration from her heritage but delivers her food with modern twists and ingredients found locally.

Ping regularly hosts supper clubs and events across the country, including her hometown of Bath at venues including Bertinet Kitchen, as well as masterclasses at her Ping at Home Kitchen, and Divertimenti Cookery School.

She’s currently working on her next book to showcase the wonderful food of Malaysia.

Richard Bertinet
Richard Bertinet
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Steve-Guy
Steve Guy
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The Happy Pear
The Happy Pear
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Thuy-Hoang
Thuy Hoang
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And MANY MORE to come…

Richard Bertinet

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Richard Bertinet, a master baker, trained in Brittany, France, and has been based in England since 1988. With over 30 years of experience, he founded The Bertinet Kitchen cookery school in Bath in 2005, attracting students from around the globe. Richard has been named BBC Food Champion of the Year and is an Academian of The Royal Academy of Culinary Arts. He has authored six award-winning cookbooks, including Dough, Crust, and Crumb. In 2008, Richard launched The Bertinet Bakery, the UK’s first national artisan bakery. He sold it to The Bread Factory in 2019 and now focuses on his new project, Bertinet at Home. 

Steve Guy

CLOSE

Steve Guy, also known as Steve The Hungry Guy, is a community chef, food educator, and, first and foremost, an eater. With roots in professional kitchens alongside Jamie Oliver and experience in product development for global food brands and retailers, Steve brings both culinary skill and deep industry insight to everything he does.

Driven by a vision of a world where food is cooked, shared, and enjoyed by all, equally and accessibly. Steve now dedicates his time to working with a diverse range of community groups and charities, from schools to prisons.

Whether he’s leading workshops, cooking sessions, or demoing at festivals, his infectious energy and passion for food remind us of its power to connect people, spark education, and create a more sustainable future for our planet.

The Happy Pear

CLOSE

In 2004 at the age of 24, Dave and Steve started The Happy Pear, a fruit and veg shop, to try to create a happier, healthier world and build community. It's gone from the two lads to a team of almost 100, the business turning over €10 million in 2019. The Happy Pear now has 70 vegan food products in nearly 1,000 stores in Ireland, a cafe, a farm, coffee roastery, and a sourdough bakery. They've sold over half a million cookbooks (6 number one bestsellers) and have a suit of online health and lifestyle courses, and recipes, in which they partnered with plant-based doctors and experts from across the globe, having helped over 120,000 people through these courses from 120 different countries. Now all these courses can be found on their app!

Thuy Hoang

CLOSE

Thuy Hoang was born in Saigon, Vietnam. She came to the United Kingdom at the age of nine as a refugee with her family. In 2023, Thuy was a Quarter Finalist on BBC1's MasterChef. She is a member of the judging panels for prestigious UK food industry awards: the UK Quality Food Awards, the Great Taste Awards (Guild of Fine Food), and the Great British Food Awards. Thuy is also a guest chef teaching classes at Jeremy Pang's award-winning School of Wok in Covent Garden, London. She has published articles and recipes in leading food magazines, as well as a review of London’s Vietnamese restaurants in Time Out. As a chef-presenter, Thuy has featured on food festival stages across the UK. Thuy shares films of Vietnamese recipes and passion for the cuisine of her cultural heritage through a YouTube channel Thuy Cooks.

Atul Kochhar
Atul Kochhar
READ BIO
Atul Kochhar
Clare Andrews
READ BIO

Atul Kochhar

CLOSE

Atul Kochhar is the pioneering twice Michelin-starred chef from Jamshedpur in north India, who has changed the way people perceive and experience Indian cuisine in the UK From leaving his role at The Oberoi Hotel Group in India to move to the UK in 1994, Atul has been at the forefront of the culinary industry for over 25 years. Taking inspiration from his native India, Atul has continued to invest in researching regional dishes; his award-winning cooking a unique melting pot of traditional culinary techniques, the very best spices and ingredients from India combined with the best of British.

Clare Andrews

CLOSE

Clare Andrews, was gifted an air fryer early in the lockdowns of 2020. Unsure of what to make (other than chips!) keen home cook Clare started exploring the possibilities of her air fryer. She began sharing her quick and delicious recipes on Instagram, soon amassing a dedicated following looking to share her expertise. She now has more than 110k followers on Instagram, and her first book The Ultimate Air Fryer Cookbook is a number 1 Sunday Times bestseller.

Clare, has co-presented five Channel 5 air fryer cooking shows, alongside Alexis Conran. Clare has also appeared on C5 and ITV news and numerous BBC National Radio shows. Clare has partnered with leading brands including Robert Dyas, Tesco, Nestle, Hello Fresh, Ocado and Ninja. Clare frequently contributes to leading publications including The Guardian, The Times, The Sun, The Telegraph, The Mirror and OK Magazine.

Clare’s third cookbook was released in November 2024, The Ultimate Air Fryer Cookbook: One-basket Meals. With a fourth book currently in the making!

Dipna Anand
Dipna Anand
READ BIO
Emily-Leary
Emily Leary
READ BIO

Dipna Anand

CLOSE

Dipna Anand literally grew up in the kitchen of one of the UK’s most well-known, original and authentic Indian restaurants. The family restaurant, aptly called ‘Brilliant’ was truly exceptional and the go-to for so many of the country’s south Asian community. Cooking is in Dipna’s blood and over the past few years she has taken her heritage, contemporised it for modern Asian and western tastes and is now bringing it and the stories that inspire her creations to CarFest.

Emily Leary

CLOSE

Emily Leary is a multi-award-winning food writer, chef, presenter, and photographer, best known as the creator of the popular blog A Mummy Too. Launched in 2011, the blog offers over 600 family-friendly recipes, cooking tips, and video guides designed for busy parents and curious kids.

After a 12-year career in digital marketing, Emily transitioned to full-time blogging in 2013, combining her passions for food, family, and photography. Her debut cookbook, Get Your Kids to Eat Anything, published in 2019, became a number one bestseller and introduced a five-phase program to help families expand their children's palates.​ Emily's work has garnered recognition in the blogging community, with A Mummy Too consistently ranking among the UK's top food blogs.

Judy Joo
Judy Joo
READ BIO
Glynn Purnell
Kate Quilton
READ BIO

Judy Joo

CLOSE

Judy Joo is a celebrated Korean-American chef, author, and TV personality whose bold culinary voice bridges East and West. Judy graduated from the French Culinary Institute in New York with a Grand Diplôme in Pastry Arts. Her culinary journey led her through elite kitchens, from London’s Claridge’s and Pétrus to The French Laundry, The Fat Duck, and Nahm.

In 2011, Judy became the only female Iron Chef UK and later starred in Iron Chef America and Korean Food Made Simple, establishing herself as a global ambassador for Korean cuisine.

She’s a regular face on both sides of the Atlantic, appearing on The Today Show, Good Morning America, Saturday Kitchen, and more. Her third cookbook, K-Quick: Korean Food in 30 Minutes or Less, launches in May 2025.

Judy opened her first restaurant, Jinjuu, in 2014, followed by her hit fried chicken concept, Seoul Bird, now with locations across the UK and US, including Las Vegas, Brooklyn’s Barclays Center, Citi Field, and Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. A champion of flavour, culture, and creativity, Judy continues to lead the charge in modern Korean cuisine—with her latest TV show, House of Knives, debuting on Food Network in March 2025.

Kate Quilton

CLOSE

Kate Quilton is widely recognised as the presenter of Food Unwrapped, a role she has held since 2012. Her TV career began while she was still a student, landing her first reporting job at ITV West. Between university lectures, Kate would rush out to film segments on the local football team. After graduating, she spent a year presenting a live science show for young audiences as part of the Faraday Lectures for the Institute of Engineering and Technology. Kate then transitioned to broadcast journalism with the BBC in Somerset, where she immersed herself in the world of farming and culinary delights.

Lucinda Miller
Lucinda Miller
READ BIO
Michael Caines
Mark Tilling
READ BIO

Lucinda Miller

CLOSE

Brilliant Food for Brilliant Brains with Lucinda Miller, NatureDoc

As clinical lead of the NatureDoc team, with over 25 years of experience as a naturopath and Functional Medicine, Lucinda is the triple bestselling author of The Good Stuff, I Can't Believe It's Baby Food and Brain Brilliance cookbooks. She is a popular podcast guest, nutrition lecturer and public speaker and loves to cook healthy food that kids and teens will actually eat.

Mark Tilling

CLOSE

Mark Tilling is a world-renowned pâtissier, chocolatier, and teacher with over 25 years of experience in the industry. His passion for pastry began at an early age, inspired by his grandmothers and nurtured during his first job at just 16 in a local hotel pastry kitchen. Since then, Mark has built an illustrious career, working at prestigious establishments including The Lanesborough in London, Lainston House, and the Pave D’Auge in Normandy. Mark is a decorated chef, having won multiple gold and silver medals for his intricate desserts, petits fours, and chocolate showpieces. He was crowned UK Chocolate Master from 2006 to 2008 and proudly represented the UK at the World Chocolate Masters, placing 12th in 2007 and 7th in 2009. In 2016, he and his team won the BBC Two series Bake Off: Crème de la Crème, earning the title of Britain’s Best Team of Pastry Chefs.

A passionate educator, Mark teaches at the UK Chocolate Academy in Banbury, Squires Kitchen International Cookery School, and Season Cookery School at Lainston House. He’s a UK Callebaut Chocolate Ambassador and the author of three books, including Mastering Chocolate. He has also been featured on Channel 4’s Extreme Chocolate Makers and continues to inspire new generations of pastry chefs through his classes, media work, and incredible chocolate artistry.

Molly Robbins
Molly Robbins
READ BIO
Ping Coombes
Ping Coombes
READ BIO

Molly Robbins

CLOSE

Molly Robbins, also known as Molly Makes Cakes, has been a cake artist for 12years. Trained as a special effects artist, Molly is known for creating impressive 3D illusion cakes, from hyper realistic food to life-size animals, and best known as the star of Channel 4 and Netflix series Extreme Cake Makers. With a life-long career, Michael has built his reputation on a highly personal and distinctive Of all the events Molly is involved in, CarFest is her absolute favourite. ‘’The sheer scale of the festival, alongside the variety of activities and special guests, is so impressive and enjoyable. And the fact it raises so much money for charities is just the icing on the cake!’’

Ping Coombes

CLOSE

Ping stunned the MasterChef judges with food inspired by her Malaysian heritage to become MasterChef 2014 Champion. She took the famous trophy home again, winning BBC MasterChef Champion of Champions in 2022, becoming the first double MasterChef Champion.

Growing up in Ipoh, Malaysia surrounded by amazing food, Ping was inspired by her mother’s cookery. Now living in the UK and travelling globally, she draws inspiration from her heritage but delivers her food with modern twists and ingredients found locally.

Ping regularly hosts supper clubs and events across the country, including her hometown of Bath at venues including Bertinet Kitchen, as well as masterclasses at her Ping at Home Kitchen, and Divertimenti Cookery School.

She’s currently working on her next book to showcase the wonderful food of Malaysia.

Richard Bertinet
Richard Bertinet
READ BIO
Steve-Guy
Steve Guy
READ BIO

Richard Bertine

CLOSE

Richard Bertinet, a master baker, trained in Brittany, France, and has been based in England since 1988. With over 30 years of experience, he founded The Bertinet Kitchen cookery school in Bath in 2005, attracting students from around the globe. Richard has been named BBC Food Champion of the Year and is an Academian of The Royal Academy of Culinary Arts. He has authored six award-winning cookbooks, including Dough, Crust, and Crumb. In 2008, Richard launched The Bertinet Bakery, the UK’s first national artisan bakery. He sold it to The Bread Factory in 2019 and now focuses on his new project, Bertinet at Home. 

Steve Guy

CLOSE

Steve Guy, also known as Steve The Hungry Guy, is a community chef, food educator, and, first and foremost, an eater. With roots in professional kitchens alongside Jamie Oliver and experience in product development for global food brands and retailers, Steve brings both culinary skill and deep industry insight to everything he does.

Driven by a vision of a world where food is cooked, shared, and enjoyed by all, equally and accessibly. Steve now dedicates his time to working with a diverse range of community groups and charities, from schools to prisons.

Whether he’s leading workshops, cooking sessions, or demoing at festivals, his infectious energy and passion for food remind us of its power to connect people, spark education, and create a more sustainable future for our planet.

The Happy Pear
The Happy Pear
READ BIO
Thuy-Hoang
Thuy Hoang
READ BIO

The Happy Pear

CLOSE

In 2004 at the age of 24, Dave and Steve started The Happy Pear, a fruit and veg shop, to try to create a happier, healthier world and build community. It's gone from the two lads to a team of almost 100, the business turning over €10 million in 2019. The Happy Pear now has 70 vegan food products in nearly 1,000 stores in Ireland, a cafe, a farm, coffee roastery, and a sourdough bakery. They've sold over half a million cookbooks (6 number one bestsellers) and have a suit of online health and lifestyle courses, and recipes, in which they partnered with plant-based doctors and experts from across the globe, having helped over 120,000 people through these courses from 120 different countries. Now all these courses can be found on their app!

Thuy Hoang

CLOSE

Thuy Hoang was born in Saigon, Vietnam. She came to the United Kingdom at the age of nine as a refugee with her family. In 2023, Thuy was a Quarter Finalist on BBC1's MasterChef. She is a member of the judging panels for prestigious UK food industry awards: the UK Quality Food Awards, the Great Taste Awards (Guild of Fine Food), and the Great British Food Awards. Thuy is also a guest chef teaching classes at Jeremy Pang's award-winning School of Wok in Covent Garden, London. She has published articles and recipes in leading food magazines, as well as a review of London’s Vietnamese restaurants in Time Out. As a chef-presenter, Thuy has featured on food festival stages across the UK. Thuy shares films of Vietnamese recipes and passion for the cuisine of her cultural heritage through a YouTube channel Thuy Cooks.

And MANY MORE
to be come…

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