I’m chuffed to bits to have Liz Chatfield of Sylvia’s Kitchen on my blog again and this time as my latest sponsor!
The Getting to know you series delves into the minds of the people who are behind amazing independent companies bringing you all of your wedding treasures. Sylvia’s Kitchen and her scrummy cakes were featured here back in May and the company completely embodies the ethos of Ooh! Mrs James. So, Liz it’s time for the hot seat, over to you..
What was your most loved food when you were a child?
Sussex Sausage and Bacon pudding – my grandma’s recipe which my family absolutely love now too
What’s the #1 most played song on your iPod/stereo?
Tonight’s Gonna Be a Good Night – Black Eyed Peas, always gets me bopping as I bake – but there’s always room for some Abba
What is one of your favourite quotes?
“If you can dream it, you can do it” – Walt Disney
What indoor/outdoor activity do you love?
Love camping and cooking outdoors. Love baking indoors
What chore do you absolutely hate doing?
Cutting everyone’s hair! – I’ve done it since the children were all small, I’m not a trained hairdresser, just self taught. I do take my daughter to the hairdressers with me now so we can have some pamper time together but I still seem to be cutting my husband and both sons hair…keep telling them to get to the barbers but they don’t…
What is your favourite form of exercise?
Mmm, tricky, I regularly run, cycle and do circuits, love them all for different reasons
What is your favourite time of day/day of the week/month of the year?
Love early in the morning, early dog walk, everywhere is quiet and you can hear the birds. Love Fridays, it’s usually decorate day on the cake front which is great. Love August, it holds my anniversary and birthday and the children are around and we holiday and there are loads of weddings!
What’s your least favourite mode of transportation?
Boat
Which of your body parts do you like the most?
Well, I quite like my cheeky boom boom botty!
What sound/smell/taste do you love?
Love fresh coffee/fresh orange zest/taste of raspberries
What was one of the best parties you’ve ever been to?
My surprise 40th – planned by family and friends and plotted by husband who teamed up with our nearest and dearest males, with secret rehearsals to perform a very professional and surprise Full Monty…amazingly unforgettable!
What was the last movie, TV show or book that made you cry or tear up?
Long Lost Family last week – that TV show gets me every time, incredible.
What’s the hardest thing you’ve ever done?
Cycled from Lands End to John O’Groats for Chestnut Tree House last year, the training was sometimes grueling and almost harder than the ride itself, but overwhelmingly satisfying and so worth all the hard work, bring on the next one!
What was the last experience that made you a stronger person?
Probably the charity bike ride mentioned above – and we’re planning to do another big one next year. I know I can do it now because I’ve done it before.
What did you do growing up that got you into trouble?
Made lots of camps in the hay bales in the barn and kept breaking the strings on them which meant it was hard for Dad to move the bales around to feed the cows – they were all falling apart!
When was the last time you had an amazing meal?
About a month ago in Brighton at 24 St Georges, absolutely gorgeous and thoroughly recommended.
What’s the best/worst gift you’ve ever given/received?
Best gift received – a fantastic holiday with my family for my 40th – the best memories!
Worst gift received – a mini fondue set. Never used it for fondue, but do use the bowl occasionally for dips. Does anyone fondue??
Best gift given – A surprise trip to London and Gordon Ramsay’s restaurant to my husband for his 40th, with the children, we had such a great time, toured the kitchen and even had a late night glance of Victoria Beckham who was dining the same evening.
Worst gift given – I can’t think of a bad one!
What do you miss most about being a kid?
The carefree feelings and freedom that you just can’t have when you’re all grown up and responsible.
What is your first memory of being really excited?
When I heard the sleigh bells and Father Christmas and the Reindeer land on the roof of the farmhouse.
What was the first thing you bought with your own money?
I think it was either a lovely white RaRa skirt or some (what I thought) were gorgeous lilac pedal pushers with string ties at the sides and a zip on the thigh pocket. Goodness me I thought I was pretty cool in them and loved them!
When was the last time you were nervous?
Delivering the wedding picnic a couple of weeks ago for 160 guests, but it was a good nervous!
What is the most important thing you have learned/best advice you’ve been given?
Hmmm, good question! Best thing I’ve learned…Never to panic, everything is solvable and there is always a solution, just stay calm and carry on and go with my gut feelings about decisions, they’re usually right, but to listen to others too and take on board their input.
Best advice I’ve been given, well, my Dad said to me only a couple of months ago – “Never forget Lil (my family name!), the sky’s the limit”
What story does your family always tell about you?
Hmm, probably I would think my kids would talk about me learning cake decorating when I was a little girl with my mum – my siblings would probably talk about me as a young girl cycling around the farm singing made up songs about cycling around the world and feeling ten feet tall (something they tried to make me sing on my wedding day!) ironic that I do now do a lot of cycling!
At what age did you become an adult?
Probably when my first child was born in 1995, had to be grown up then, but do revert occasionally!
Describe what it is you love the most about your work…
I love the creativity of it – and the variation, every week is so different, with different enquiries, designs, flavours and celebrations no two weeks are ever the same, it’s amazing working with such wonderful couples who have great ideas to kick off our discussions on cake designs. I love sketching them out then starting work on it all – when it finally comes to decorate day it’s a culmination of months of planning and completely satisfying.
Thanks Liz! Santa never came to visit me!? To take a look at the cakes the talented Liz creates, visit her website.
The post Getting to know you…Liz Chatfield of Sylvia’s Kitchen appeared first on Ooh! Mrs James.
