Meet Kate. She works from home in mid-Devon and around the county, supporting Sharpham's relationships with stockists, whipping up impressive recipes in her kitchen... and sharing our cheese and chutney at tasting events.
What does a typical day look like for you?
I work part time to support Sharpham with sales and marketing. You won’t find our cheese in supermarkets, so we have an extensive network of independent businesses to work with. We are also trying to develop further our online offer, so that people outside of the region can enjoy our brilliant products.
So, I am lucky to say that no one day is like the next! I could be sampling cheese at one of our lovely stockists, working on delicious recipes with Sharpham cheese, updating the website, at an event or visiting new stockists.
How did you end up at Sharpham?
I met Greg in 2022 when I was interviewed for a job at Food Drink Devon. The hours weren’t quite enough for me. As I'd previously worked for another artisan cheese producer, Greg and Nicky thought they might also be able to utilise my cheese skills.
Outside of work?
I share my life with my triathlon obsessed husband and our very floofy cat Alfie, who may look like he wants a cuddle, but watch out as he’ll have your eye out - unless you have food.
I am always cooking, I love experimenting with local Devon produce and creating recipes, whether that’s with Sharpham cheese or baking a cake, I find being in the kitchen a way to be creative. My first job was as a designer-maker, but I now only make jewellery part time.
I am very lucky both my parents shared their passion for cooking and this has now become my go-to de-stress activity.
When I’m not in the kitchen you can find me in my garden. I love growing vegetable and flowers from seed and watching them grow into magical plants. My dream would be to have a big enough garden to have a greenhouse one day. A few years ago, I grew (along with my parents) all our flowers for my wedding, so each year now I have dahlias and gladioli popping up reminding me of our special day.
If I’m not out in the garden or kitchen, then I’m out exploring the Devon countryside with friends going for walks and if that happens to be a circular one with a pub lunch involved, even better!
Any burning ambitions? Cheese related or otherwise.
To own a bit of land so I can grow more, have an orchard and a greenhouse... and travel. I would very much like to see New Zealand and go back to Iceland.
Favourite Sharpham cheese?
My favourite Sharpham cheese is Rustic with Dulse & Sea Lettuce. I love the colourful flecks of sea lettuce and dulse and the umami finish you get once its melted it in your mouth.
I once did a seashore foraging course and it's amazing that our cheese makers can capture such a special flavour. It's also really interesting to cook with. Try it on a pizza with smoked salmon or in a crab gratin. Or grated through mash potato.
Favourite place or view in Devon?
My favourite view would either be up on Dartmoor, near Belstone, looking out across the moor. Or at Saunton Sands.
Favourite place to eat or drink in Devon?
This is an incredibly hard one for me. I love eating out and having a drink or too. (Ask Andrea! She had caught far too many photos of me with food or a glass in my hand!)
There are some epic places to eat and drink in Devon. A special one for me would be the River Exe Cafe, as I love seafood and the views are spectacular.
If I can be organised enough to book a table, then the Lost Kitchen near Tiverton is another great choice. Set in a gorgeous vegetable garden with lots of wood-fired food, the pizzas are divine!
My local, BFK at Hanlon's Brewery, is a perfect option for when we don’t want to travel far. Lucky for us it’s on our doorstep!
Try Kate's recipes for Beetroot Ravioli with Ticklemore HERE and Arancini with Sharpham Cremet HERE.
