I grew up in New Zealand (Aotearoa) - the land of the long white cloud and sheep. It was an idyllic childhood of beach summers, BBQs, fresh seafood and fruit, followed by winters of hearty stews and cold weekends playing sport.

Food and drink were always central to life. Like most Antipodeans, eating together was a daily ritual and my love of feeding people comes straight from my grandparents, whose classic cooking, baking, pickling and preserving left a lasting impression.

After high school, I studied at university while working part-time in a local restaurant. It quickly became clear that kitchens, not lecture halls, were where I belonged, so I left and moved to Sydney.

There, I completed a four-year TAFE apprenticeship while working in fine-dining restaurants, eventually cooking alongside chefs such as Matt Fleming, Colin Fassindge, Simon Gregory and Michael Meredith. These experiences shaped my passion for fresh, seasonal and seriously tasty food.

A growing desire to travel led me to cook aboard private super yachts, combining food with exploration. Over nearly eight years, I travelled extensively through Europe, the Americas, the Caribbean, Greenland and the Galapagos, working with world-renowned chefs and immersing myself in diverse food cultures.

Eventually, I came ashore and made Cambridge home. From 2012, I was a partner in a local hospitality business, helping expand and open a contemporary café, before stepping away in 2019 to begin a new chapter.

That’s when The Modern Table was born. My approach is simple: every client and event is unique, so menus and service are thoughtfully tailored to each brief. I can’t wait to hear about your next celebration.