Hi – I am Dr Sue Bailey
Why have I founded Cambridgefoodies?
Food has been my lifelong passion both professionally and creatively. My aim is to educate, inspire, enthuse and support foodies in the Cambridge area and beyond.
I hope to help anyone who wants to learn, read about, eat, develop, produce or sell fantastic food or drink.
Why Cambridgefoodies ?
I am an experienced food science lecturer working for over 20 years in research and education. I was until recently course director for a very successful MSc in Food Science at London Metropolitan University. I am currently associate senior lecturer teaching food product development at Masters level with student prize-winning eco-food designs.
As founder of Cambridgefoodies I am enjoying developing my media presence and have recently appeared as a culinary history consultant on television for Great British Bake Off.
I am a food science expert on Food Unwrapped for Channel 4 and am skilled at simplifying complex scientific concepts. I have recently appeared on BBC1 Rip Off Britain: Food looking at sugar free fizzy drinks and on ITV Save Money – Good Health evaluating herbal teas. I have also been a consultant for ITV Sugar Free Farm.
I contribute regularly to BBC local and commercial radio ( Flavour105fm) as a food commentator and presenter. I appear and demonstrate as the first female celebrity cook, Fanny Cradock at Food Festivals such as Eat Cambridge and the Ginger and Spice Festival.
I am a local food judge, an after dinner speaker for international meetings and expert industry panel member for exhibitions and conferences.
Why Cambridge?
Cambridge has always been my home as I went to school here. I gained my first degree from Bristol University specializing in nutrition and food science. I then taught in Saffron Walden in Essex. London lured me to teach food science and technology in sixth form colleges. I also started food writing and studied part time for an MSc in Public Health Education at Kings College, London University. In the vacation I worked as a troubleshooting cook and caterer and wrote articles on health and food.This led me into working as a food and communications lecturer. My specialism was food science and food product development but I also taught food styling, consumer and broadcast food journalism.
University lecturing in London, working full time whilst bringing up two delightful daughters and doing a part time PhD kept me busy. However, many weekends were spent back in Cambridge.
Cooking squirrels
Fen skies, family, sheep and friends ensured that one day I would permanently return. Now we have moved back to Cambridge sans children and as replacement entertainment we have kept pigs, cooked squirrels, grow grapes, share an allotment and have just embarked upon the challenges of owning our first beehive.
Food and feminism
I am currently speaking and researching about food science, food technology and feminism. I also collect food history books and domestic economy manuals . I perform as one of my heroines – Fanny Cradock who was the first female celebrity cook.
My foodie passions are indulged by researching local food culture and aiming to cook, eat out and drink as frequently as my wallet allows.
