FRANCES
KITCHIN
Home Economist and
Chef,
Television and Radio Cook,
Journalist, etc.
More about me ...
FRANCES KITCHIN (Mrs Frances Hunt) is the daughter of a Somerset Dairy farmer (Charles Sherrin), who has lived within a few miles of her birthplace for most of her life, and is now settled back in Martock. It seems extraordinary to learn that she only learned to cook after she got married, by which time she was already the mother of two young children.
While attending evening classes at Yeovil Technical College her talent for cookery was soon recognised, and a full time course at the College followed, giving her a Teacher’s Certificate in what up to then had been a hobby.
As a qualified Home Economist, she has lectured at Strode College, Street for 23 years. In March 1989 she started her successful Private Dining Room for groups in her home at Curry Rivel. She also ran cookery courses in her kitchen.
Frances is a freelance cookery writer and author of two cookery books, Granny’s Cookery Book and Cook Out (published by David & Charles). She has been the Women’s Editor of “South West Farmer” (a magazine that is sent to farmers from the tip of Cornwall to Bristol) for well over 35 years, from its first edition. For several years she was the Food and Wine Correspondent for “Motorcaravan Motorhome Monthly”, where she wrote under the heading of “Kitchin on Wheels”. These bi-monthly articles were of a “foodie” nature, often featuring areas where the cook could eat and rest her camper. Frances also provides numerous photographs to illustrate her articles. In addition she has written for several other cookery books, food magazines and newspapers.
She did have a regular monthly feature in “Total Sea Fishing” where she appears under the title “The Fishing Cook”, in which she gives recipes with photos and talks about the fish she catches. This came to an end as her page went over to boat features. Previously she and Dave Chidzoy (who is in the England team) used to set out with rods in hand to catch the fish. Dave gave his expertise on rigs, tackle and where to find them, after which Frances showed the readers how to prepare and cook their catch in easy recipes. This isn’t as easy as it sounds, as first they had to catch their fish!
For nearly 20 years she was the Cookery Correspondent for BBC Somerset. She was the cook with Kate Adie when BBC Radio Bristol first came on the air, and stayed with them for many years. While there, she also researched and presented her own food programme. In the past she has worked for Gemini AM (the Devon commercial radio station), and she has contributed to many other local and national programmes, such as Loose Ends, Woman’s Hour, etc, and Radio France Mayenne. Her latest radio was a live broadcast with Radio Sherborne, where she interviewed Valerie Singleton.
Her first television programme was West Country Fare, a network production by Westward Television based in Plymouth. After the series she remained their cook and appeared regularly on Westward Diary. This happy relationship finished when Westward Television lost its franchise. For many years, through Westward Television, she ran the Cookery Theatre at the Devon County Show. During this time she served as a committee member of the Devon County Show, and “cooked for Devon” at the Foire de Caen. Later she returned to the BBC, and was co-presenter (with Joe Henson) of BBC Television’s Country Living. She has also appeared in TSW’s Gardens for All and BBC Television’s Bazaar. In April 1996 Frances, with her husband John, were contestants on The Great Antiques Hunt (BBC Television), which was first transmitted in June 1997.
From 1999 to 2001 Frances was the ‘Somerset Cook’ appearing regularly on Carlton West Country television. In 2013 Frances and her husband were part of Flog It! from Yeovilton. Already her piece has been shown twice, but they are still waiting for his appearance.
Frances is widely travelled with a particular reference to her culinary interests. In the course of her travels she has visited many of the great restaurants in England and France, applying the knowledge gained by studying the artistry of the best chefs in the world to the improvement of her own kitchen skills. She has attended cookery courses in France, India, Italy, Hong Kong and Singapore.
When not cooking, Frances is busy sea fishing in Dorset, dabbling in antiques, sequence dancing, keeping her vegetable garden under control, and spending time with her family and grandchildren.
She is married to John Hunt, who is a retired Chartered Surveyor from his family firm, F L Hunt & Sons, which included being Clerk to the drainage boards on the Somerset Levels.
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E-mail: frances@holsindorset.co.uk