Annika's Apron - From The Beginning

By Mark Wardale
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29 Oct, 2015
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"I've travelled all over with Annika and she will always find the best food in that location without fail. She's my human Trip Advisor."

It all started out as an idea about 5 years ago. Annika, who as some of you know is a passionate foodie, wanted an outlet and somewhere to share her knowledge, passion, recipes and talk about the things she had learned whilst travelling. So she started a food blog www.annikasapron.blogspot.com. At first we didn't know who, if anyone would visit the blog. But it turns out that people like food, a lot! Not just in this country, but across the globe. People searching for particular world food or just stumbling across the blog would even send in images of the some of the recipes recreated!

Annika's love for food has been a huge part of her life from a very young age. Cooking with her Swedish mother, her grandmother and other family members she developed a passion for creating, street food in particular. Her perception on street food is, if a stall looks small, dirty and the menu is foreign or even none existent, then the food will be incredible. I have to say she's been right so far. I've travelled all over with Annika and she will always find the best food in that location without fail. She's my human Trip Advisor.

"Is their something in this? Are we missing a trick here? People actually want my food!" Annika's outlet just grew an awful lot in a short space of time.

Catering!

ca.ter, ca.ter.ing
1. to provide food or entertainment
2. to provide to the wants or need of

Ok so we all need to eat, but do we eat the food that we want? Are we satisfied by the food that we eat? Do we make that sensual 'oh my god' noise when the food hits our palette? Probably more often not. But, Annika knew she could evoke that reaction from people if she was given the opportunity to.

It didn't happen overnight, but it sure was a great journey. Before even registering Annika's Apron as a company, Annika worked in the kitchen of a community centre. ITV enquired if Annika would create a recipe for the members of the centre and showcase it on a TV programme by Simon Cowell called 'Food Glorious Food'. The recipe was for a Bourbon Bread & Butter Pudding and it went down well with the judges, so good that it made the semi final along with the recipe being published in the book!

After a number of requests to publish her recipes in books alongside Chefs including Rosemary Shrager, Annika was then offered the opportunity to become Jamie Oliver's Food Ambassador to the region, promoting healthy eating, budget food recipes and food awareness.

And so enter Craig Darley and Adrian Hunter of 365 Catering, who decided that Annika's Apron was not only a good idea to provide event catering, but it would represent something that the region was missing, a personal touch on food, a story, transparency, the option of bespoke menu's, and the best darn food you will taste in the region, just ask Annika.....The human Trip Advisor.