It’s been 2 months – and I’m again. A lot has occurred!
Two months in the past, I confessed I used to be burnt out and wanted to take a break from publishing new recipes so I had time to recalibrate and discover a higher work-life stability.
I really like what I do and by no means wish to cease. So I needed to make modifications to keep away from burning out once more.
Although I didn’t get a lot day without work, stepping away from creating and filming recipes freed up time so I might implement some constructive modifications. Issues have been busy however manageable, I’ve cleared my to-do listing and regained my spark. Right here’s what’s occurred!
Higher Houses & Gardens TV present
SO EXCITING!!! We had Johanna Griggs from the beloved TV present Higher Houses & Gardens spend a day with us to movie “a day within the lifetime of”. We began on the building website that’s my home-to be:
We then moved onto RecipeTin Meals (“RTM”, our foodbank) the place we confirmed Joh our kitchen and she or he received to see first hand the staff making and packing a whole bunch of meals!
We even received Joh to assist with the packing. I assumed she was a bit stingy with the garnishes. JB thought she was a bit sluggish. Possibly they’ll velocity her up within the edits. 😂
And the ultimate cease was my mom’s home, the place we wrapped gyoza collectively then sat all the way down to take pleasure in a Japanese feast:
It was an enormous and lengthy day, with a number of shifting elements, nicely over 40 folks concerned within the day, from the tradies on the development website, to my staff at RTM, RTE employees working behind the scenes, in addition to in fact the fantastic BHG crew.
However SO MUCH FUN! All of us assume Joh Griggs ought to run for PM. Sensible as a whip. All people loves her.🥰
Talking of my dwelling
It began out as slightly kitchen renovation.
It’s developed right into a head-to-toe heritage home restoration. 😩 Each stone upturned revealed one other set of issues, from termite harm requiring the entire elimination of all of the flooring and joists all through the entire home, to putting in a whole new stormwater system all through the entire property to interchange the non-existent one, and rewiring the entire home.
Proper at this second, I’m in a little bit of denial, simply coping with one downside at a time, placing on a poised calm facade (OK, that’s a blatant lie, there have been dismal wails aplenty). And feeling fortunate that I’ve a staff I can belief so we are able to work via these challenges collectively, and that we now have an excellent line of communication with the native council.
I additionally know that it was not a sensible choice, selecting a run down heritage home as my new dwelling. Reality is, I fell in love with the concept of a house crammed with character and I used to be determined to maneuver out of the workplace (after 9 years of it, I used to be accomplished!). So I didn’t do sufficient analysis. I used to be ready to do a good quantity of works to repair it. I didn’t anticipate each inch of the home – each blade of grass, each slate tile on the roof, each gutter – to wish full restore or alternative.😭
Onwards. No extra complaining! I introduced this on myself.
My motley crew – Group RecipeTin
Thrilling information on the staff entrance!
Chef JB is again at HQ!
JB, our RecipeTin group head chef, was seconded to RecipeTin Meals for the previous yr to assist optimize the brand new kitchen, increasing meal manufacturing from 500 to 600 every day, and tripling the meal selection we provide.
Although typically pulled into particular RTE tasks, he’s now again full-time! His return lightens my workload and brings top-tier “chef commonplace” to every part – from fast meals to more difficult dishes that retains issues attention-grabbing round right here (Singapore Chilli Crab, anybody? 😊).
It additionally opens up the alternatives for us to do enjoyable issues like pop ups and stay cooking reveals. So glad he’s again – and excited for the yr forward!
New kitchen hand at RTM!
And in associated thrilling information, we now have a brand new member at staff RTM – meet Harry!
Harry simply began with us yesterday, changing JB at RTM. I’m not positive that Harry anticipated his first day in his new job to finish with an enormous picture of his face on my web site!
He was additionally relatively shocked that we welcomed him with cake and a balloon on his first day. Apparently that doesn’t occur in regular kitchen jobs. 😂
MEET DENELLE, MY NEW ASSISTANT!
Yaaaay!! I’ve a proper hand lady!
The seek for Denelle was definitely an expertise. Anticipating solely maybe 100 candidates on account of location limits, I deliberate to do the recruiting myself – till over 2,000 purposes flooded in. All people needs to work with Dozer! 🦮
Overwhelmed, I rapidly realised I’m not constructed for recruitment (I might’ve employed 48 out of the primary 50 who utilized 😅).
Enter Est 10, a specialist recruitment agency that made the method seamless with their unbelievable effectivity, professionalism, and private contact. Their experience turned a frightening process right into a pleasure, and I met some actually distinctive candidates alongside the best way. Which brings me to my subsequent level:
An enormous thanks to everybody who utilized!
To everybody who took the time to use, thanks so very a lot. The response was actually overwhelming, and I used to be blown away by the unbelievable expertise, ardour, and enthusiasm that was obvious in so many purposes.
I understand how a lot effort goes into placing your self ahead for a task, and I would like you to know that each software was reviewed by a recruitment specialist and never a machine. If I might have employed extra of you, I completely would have!
Wishing you all one of the best in your careers, and who is aware of – our paths might cross once more sooner or later!
RecipeTin Meals Information
There’s at all times happenings at RTM!
torrential rain harm
We had a ceiling collapse and water pouring into the kitchen about 6 weeks in the past throughout sudden torrential rains. It occurred in the midst of the day when the staff was proper in the midst of the cook dinner.
Because of the short considering of the staff, we misplaced little or no inventory to water harm. That is Stephen, the pinnacle chef at RTM, saturated from head to toe after diving beneath the waterfall to avoid wasting what he might:
Amazingly, we solely had at some point we couldn’t cook dinner. And we nonetheless managed to supply 600 meals on that day as we maintain a stash of frozen meals for such emergencies.
We elevated our meals to 600!
And on the subject of the meals we make – we elevated our meals to 600 per day, up from 500! This equates to 156,000 meals per yr – that’s a number of hungry tummies stuffed!
We’ve progressively elevated meals since shifting into our present kitchen, from 400 day by day after we first moved to 600. Partially on account of new gear which allows us to cook dinner at scale extra effectively, and partially on account of continued enchancment in workflow.
I’m so happy with my staff, these working at RTM who make the meals occur each day, and people engaged on the RTE facet of the enterprise that makes RTM attainable (as a result of the earnings we earn on the RTE facet is what funds RTM).
We haven’t hit the ceiling but. There’s extra to come back, extra meals assist we are able to supply!
My ebook launched within the Netherlands!
The primary non-English version of my ebook, Vanavond (Dutch for this night), launched within the Netherlands final week – so thrilling! Any Dutch readers round? Get it right here!
However I had slightly mix-up when saying it – “I’m within the Netherlands!” I posted on Fb, solely to have folks eagerly ask the place I’d be signing books. 😂 Needed to rapidly make clear – it’s my ebook that’s there, not me!
Launch of “Incomes Energy”
I used to be honoured to be featured as a case examine in Incomes Energy by Roxanne Calder, founding father of Est 10 recruitment. The ebook explores closing the gender pay hole and is a precious useful resource about maximising earnings potential. The discussions lined my company profession in addition to the journey of constructing RecipeTin.
I used to be so blissful to see Incomes Energy so nicely obtained at launch and admire Roxanne’s dedication to empowering ladies – with out diminishing males. Truthfully, my mentors within the company world and the enterprise folks I admired essentially the most had been all males.
PS: I couldn’t match a single cupcake in that itty-bitty bag. Therefore my love for big luggage!
You’re caught up!
And that. my buddies, (largely) catches you up on the happenings of the final 2 months.
For me, the 2 largest issues that can change the best way ahead is having an assistant once more – simply having an additional pair of arms round has been an on the spot assist – and JB coming again to HQ. I’ve caught up on sleep, life admin, I’ve been capable of spend extra time at RTM (which I actually take pleasure in doing, I identical to being there), and simply usually getting a greater work-life stability.
I’m even going to attempt to drop all the way down to 4 days per week for the subsequent couple of minutes (I do know, gasp, shock, horror!!).
That is perhaps slightly formidable, however one should have targets!
Importantly although, I’m recharged, again to my chirpy self, and impressed to get again within the kitchen once more. Right here’s to an excellent the rest of 2025 crammed with scrumptious new recipes! – Nagi x
Lifetime of Dozer
A handful of pictures and nothing new. Nonetheless thinks each steak has his identify on it:
All the time my shadow within the kitchen:
Substantial pool time (although his days of leaping into the pool are over, today he simply tends to spa):
No such factor as a peaceable brunch when he’s round:
Resigning himself to the newest dog-wear:
And simply trying cute:
Love this fur ball so, a lot. ❤️
