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Elinor Hill

Bexhill-on-Sea, East Sussex is home for Elinor’s beach hut and the base for her food-inspired writing much of which she captures in her blog. From late spring well through into autumn you will often find her with family and friends enjoying good company, delicious food and the odd cocktail or two at her beach hut which is only a short walk from her house. When the hut has to be packed away to hibernate through the winter months, she continues to cook on woody walks or outside at home on the fire pit.

Elinor’s recipe work is never without willing testers as her husband and two teenage sons are always hungry, especially if it’s cake recipe testing.

Elinor loves to hunt out new and exciting places to experience and dine. There is nothing better to her than to find a hidden culinary gem or a delightful tucked away place to stay that she can share over a natter. And if she can find a second-hand stall or shop on the way to buy a preloved item or two then she’s deliciously happy.

A few questions about nice things...

Who do you most admire?

Tenacious people. I love go-getters. I love their drive and determination. No matter what life throws at them, they get up and go for it.

What are your favourite possessions?

I have over 350 cookbooks and I write against each recipe that I’ve cooked. Each time I flick through the pages it makes me smile as I remember clearly who I shared these memories with, when, how and why. My most favourite of these, is my late Mother’s handwritten recipe notebook.

Tell us about your perfect day or weekend...

A whole day at the beach hut – breakfast, lunch and dinner with sea swims and friends popping in to join us. We would make use of the exposed sand at low tide playing rugby, cricket or football and at high tide take the blow up boat out until we get hungry.

What makes you happiest?

Hearing my teenage boys laugh together.

That moment as I sit down after cooking a meal for family and friends, join in the chat and laughter as we pass food round to each other and they tuck in with thumbs going up, as their mouths are full.

The fact that even if my husband has his hands full of shopping or carrying stuff to the beach hut, he will always find a way to hold my hand as we walk.

What would you like to do in the future?

I love writing and sharing all things “food” and I’m having such a blast that I never want it to stop.

MY FAVOURITE PLACES TO SEE & DO, EAT & DRINK, GO & STAY...