And the restaurant can be the top of a hill or next to a lake.
For those of us who enjoy a walk…either an energetic hike or a leisurely stroll, we’re spoilt here in the North East with the The Dales, Fells, Northumberland coast, Cheviots and of course the Lake District.
And most of those adventures frequently end up in a local hostelry for a slap-up meal of pub grub and a pint or a glass of wine.
So why not mix those two ingredients…exercise and food?
That’s exactly what you get with Chris Reay at Fells’ Kitchen.
Chris has been a chef in the North East for over 25 years and in 1998 he formed his own company… Epicurus (www.epicurus.co.uk)…which has grown into a very well regarded catering, equipment hire and staff hire company.
“Hiking in the hills and mountains has always been a passion of mine, said Chris. “I’ve spent many years walking and camping in The Cheviots and The Lake District, so love spending time in the outdoors and preferably up a hill.”
“When Covid 19 arrived, the hospitality industry took a massive hit, and that included my company. Epicurus very nearly disappeared overnight. I had to do some serious thinking about the future and frequently found solace in the hills and mountains, as did many other people at this time. I then hit upon the idea of combining both my chef skills and love of the outdoors and came up with Fells’ Kitchen.
It would mean taking people out in the hills and mountains, but serve them lunch too! However, I wasn’t going to just serve them some sandwiches. I’d provide them a gourmet meal and cook it over a wood fired stove. Obviously!
I signed up for a week’s training course to become a Mountain Leader and then another week for further training and assessment. I graduated as a qualified Mountain Leader with the Mountain Training Association in November 2020, so I’m now able to lead groups of people in the hills and mountains of the UK.”
It’s hard to think of a more relaxing but healthy way to clear your head and get some exercise when you also know that at some point Chris will create a true gourmet meal which is very likely going to have a backdrop that you could never expect to see in a High Street restaurant.
And of course, having been a time-served chef for over 25 years, you can ask Chris to create a meal around the sort of flavours and ingredients you like. What better way to impress your fellow walkers? “I had one client who loved scallops and Stornoway black pudding, so I cooked it up for his birthday. We were half way up The Cheviot.”
There is also the added advantage of having a professional guide which means you’re going to be in safe hands.
“I can make the outings as strenuous or relaxing as the walkers fancy. They can choose where they’d like to go and then we’ll find a place to stop, take in the scenery and enjoy a fantastic food experience.
“And it also makes for a terrific team-building event which is ideal for companies who’re looking for something a bit different. I’ve found a lot of corporate clients have embraced it as a change to the usual alcohol fuelled networking events that are the norm.”
Oh…and if you are by chance reading this and love the idea of what Chris can provide…but you come from outside the North East of England… not a problem. Chris is happy to travel anywhere in the UK by prior arrangement.
The best idea is to go onto Chris’s website… www.fellskitchen.co.uk…and check out the shop page for general bookable experience days.
Alternatively, for private bookings, you can contact him directly to discuss possible dates & locations. This is best if you have a group of up to six or eight mates and want to organise a special birthday, corporate day or event for someone.
Want to get a flavour of what is up too with Fells’ Kitchen go onto Instagram @fellskitchen or follow him on Facebook @fellskitchenadventures
He’s certainly worth keeping in touch with because Chris has plans to develop Fells’ Kitchen into a full outdoor adventure company that provides catering. “It started with the hiking, but this year we are now offering ghyll scrambling and we have plans to offer climbing and coasteering very shortly.”
Fells’ Kitchen – catered outdoor adventures; a unique experience of exhilarating exercise with nature as your background, and then relax with a meal prepared in front of you by one of the region’s most experienced chefs.
And keep everything crossed for a fine day.
www.fellskitchen.co.uk