The Wild Kitchen is a gastronomic foraging course. It was founded in 2012 by renowned forager & innovative wild food Chef, Lucia Stuart who champions nature via the gathering of wild food and reappraisal of ancient cultural food traditions. She is an author*, member of The Association of Foragers and has been hosting for 35 years. She is featured on International TV and British radio.

BACKGROUND: Lucia owned a French restaurant, in SW France throughout the nineties. The Restaurant Cafe du Livre,  featured in The New York Times. It was frequented daily by a villager. Botanist & war veteran, 'Juju' came to the cafe with his arms full of plants for the menu. Food gathered from Le terroir was fresh seasonal ingredients growing on the landscape. The varying soils, seasons and eco-systems became inspiration for ever changing menus with rare ingredients.

Lucia's Fine Art degree and flair for techincal cooking facilitates a unique approach. France was the initial inspiration for The Wild Kitchen today whilst the Kent coastal landscape continues to deliver; feeding the fire!  *In 2011 Lucia published Eating Flowers, an illustrated foraging cook book for children for a reconnection with nature, good nutrition and simple recipes. She is working on her second wild food cook book to be published in 2025.

Lucia Stuart 2024.