Doncaster forager who supplies Michelin star chefs to share her secrets at cookery class

Doncaster forager Alysia Vasey who supplies many of the countrys top one and two Michelin star chefs from over one hundred ingredients that she picks in the wild.

Doncaster cook Alysia Vasey supplies many of the country’s top one and two Michelin star chefs from over one hundred ingredients that she picks in the wild.

Renowned for her vast knowledge on foraged plants, herbs, nuts, mushrooms and berries she collects across Yorkshire and beyond, Alysia rarely shares her secrets – until now.

She has has agreed to run a one day course called ‘Introduction to Foraging’ at a new cookery school which opens in March.

Alysia, who has appeared on BBC’s Countryfile programme, keeps her forage locations a secret but she will be sharing some of her secrets on the day.

She said she was looking forward to running the course.

“I’m delighted to have been asked to create this introduction for foraging.

“We have so much produce growing wild in and around Yorkshire and I’m looking forward to showcasing that at what promises to be a fantastic event.”

Introduction to Foraging will see Alysia working with cookery school tutor, Andrew Dixon, to create a range of dishes with ingredients she has collected.

This will include sea purslane, sea aster from the coastal salt marshes and sitka tip which is picked from pine trees and will accompany a crab cake, and tenderloin of pork with wild mushrooms, sweet cicely and wild fennel, served with creamed potatoes and crackling.

Dessert will be sweet woodruff panna cotta served with textures of strawberries, which will be created by the participants, who will get to enjoy all of the dishes once they are completed.

Alysia spent her childhood foraging and now through her company, Yorkshire Foragers, she supplies a number of top chefs including Michael Wignall, Nigel Haworth, Mark Birchall, Andrew Pern, Colin McGurran, along with internationally renowned chef, Rene Redzepi from top restaurant Noma in Copenhagen.

The Introduction to Foraging full day runs from 9.30am to 4pm on Saturday May 11 at York’s Grand Hotel, and costs £195 per person. It can be booked via www.thegrandyork.co.uk/cookery-school.