The Shabby Gourmet @ The Cottage B&B

Simon grew up right here in Polperro, across the road in The Polmary Restaurant, where his parents' food and particular brand of repartee ensured that the restaurant became so popular that it was not unknown for them to be knocked up in the small hours of the morning to whip up anything from Lobster Thermidor to a full English breakfast.  Simon grew up working in the kitchen and front of house and developed a great love of food and a massive respect for good, fresh ingredients.  He is the ultimate host and a jolly good sous-chef!

Meanwhile, over in Belgium, Maz was growing up surrounded by all the foods of Europe.  With a keen gastronome as a father and a Cordon Bleu cook for a mother, there was little doubt that Maz was going to grow up a committed cook.  A collaboration with Marion Dean, founder of the Truffle Hunters' Dog School, resulted in the writing of Discovering The Great British Truffle, and the year of honing skills to come up with some thirty recipes starring the Great British Truffle - from picnics to puddings - sealed the deal.  

We set up our catering firm, The Shabby Gourmet, in Hampshire.  Providing high quality catering, home cooked ready meals, fresh sandwiches, dietary options, cream teas, corporate contracted meals, weddings, curries, balls - you name it - the company was enormous fun to build and run.  

 

As the company flourished and grew, the moment came when a decision had to be made.  We could either continue expanding the catering business, taking on a large commercial kitchen and a lot of staff, and hence moving away from the food and into management, or grab the opportunity to buy the Cottage Bed & Breakfast and keep delighting in the joy of cooking for and connecting with people face to face.  

 

No brainer.

 

We shut up shop, packed up our lives and moved to the seaside, to the utterly divine village of Polperro, where we enjoy the cliff-side walks, the sea swimming, the delightful pubs and the glorious comings and goings of our guests from all over the world.  Sheer bliss!