Aly’s Story…

My focus is on helping people realise that vegan food can be delicious, look and taste amazing and is every bit as substantial and meaty as its carnivore counterpart dishes.  Even when using ingredients you have in the cupboard and fridge all the time. No hard to find ingredients. No big budget shopping. Just great recipes for your family through the week and the holidays. 

Aly is a classically trained chef, tutor and food writer originally from North Wales, now living in the French Alps.

My late Mum, Iris, was largely responsible for my interest in cooking, and I remember cooking with Mum and taking in everything she taught me.. and did in our family kitchen from a very early age. There was always chutney bubbling on the stove, or a cake baking when I got home from school. When I was 7 or 8 years old she would make curries, homemade pizzas and  lasagne for when friends came over, and back then in the mid 70s that was pretty special!

I began my career at 16 years old, first at catering college and part time jobs. From there it was onto uni for some more hotels and catering training followed by a year studing Cordon Blue Cookery at what was The Tante Marie School of Cookery. By the time I was 21 years old I had progressed to the role of private chef onboard super yachts and motor sailers cruising the Mediterranean, Indian Ocean and onto the Caribbean. 

I continue to cook and develop recipes today, teaching people to create fabulous meat free meals via from quick and easy family meals, to budget recipes and dishes for entertaining and dinner guests. 

My focus is on helping people realise that vegan food can be delicious, look and taste amazing and is every bit as substantial and meaty as the carnivore counterpart dishes.  Even when using ingredients you have in the cupboard and fridge all the time. 

Thanks to my knowledge and skills in web development and all things digital, I was able to create an online learning space, known as Cooks Studio to members. I’m still creating plenty of free content and recipes, here on Aly CJ Cooks website and also on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube. Type #alycjcooks into Google and you’ll find me!