A mountain rescue volunteer is combining his love for the outdoors with fine dining, serving gourmet meals in the Northumberland hills. Chris Reay, 54, from Seaton Delaval, started Fells Kitchen during the Coronavirus pandemic and has since been offering unique culinary experiences in the Cheviot Hills and Northumberland National Park.
From Catering to the Hills
Chris, a qualified mountain leader and member of the Northumberland National Park Mountain Rescue Team, has been running Epicurus Catering since 1998. When the pandemic hit, he could no longer cater for parties, so he pivoted to outdoor dining. 'Everyone wanted to go out in groups of six when they could. I had the idea of providing fine-dining catering out in the hills and that's how Fells Kitchen came about,' he said.
Five years on, the business is thriving. Chris uses locally-sourced ingredients, often cooking scallops or prawn-based dishes on a camping stove, and even carries a pizza oven on some adventures. Guests help by carrying first aid kits, plates, and cutlery, while Chris lugs food in insulated cool boxes alongside his backpack. Most preparation is done at his catering unit in North Shields for safety.
Supporting Local Producers
Chris is passionate about showcasing Northumberland's culinary prowess and supporting local suppliers. 'It's far too easy for us all to get stuff from big suppliers. I think we should look after each other. It's much easier for me to ring my butcher in Northumberland and ask him to prepare something specific,' he explained.
He also has ambitions to launch a Northumberland Seven Peaks challenge, a guided adventure across the county's seven highest hills with gourmet catering along the way. The 14-hour trek would involve 7,000 feet of elevation, but Chris believes the food will keep energy levels up. 'The Three Peaks in Yorkshire is totally rammed with people. Northumberland has a fraction of those crowds,' he noted.
For more information, visit the Fells Kitchen website.
