flavours was opened by BBC MasterChef winner, Julie Friend on 31st March 2005.

Inspired by a mother whose life revolved around family and food, Julie had enjoyed spending hours in the kitchen from a very young age. Holidays with Mum, Dad, her brother and sisters in the South of France only fuelled her enthusiasm and she became a keen and experimental cook, often using the preparation of a meal for friends, as a way to relax.

Working in the travel industry for ten years for Italian tour operators meant visiting the country regularly and confirmed her passion for European food markets and cuisine.

Following her mothers premature death, Julie decided to enter the BBC competition as a tribute to Pamela, and spent a few tense weeks winging her way through each of the tense heats and ultimately taking the grand prize and title of MasterChef 1997.

At the time, Julie was working as the Chief Executive of the MedicAlert Foundation. But she knew this win was meant for a reason and decided to move on into the world of food.

For a couple of years she combined food writing, teaching, private catering and cooking in her friends West End pub but the dream was always a shop for food lovers.

A friend recommended the site in Campdale Road and having spent a few weekends wandering around the area and listing more pros than cons, Julie agreed to take the shop.

"Everything felt right but with any project like this there is an element of risk. Thankfully my gut instinct was correct and we are enjoying a wonderful first year".

The shop has a real family feel with Julie's siblings and friends making up the staff.

Flavours - the name and the concept

"The shop came before the name but I was confident we wouldn't have to start trading with a blank fascia".

Months of doodling names, and evenings of terrible puns proved futile. Whilst blankly staring in thought at home one afternoon, Julie's eyes fell onto the pile of cookery books in front of her on the coffee table. And there it was, a book by favourite Australian cookery writer, Donna Hay......Flavours.

And the concept?

The main display window in the shop is the showcase for 'this month's flavour'. Each month a selection of new products and items made by the staff in the shop will focus on a specific flavour or ingredient. As the shop is so small it means that the core popular products can remain in place whilst introducing some new items on a regular basis, emphasising seasonal foods.

Some of the flavours covered to date include:- honey, coffee, basil, ginger, cinnamon, tomato and chocolate.

Email us julie@delibelly.com