Anne Harnan

Anne is a trained home economist with a career stretching over twenty years within the food industry.

Whether working as a product development chef, food writing, teaching or demonstrating, she says ‘Home economics is as relevant today as it ever was. Food is never off-topic and encompasses everything in our day to day, whether it’s linked to the economy, social and health issues, the environment, or our leisure time.’

Anne took her degree at Birmingham College of Food and since then has worked with many inspiring chefs. After graduating she worked in the production of TV cookery programmes where she gained experience alongside Gordon Ramsey, Gary Rhodes, Nick Nairn and many other prominent TV chefs.

Working as a food and recipe writer for magazines, Anne has always promoted seasonal ingredients and buying locally, and it was whilst working at a small neighbourhood restaurant, she discovered many small producers making great products in Bedfordshire. Inspired by their drive but lack of resource to promote themselves, she set about founding her own local food festival to celebrate local producers, restaurants and suppliers and promote their wares to the public. The ‘Taste Bedford’ festival now attracts thousands of visitors all keen to embrace the food heritage of the county.