Go-to vodka martini recipe - wet, dry, olive, or twist?

Vodka straight from the freezer, a whisper of dry vermouth, stirred. Lemon twist.

What daily rituals or small habits help anchor your day?

I write a journal just a list of things I am grateful for, this helps keep me calm and grounded. I call it the “Glad Game” which my children love to hate. 

Tell us about your daily rituals - are there small habits or routines that help anchor your day?

Routine makes me feel balanced and centred. That first cup of tea. Natural light, a walk or a swim depending on the day. I started reformer Pilates last year and it really is something that brings me joy and makes me feel good. Moving my body is everything.

Tell us about your end of day routine - how do you unwind?

On slower days, potter, supper together, a few pages of a book and a hot bath.

Do my habits shift with the seasons?

Absolutely. Summer is lighter food, later evenings, more spontaneity. Winter brings earlier nights, soups, candles and more planning, writing. I let the season set the tempo. I see the seasons in colour. Living and working in the Caribbean brings sunshine and colour. I feel very lucky to travel with work. It has enriched my life.

Tell us about your at home cooking rituals

Seasonality is everything, I cook with the ebb and the flow of what nature has to offer. Mise en place I love to cook in an organised way.

What does it look like when you host supper at home - what’s on the table, what’s in the glass…?

The table is unfussy, mismatched crockery, cutlery, linen, candles, dishes for sharing. In the glass: a crisp aperitif to start, then a bottle or two to share.

Favourite work project so far this year

I continue to head up Calypso Grill in the Cayman Islands. This is a role that I never imagined happening. Restaurant life is one of the best things bringing people together at a table with good food, wine and conversation. I have written a children’s book that I hope to get commissioned. It has been on my mind for years and I have finally found the words. All set in my beloved Cornwall, I hope to bring this to life.

Next thing you’re working on that you’re excited about?

A podcast perhaps and a new recipe book, all projects I am working on at the moment.

Quick Fire

Favourite song to cook to : Depends on my mood I love classical or if feeling nostalgic Fleetwood Mac.

Favourite Local Restaurant: Depends where I am in the world, on island Calypso Grill

Favourite Cocktail:  A Martini or a White Negroni.

Taste that reminds you of home: A classic cake or pudding, a Victoria sponge with seasonal jam warm from the oven

LEARN MORE ABOUT EMILY AND HER WORK HERE

Emily Scott is a chef, restaurateur and acclaimed author of Sea & Shore, Time & Tide, and Home Shores. Her work celebrates a sense of place, weaving together food, storytelling and the coastal landscapes that inspire her. Emily also writes her best-selling Substack, Shore to Shore, where she shares weekly reflections, recipes and creative insights. In addition to her writing, Emily collaborates with a wide range of brands and is Executive Consultant Chef and Creative Director for Calypso Grill in the Cayman Islands. She spends time between the Caribbean, Cornwall and high days and holidays in Bordeaux, drawing inspiration from each place. Emily lives with her partner Mark Hellyar, a winemaker and is the mother of three children: Oscar, Finn, and Evie.