Our new food series on Parentdish profiles celebrity chefs, cookery writers and food bloggers.
Camilla is a graduate of Leiths School of Food and Wine and began her career at Good Housekeeping as a cookery writer. On a gap year in the US she fell in love with coffee and, back in the UK, developed the food range for the Seattle Coffee Company and Starbucks.
In 2003, she set up Higgidy, making handmade pies with a home-cooking philosophy and kitchen cupboard ingredients – values which continue to guide the business and her recipes today. She is married to James and has two children, Kate and Jack.
The Higgidy Cookbook by Camilla Stephens is published by Quercus, RRP £16.99.
Describe your cooking style in three words
Simple, friendly, comforting.
The weirdest thing I've ever eaten is...
Cupcakes made of playdough, whilst playing picnics with my children.
In my fridge/cupboard you will always find...
Parmesan.
What would you cook for the Queen?
Sunday roast.
I would tell parents of fussy eaters...
Don't give up, and try to keep mealtimes fun rather than a battle ground.
My guilty food pleasure is...
Chocolate, but it must be straight from the fridge.
Most memorable food experience...
This summer, sitting on a North Devon beach with my family after a day's surfing. The children were staying up late, the sun was setting and the air was still warm. We ate very simple, very fresh and beautifully-cooked fish and chips.
For my last meal I would eat...
An AGA-baked potato with a generous knob of butter.
I would never, ever eat...
Sheep's eyes and sweetbreads.
When I'm home alone I cook...
A really hearty soup in the winter and huge big salads in the summer.
If I had to eat one thing for the rest of my life it would be...
Very good freshly-baked bread with unsalted butter.
My kitchen is always...
At the heart of our family life – all the best conversations happen there.
Number one on my foodie bucket list is...
To go to Italy and find tucked-away cafes where food is cooked simply and without fuss by the 'mamas' of the family.
My must have kitchen gadget is...
My Dualit Milk Frother.
You can read previous At My Tables profiles here.
We also have two recipes from the Higgidy cookbook for you to try: